Should You Include Your GPA on Your Resume?

The question of inclusion of GPA on a resume is one I get from time to time, and is a topic worth exploring. There are differing schools of thought on what your GPA needs to be to include it on your resume. Some say if it isn’t 3.0 or above then don’t include it. Others believe a GPA above 3.5 is considered exceptional. In either case, I personally wouldn’t personally list anything below a 3.0. Doing so gives the screener nothing more than an arbitrary reason to disqualify you based on a number.

My experience has always been that candidates who have high GPA’s can set themselves apart initially from those who do not. I have to admit at least at a glance it is more impressive to see a candidate with a 3.8 GPA versus the applicant who lists a 2.8. Keep in mind that the average GPA in college is around 2.6 or 2.7, so anything at or below this will plant a “below average” perception of you at a glance. In some fields, such as those of a more technical nature, listing a GPA is pretty much a given as they will want to know what it is. Most non-technical fields are not so strict. Make sure if you do choose to list your GPA that you use an actual number that matches transcripts, and not just a guess. It won’t help your credibility any if you list a 3.6, when in reality your GPA is a 3.3.

I often see cases where candidates have achieved higher grades in their major versus the conglomerate of classes taken overall (particularly when taking into account the generals that are required to be taken). In this type of situation, consider including your GPA within your major if it is significantly higher than your overall GPA. Or perhaps you were a late bloomer (or just played around too much the first couple of years), and your GPA during the last few years was higher. If so, then list it accordingly.

What if you did not graduate from college? This really depends on the requirements and views of the specific employer, but the rule of thumb I always follow is that if you have completed some college, then definitely list it. If you have not completed anything at all, then explore this topic – addressing the lack of a degree on your resume.

Finally, as you progress during your career upward, the need to list your GPA diminishes. There is not one reason I can think of for someone who is 10 to 15 years into his/her career, and who has a track of upward progression to list a GPA. The farther away the date of the degree becomes, the less need to list your GPA.