How to List an Associate Degree on Resume? [+Examples & Tips]

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after completing a post-secondary program that lasts two to three years. It is a level of education between high school and university. Despite the relatively short duration of its course, an associate degree is no doubt a legitimate degree and can be put on a resume. According to Georgetown University’s study, some persons with associate degrees nowadays can even earn more than that of a bachelor’s degree by 28%.

Associate degree clearly belongs to the education section. So the question now remains how to write an associate's degree on a resume? How to abbreviate associates degree on a resume? What else to include for your associate degree on a resume?

This article will address the concerns you may have as well as provide you with various useful tips and examples of associate degree on resume.

It is common for people to add their bachelor’s and master’s degrees to their resumes. But what about an associate degree? Should you include your associate degree on a resume? Well, the answer is, it depends. There are two main circumstances under which you should include an associate degree on your resume:

✅ When the associate degree is your highest degree

This one is pretty obvious. It's always advised to include the highest degree you have in a resume, whether it is a high school diploma, an associate degree, a bachelor's, or other educational degrees.

✅ When the associate degree is relevant to the role

Another situation in which you'd benefit from putting your associate degree on the resume is when it is related to the position or industry. Write it down as it shows your experience and knowledge in the subject matter.

However, if you also have a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree in the same field, you can decide whether or not to list an associate degree on your resume. If you have plenty of space and would like to emphasize your strong knowledge in the subject, including the associate degree is not a bad idea.

It is important to properly list your associate degree on the resume. To do that, you need to first consider what elements need to be included as part of your associate degree as well as how you want to present them.

For the hiring manager to understand your associate degree when they read your resume, don’t forget to include the following details:

1. Name of the school
2. Location of the school
3. Graduation year or years you attended the program
4. Type of the degree
5. Your major

You can follow the format below when listing your associate degree on the resume:

Generally speaking, it's better to spell out the name of your associate degree on the resume than using abbreviations. In this way, the hiring manager is less likely to misunderstand your educational background. However, if you don't have enough space to write out the full name of your associate degree, you can choose to abbreviate it.

Here are some common associate degree abbreviations to put on a resume:

• Associate of Applied Business: AAB
• Associate of Applied Science: AAS
• Associate of Arts in Teaching: AAT
• Associate of Arts: AA
• Associate of Business Administration: ABA
• Associate of Electrical Engineering Technology: AEET
• Associate of Forestry: AF
• Associate of General Studies: AGS
• Associate of Nursing: AN
• Associate of Occupational Studies: AOS
• Associate of Physical Therapy: APT
• Associate of Science: AS

Using abbreviations for an associate degree certainly has its pros and cons. So, before you write your associate degree on your resume, it is good to know them.

🟢  Pros:

• It shows that you have a good understanding of your degree and your chosen industry. 
• It leaves more spaces on your resume, which might encourage employers to read it thoroughly.

❌  Cons:

• If they can’t understand the abbreviation you use for your associate degree abbreviation on your resume, they will likely skip it.
• If your degree abbreviation is not as recognizable in the industry, consider writing the full title of your degree to reduce uncertainty.

To maximize the usefulness and quality of your associate degree on your resume, follow the tips below:

💡 Use Correct Preposition: “Associate in” or “Associate of”

Either “in” or “of” is considered to be a correct preposition when you are writing your associate degree on the resume, but different colleges use different prepositions. Check out how your school states the degree or simply follow the words on your diploma to know which preposition you should use.

💡 Use Correct Punctuation: No Apostrophe

"Associate's” is incorrect. Don't include “s” or an apostrophe in an associate degree on your resume.

💡 Use Consistent Format

Consistency is key when writing a resume. If you decide to use abbreviations for your associate degree on the resume, then make sure all your degree titles are abbreviated throughout the education section as well as the rest of your resume. It is acceptable to write “Associate of Arts (AA)” the first time it appears on your resume and stick to using “AA” afterward, but not the other way around.

💡 Put Associate Degree under Education Section

Organize your resume and put your associate degree in a dedicated section. Like all other degrees, it should be included under the education section and not other sections such as skills or certificates. If you have multiple degrees, list them in a chronological order. For instance, you would put a bachelor’s degree before an associate degree on your resume.

💡 Include Degree Detail

Make sure to include all the necessary details regarding the degree under your education section. For instance, you should include the institution where you obtained the degree, the start and graduation date, the location of the institution, and/or GPA.

💡 List Relevant Courses, Skills, Honors & Awards

If you are a recent graduate with less than 5 years of working experience, consider listing relevant coursework, skills, honors, and awards to demonstrate knowledge you’ve obtained through an associate degree on your resume.

Here are 5 different ways to list associate degree on a resume under the education section:

🖋 Example 1: Associate of Arts Degree on Resume

🖋 Example 2: Associate Degree in Liberal Arts on Resume

🖋 Example 3: Associate of Business Administration Degree on Resume

🖋 Example 4: Associate of Applied Science Degree on Resume 

🖋 Example 5: Associate of Science Degree on Resume