Should you put your GPA on a resume?

Separate a requested field from an optional resume detail

An application may require GPA even when you would not otherwise include it on a resume. Read the role’s instructions and provide the requested academic measure. If including GPA is optional, consider how relevant your academic record is to that particular role and career stage.

A guideline is not a hiring cutoff

UC Berkeley Career Engagement suggests that students and recent graduates can include GPA when it is 3.0 or above. This is that career office’s resume guideline, not a rule every employer follows and not a prediction of who gets hired. Your experience, work examples, and the role’s stated requirements remain relevant.

Label cumulative and major GPA accurately

Do not present a higher major GPA as though it were your cumulative GPA. If you show both, label both. Add the scale when it would otherwise be unclear, especially for weighted or international records. Recalculate only if the receiving organization gives a specific method.

Keep the number consistent with your record

Use the officially reported value and the employer’s requested precision. Do not turn 3.56 into 3.6 simply to make it look stronger when an exact value is requested. If you are unsure whether an official transcript rounds or truncates, consult its reporting policy rather than guessing.

Official references

UC Berkeley Career Engagement: resume FAQ, including GPA ↗

Sources checked August 31, 2026. Institution examples are limited to the stated scope; review the current official policy before acting.

Method and limits

These examples use stated mathematical assumptions, not a claim that every institution uses the same policy. Read our methodology or check the available institution-specific profiles. Your transcript is the official record.