How to Answer "What Is Your Highest Degree?" on a Job Application

Answering “What Is Your Highest Degree?” (Without Losing a Single Opportunity)

If you’re staring at a job application field that asks “What Is Your Highest Degree?”, you want the fastest, most accurate answer—so your application matches ATS requirements and you can move on to the parts hiring managers actually read. This guide shows exactly what to select across common scenarios (high school, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, bootcamp, in-progress degrees), how to handle edge cases like professional certificates, and how to avoid formatting mistakes that can hurt your ATS match score. You’ll also see copy-and-paste examples you can adapt, plus tips to keep your degree section consistent across resume and application.

Primary keyword: “What Is Your Highest Degree?”

What the Application Field Really Means (From a Job Seeker Perspective)

Most applications label this field as a simple pick list, but behind the scenes it’s used for screening. ATS systems often map your selection to filters like “Bachelor’s required” or “Master’s preferred,” which can influence whether you’re routed to a recruiter or hiring manager.

To answer “What Is Your Highest Degree?” correctly, treat it as: your most advanced credential you have completed or are currently earning (if the form allows in-progress).

Quick rule: If you’ve earned it, select it. If you’re still working toward it, select the closest option your application provides (often “In progress”), or the nearest completed degree if “In progress” isn’t available.

Step-by-Step: How to Choose Your Highest Degree in Common Scenarios

Use these scenarios to pick the correct option. If the dropdown wording differs (e.g., “Degree Level” vs. “Education”), choose the closest match based on your situation.

1) You completed a degree (the simplest case)

If you’ve finished your highest credential, select it.

• Highest degree is a Bachelor’s: Choose “Bachelor’s” (or “Bachelor of Arts/Science” if available).
• Highest degree is a Master’s: Choose “Master’s” (or the specific master’s type if shown).
• Highest degree is an Associate: Choose “Associate Degree.”

Example you can adapt: “Master of Science” (Education section shows “M.S.” completed).

2) You’re currently enrolled (in progress)

Many ATS forms include “In progress” or allow an expected graduation date. If that’s present, use it—accurate in-progress status helps your application reflect your timeline.

• If “In progress” exists: Choose your degree level (e.g., “Bachelor’s (In progress)”). Add the expected graduation date.
• If “In progress” does not exist: Select the highest completed degree, not the in-progress one.

Copy-and-paste example: “Bachelor’s degree (in progress), expected May 2026.”

3) You only finished high school or did not complete a degree

If you don’t have a college degree, select the highest completed level.

• High school diploma only: Choose “High School” or “Diploma.”
• GED: Choose “GED” or “Equivalent.”

Example you can adapt: “High school diploma.” If there’s a separate field for “Education,” you can expand in your education section.

4) You have a completed degree plus additional coursework or certificates

Certificates and bootcamps are usually not degrees, so don’t choose them as your “highest degree” unless the form explicitly treats them as formal degrees.

• Certificate / bootcamp only (no college degree): Select “Highest degree” as the highest completed degree you have (e.g., “High school”). Then list the bootcamp under a separate “Certifications” section if available.
• Bachelor’s + bootcamp: Select “Bachelor’s” (highest degree). Add bootcamp in “Certifications” or the relevant experience/projects sections.

Important: If the form asks separately for “Education” and “Certifications,” keep your degree in the education field and your certificate/bootcamp in the certifications field. This prevents confusion for both ATS and reviewers.

5) You completed an associate or bachelor’s, but your transcript shows a different major

The major typically doesn’t affect “highest degree.” Select your degree level (associate/bachelor/master) first, then your major in the major field.

• Associate degree completed: Select “Associate.”
• Bachelor completed: Select “Bachelor’s,” then major as listed (e.g., “Computer Science”).

6) You earned a degree abroad

Most applications let you enter the country or the degree name. Use the closest U.S. equivalent when the dropdown forces you to select a level.

• If dropdown is limited: Choose the closest level (Bachelor’s/Master’s) and put the official degree name in the school/degree text field.
• If there’s a “Field of study” box: Use the closest standard translation or the original field name.

Example you can adapt: “Bachelor’s degree (equivalent).” Then: “Bacharel em Engenharia de Software” (if you include a line for official name).

What to Do If the Dropdown Doesn’t Match Your Education

Sometimes the job application offers only a few options (High School, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate) even if you have something else. Here’s how to handle it without hurting accuracy.

If you have a Doctorate

Select the closest doctorate option (often “Doctorate” or “PhD”).

If you have an Associate but only Bachelor/Master options exist

Select the closest completed option if there’s no associate choice. If the dropdown forces “Bachelor’s required” logic, your education will be screened at the wrong level—so use the free-form “additional information” field (if present) to clarify.

• Strategy: In the education text field (or additional notes), explicitly mention “Associate Degree” and the school.

If you have professional licensing or industry exams

Professional licenses are not degrees, so don’t label them as “highest degree.” Put them in the certifications/licensing section if available.

If you don’t see your exact degree name (but you do see the level)

Select the level and complete the rest with your actual degree name in the “Degree” or “Program” field.

Example: Dropdown says “Master’s,” but your degree is “MEng.” Choose “Master’s” and enter “Master of Engineering (MEng)” in the program field.

Avoid These Common Mistakes When You Answer “What Is Your Highest Degree?”

These issues are easy to fix, and they often prevent ATS mismatch or recruiter confusion.

Mistake 1: Selecting an in-progress degree when the form doesn’t support it

If the dropdown doesn’t offer “In progress,” don’t guess. Use your highest completed degree, then explain your current enrollment in a separate field (if there’s one) or in your cover letter.

Mistake 2: Choosing a bootcamp/certificate as your “highest degree”

Unless the form explicitly lists those as degree options, keep degrees in “Education” and certificates in “Certifications.”

Mistake 3: Typos or inconsistent degree abbreviations

ATS forms can be strict about formatting. “MS” vs “M.S.” vs “Master of Science” may not break screening, but inconsistent entries can still reduce clarity. Pick one style and stick to it.

Mistake 4: Leaving expected graduation dates blank for in-progress fields

If the form asks for “Expected graduation,” fill it out. A missing date can make your application look incomplete.

Mistake 5: Degree answers that don’t match your resume

Hiring managers don’t like discrepancies—and ATS scoring tools can also flag inconsistencies. Keep your resume’s Education section aligned with the application fields.

Pro tip: Make a “verification checklist” before you apply: degree level, school name, and graduation date (or “in progress”). If any of those differs between resume and the application, update one before submitting.

Speed Up With JobWizard: Autofill Your Degree Field Consistently Across ATS

Typing education details repeatedly is time-consuming—and one tiny mismatch can slow you down or create confusion. JobWizard helps you apply faster by auto-detecting ATS forms and autofilling fields using your resume data, including education and degree information. That means you spend less time manually copying education entries and more time tailoring your application where it matters.

If you want to see how it works in practice, start with Smart autofill. It’s designed to reduce the “manual copy-paste errors” problem, especially on forms with multiple education fields.

You can also improve the overall quality of your application with resume adjustments using JobWizard’s AI cover letter generator, which helps you produce a cover letter that complements your background—useful when you’re clarifying in-progress education or explaining career pivots that a simple degree dropdown can’t capture.

For more ATS autofill tips, check out related posts like these (examples of the kind of guidance you’ll find):

• ATS autofill tips to avoid form errors
• How to tailor your education section for faster approvals

One honest note about the free tier: JobWizard’s free plan includes a fixed daily quota for autofill. It’s not unlimited. If you apply frequently, you’ll likely want to upgrade after you hit your daily limit.

To choose the plan that fits your job search pace, visit pricing. If you’re not ready yet, you can also download JobWizard from the homepage download CTA and start improving your applications today.

Copy-and-Paste Examples for the “Highest Degree” Field

These examples are formatted to match common dropdown selections and text fields. Adjust them to fit your exact degree type and dates.

• Bachelor’s completed: “Bachelor’s” (Degree: “B.S. in Computer Science”)
• Master’s completed: “Master’s” (Degree: “M.S. in Data Analytics”)
• In progress (when supported): “Bachelor’s (in progress)” + “Expected graduation: 2026”
• High school only: “High School Diploma” (then add bootcamp under Certifications)
• Associate completed: “Associate Degree” (Degree: “A.S. in Information Systems”)
• Doctorate completed: “Doctorate” (Degree: “Ph.D. in Economics”)

If you’re worried about how to phrase it for an in-progress situation, your cover letter is a great place to clarify. That’s one reason pairing correct education fields with an AI-written cover letter can boost coherence across your application.

Next step: If you want to submit applications faster and keep your education details accurate across ATS forms, install JobWizard and use its Smart autofill for the “What Is Your Highest Degree?” field—then generate a tailored cover letter with AI cover letter generator. You can review pricing or download from the homepage CTA to get started.