Recruiters expect you to fill the “institution” field with the name of a technical school, college, university, or research institute where you received your highest post-high school education.
If you are unsure which institution to mention, read my guide on how to determine your highest academic level.
When filling out the application form, I recommend you follow the “institution” + “degree” + “GPA” formula.
A typical education section of an application might look like this:
| Institution/College | Degree | G.P.A. |
| Harvard | Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics | 3.5 |
Mentioning your institution can boost your job application if you have earned a degree from prestigious universities such as Harvard and Oxford.
On the other hand, mentioning an unaccredited institution can hurt your resume. An outside accreditation commission evaluates the university to ensure institutions meet minimum standards. For example, colleges and universities will receive accreditation from groups like Higher Learning Commission (H.L.C.) or Council for Higher Education (CHEA).
Some employers abusively use the term “institute” instead of “institution.” An institute indicates that the employer is seeking a specialist with particular skills in a narrow topic.
For example, some universities offer a degree in computer science. However, a university graduate might want to pursue research in an “algorithms research institute.” Similarly, a gastronomic restaurant might want to hire someone who graduated from a “culinary institute.”
If the job application asks for your institute, you can write something along the lines of “Art Institute of Dallas.” If you received a degree from the Institute, then you can list it as follows:
| Institute | Degree | G.P.A. |
| Institute of Fashion and Design | B.F.A. in Design | 3.8 / See Attachment |
Even though many institutes give grades, most recruiters don’t weigh university and institute G.P.A.s equally. So, a 4.0 from a university will get the recruiter’s attention, but a 4.0 from an institute won’t. So you could list the G.P.A., use a slash, and then write “see attached.”
Recruiters are interested in your degree and the institution where you earned it. They want to ensure that your degree is valuable and that the institution is properly accredited.
About The Author
Nathan BrunnerNathan Brunner is a labor market expert.
He is the owner of Salarship, a job board where less-skilled candidates can find accessible employment opportunities.
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