
Learn how to answer “What Is Your Highest Degree?” on a job application with examples for high school, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and in-progress degrees....

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?”
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.
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.
If you’ve finished your highest credential, select it.
Example you can adapt: “Master of Science” (Education section shows “M.S.” completed).
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.
Copy-and-paste example: “Bachelor’s degree (in progress), expected May 2026.”
If you don’t have a college degree, select the highest completed level.
Example you can adapt: “High school diploma.” If there’s a separate field for “Education,” you can expand in your education section.
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.
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.
The major typically doesn’t affect “highest degree.” Select your degree level (associate/bachelor/master) first, then your major in the major field.
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.
Example you can adapt: “Bachelor’s degree (equivalent).” Then: “Bacharel em Engenharia de Software” (if you include a line for official name).
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.
Select the closest doctorate option (often “Doctorate” or “PhD”).
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.
Professional licenses are not degrees, so don’t label them as “highest degree.” Put them in the certifications/licensing section if available.
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.
These issues are easy to fix, and they often prevent ATS mismatch or recruiter confusion.
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.
Unless the form explicitly lists those as degree options, keep degrees in “Education” and certificates in “Certifications.”
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.
If the form asks for “Expected graduation,” fill it out. A missing date can make your application look incomplete.
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.
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):
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.
These examples are formatted to match common dropdown selections and text fields. Adjust them to fit your exact degree type and dates.
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.
Choose the in-progress degree only if the form has an “in progress” option (or expects an expected graduation date). If there’s no in-progress option, select your highest completed degree and explain the in-progress status elsewhere if allowed.
Usually no. Bootcamps and most professional certificates are not degrees. For the “highest degree” field, select your highest completed academic degree (e.g., high school, associate, bachelor’s, master’s). Then list bootcamps/certificates in the certifications section if the application provides one.
Select the closest degree level (Bachelor’s/Master’s/etc.) and enter your official degree name in the text fields (school/program/degree name). If there’s a country field, include it for clarity.
It can. Some ATS systems screen based on education level. Wrong selections can route you incorrectly or reduce your match score. Keep your application and resume Education sections consistent.
JobWizard helps you apply faster by autofilling ATS forms from your resume, reducing manual entry errors. For details, explore Smart autofill. Note that the free tier has a fixed daily quota (not unlimited).
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.
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