How to Write GPA on Resume

To write a GPA on a resume, add GPA: number/scale to two decimals within your Education section, for instance GPA: 3.9/4.0 beside the degree. Include it only when it helps, label a major GPA separately, and note that law school admissions evaluate the LSAC-recalculated GPA rather than this line.

By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.

What is the correct way to write a GPA on a resume?

The correct format is the label GPA, your value to two decimals, and the scale, written as GPA: 3.9/4.0 within the Education section. This keeps the figure precise, verifiable against your transcript, and unambiguous about the grading scale. The same convention works whether the resume targets an employer or a law-related role.

How to write your GPA step by step

1. Confirm your exact GPA to two decimals from your transcript.
2. Choose the cumulative GPA, the major GPA, or both, depending on which is stronger.
3. Write each as GPA: X.XX/4.0, labeling a major GPA as Major GPA.
4. Place the line in the Education section next to the relevant degree.
5. Remove the GPA once substantial work experience carries your resume.

Examples of GPA on a resume

• Cumulative only: GPA: 3.9/4.0.
• Cumulative with major: GPA: 3.6/4.0, Major GPA: 3.9/4.0.
• With honors: B.A. in Philosophy, cum laude, GPA: 3.9/4.0.
• A different scale, stated plainly: GPA: 4.4/5.0.

When not to write your GPA on a resume

Leave the GPA off when it is low, when you graduated several years ago, or when strong experience makes it irrelevant. A modest cumulative GPA can be replaced by a stronger labeled major GPA where that is honest and clearer. For law school, the decisive number is the LSAC-recalculated GPA, so the resume figure is a general-purpose credential rather than an admissions input.

Frequently asked questions

Does pass/fail affect GPA?

Usually not. A Pass carries no grade points, so a pass/fail course does not raise or lower the GPA you would write on a resume. The class still appears on your transcript, and for law school LSAC applies its own conversion, generally leaving a plain Pass out of the recalculated GPA.

How does LSAC calculate GPA?

LSAC recalculates your undergraduate GPA through the Credential Assembly Service, converting all graded work to a standard 4.0 scale and counting failed and repeated courses. That figure, not the one you write on a resume, is what law schools compare to their medians, and the two numbers can differ.

What GPA do you need for law school?

There is no single required number; each school publishes 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs. Meeting a target school's median makes you competitive, and a strong LSAT can offset a lower GPA. Base your planning on the LSAC-recalculated GPA, since that is the figure admissions actually use.

Should recent graduates always list their GPA?

Recent graduates should list a GPA when it is reasonably strong, commonly cited as about 3.5 or higher, or when an employer requests it. With limited work history, a solid GPA is useful evidence of diligence. If the number is low and nothing requires it, a labeled major GPA or no GPA is a better choice.