Associate Degree on a Resume: How to List It, 7 Examples

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-27 · Updated 2026-10-27

6 min read

An associate degree goes in your Education section as the full degree name, the major, the college with its city and state, and the graduation date: Associate of Science in Nursing, Riverbend Community College, Sacramento, CA, May 2025. The one constraint: write it the way your college names it and keep that spelling the same everywhere on the page. Wikipedia gives the US basis: "In the United States, associate degrees are awarded after completion of sixty semester or ninety quarter college credits." Below are eight complete examples, from a finished degree to a transfer student. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

Your resume is not a transcript. The only job the line has is to say that you finished, where, and in what.

The standard line, done properly

Here is the version most people need. A recent graduate with an associate degree in business, applying for an office job:

The degree name is spelled out, the college has a city and state, and the date is a month and a year. The extras are two lines that match the kind of job.

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Naming the degree: what to write

Most US associate degrees are one of three kinds. The Wikipedia article above notes that students who finish a vocational program "can often earn a terminal associate degree such as the Associate of Applied Arts ( AAA ) or the Associate of Applied Science ( AAS )". Write yours like this:

• Associate of Arts (A.A.): broad liberal arts, often built to transfer to a bachelor's degree.
• Associate of Science (A.S.): science, math or technical fields, also often a transfer route.
• Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.): job-focused, such as nursing, welding, IT or culinary arts.

Spell the name out at least once. "Associate of Science in Nursing" is clear, and "A.S. Nursing" is fine for the second mention if you need the space. Use "Associate of", not "Associate's", in the degree name itself, and copy your diploma's wording on whether it says "in" or "of" before the major.

Where it goes on the page

CareerOneStop, the US Department of Labor's job search site, says to "Place Education near the top if it's an essential requirement for the job or you're a new grad, otherwise place this after Work History." That gives you the rule:

• Recent graduate or degree required: Education first, before experience.
• Several years of experience: Education after Work History, as a two-line entry.
• Associate degree plus a later bachelor's: list the bachelor's first, and the associate degree under it only if the transfer college is notable or you have little else.

Seven examples

Each is complete and can be adapted.

Technical A.A.S., with certification

Degree in progress

Transfer student

Experienced worker, education last

Two associate degrees or a degree plus a dual track

Associate degree with a work-based focus

Associate degree earned abroad

That last example states the equivalence in the line itself, so a US reader does not have to guess. If you are not sure, your college or a credential evaluation service can say what it maps to.

Mistakes to avoid

• Writing "Associate's degree" as the degree name. That is the general term; the formal name is Associate of Arts, Science or Applied Science.
• Listing a degree you have not finished as complete. Use "in progress" or "expected" with a date, the same way the UNC Honors Carolina guide handles university students.
• Leaving the college's city and state off. Some readers need them to check the school.
• Adding your high school. With an associate degree in hand, the UNC guide's advice applies: drop high school once college is the higher credential.
• Putting a low GPA. UNC suggests listing a GPA only "if you're happy with it" and notes that some advisors recommend not listing it unless it is above 3.5.

For the education section around it, see our pages on high school education on a resume, Dean's List and the first job resume guide. If you are comparing degrees, our double major on a resume page covers how to list two.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you write an associate degree on a resume?

Write the full degree name, the major, the college with city and state, and the graduation month and year, such as "Associate of Science in Nursing, Riverbend Community College, Sacramento, CA, May 2025". Add a GPA only if it is strong, and one or two lines of relevant coursework or honors if space allows.

Should I write A.A. or Associate of Arts?

Spell it out once as Associate of Arts, then use A.A. only if you need to save space, and use one style throughout the resume. Spelling it out removes any doubt for applicant tracking systems and for readers who do not know the abbreviation, which matters most in a short Education section.

Where does an associate degree go on a resume?

Put it near the top if you are a recent graduate or the job requires a degree, and after your work history if you have several years of experience. If you later earned a bachelor's degree, list that first and put the associate degree underneath, in reverse chronological order.

How do I list an associate degree I am still working on?

Write the degree name, the college and "in progress" or "expected" with the month and year you will finish. Add the credits completed or your GPA if they help. Never list an unfinished degree as complete, because employers often verify education with the college.

More in this series: related guides

• Awards on a Resume: Where to List Them, With 6 Examples
• High School Education on Resume: When to List It, 8 Examples

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