Yes, an employment background check can include education verification.
If an employer orders this service, the screening company may verify whether you attended the school you listed and whether the degree, credential, field of study, or attendance dates match the information you provided.
But education verification is not included in every background check.
The employer decides which screening components to order for the role.
The short answer
Education verification may confirm:
- school or institution;
- attendance dates;
- graduation or completion date;
- degree, diploma, GED, or certificate;
- major or field of study; and
- sometimes other credential details.
HireRight’s candidate guidance says education verification is used to confirm that a candidate attended the stated institution and completed the claimed degree or credential in the field of study reported.
Accurate says its education-verification service can confirm dates of attendance, major, degrees earned, and graduation.
Do Employers Really Check Degrees?
Some do.
Education verification is especially likely when:
- a degree is a stated job requirement;
- the role is professional or regulated;
- the candidate’s qualifications depend heavily on a particular field of study;
- the employer has a standard background-screening package that includes education; or
- the employer wants to verify credentials listed on the application.
Other employers may not order education verification at all.
Do not assume that because one company did not verify a degree, another company will not.
What Does Education Verification Check?
A typical education verification may compare what you submitted with information from the school or an authorized education-verification source.
Potential fields include:
| Candidate information | What may be verified |
|---|---|
| Institution | Whether the school/institution matches |
| Attendance dates | Start/end dates or periods of attendance |
| Degree or credential | Whether a degree, diploma, certificate, or GED was earned |
| Graduation date | Whether and when the credential was conferred |
| Major / field of study | Whether the reported area of study matches |
| Student name | Name used while attending, when relevant |
The exact fields depend on the provider and employer’s screening package.
How Do Employers Verify Education?
There are several common methods.
Direct Contact With the School
A screening company may contact the registrar or another authorized office.
Education Verification Databases
Some schools participate in authorized verification systems that can provide degree or attendance information.
Documentation
If the provider cannot verify the information from the institution or database, it may ask the candidate for documents.
HireRight lists degrees and official or unofficial transcripts among acceptable education documents in certain verification situations, while noting that documents may be used to assist verification rather than automatically accepted at face value.
Professional or Licensing Bodies
A professional qualification or license is different from a college degree. A screening company may contact the issuing authority to confirm that the credential exists and is current.
Can a Background Check Show Education From More Than Seven Years Ago?
Potentially, yes.
A common misunderstanding is that “background checks only go back seven years.”
Education verification does not work that way.
Federal Trade Commission staff guidance has treated neutral education facts—such as attendance and degree information—differently from adverse information subject to federal FCRA reporting limits.
So an employer may potentially verify a degree earned decades ago.
Read the background-check lookback guide for related guidance.
Does a Background Check Show Every School You Attended?
Not necessarily.
An education verification generally focuses on the school or credential the employer asked the screening company to verify.
It is not safe to assume that one background check automatically produces a complete lifetime list of every school a person attended.
The screening form itself often provides the clearest clue about the education the employer wants checked.
What If You Attended College but Did Not Graduate?
Report your education accurately.
If the form asks:
- whether you graduated;
- whether a degree was awarded; or
- the credential earned,
do not list a degree you did not receive.
A person can accurately state that they attended an institution without claiming a completed degree.
Providers may verify attendance separately from graduation.
What If Your Degree Name Is Different From What You Put on Your Resume?
Degree terminology can vary.
For example, a resume might use an abbreviated or simplified label while the institution uses the official degree name.
Do not assume every naming difference is a serious discrepancy.
Compare:
- official degree title;
- major;
- concentration;
- school/college within the institution; and
- graduation date.
If the resume materially overstates the credential, correct it before using the resume again.
What Happens If Education Verification Fails?
“Failed education verification” can mean several different things.
The provider may have been unable to verify because:
- the school did not respond;
- records are archived;
- the institution changed names;
- the candidate used a different name while enrolled;
- dates or degree details do not match;
- the provider needs additional documentation; or
- the claimed credential cannot be confirmed.
An inability to verify is not automatically proof that the candidate lied.
The next step is to determine the reason for the verification result.
What If the School Is Closed?
Closed schools can make verification more complicated, but records may still exist through:
- a successor institution;
- a state education agency;
- a transcript custodian;
- an authorized records service; or
- another institution designated to hold the records.
Follow the screening company’s instructions before uploading documents.
What If Your Education Information Is Wrong on the Background Report?
If a consumer report incorrectly states that you did not attend, did not graduate, or earned a different credential, obtain the report and use the reporting company’s official dispute process.
Federal law provides rights to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in consumer reports.
Useful supporting records might include:
- transcript;
- diploma or degree copy;
- official school verification; or
- documentation from the institution’s records office.
The provider decides what documentation is acceptable under its process.
Read the background-check error guide for related guidance.
Can You Verify Your Own Degree Before a Background Check?
Often, yes.
You can:
- Request an official or unofficial transcript from the institution.
- Review the exact degree and major recorded by the school.
- Confirm graduation/conferment date.
- Check the name under which you attended.
- Review what you wrote on your resume and job application.
- Correct genuine mistakes before submitting future information.
If the employer already ordered a background check, do not independently flood the screening company with documents. Follow its instructions.
Degree Verification vs. Education Background Check
These phrases are often used loosely, but the scope can differ.
DEGREE VERIFICATION Focuses on whether a claimed degree or credential was earned.
EDUCATION VERIFICATION May include institution, attendance dates, degree, graduation, and major.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND CHECK A broader informal phrase that may refer to education verification as one part of employment screening.
The employer’s actual order matters more than the label used in a blog post.
Common Education Discrepancies
| Difference | Possible explanation | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation date differs | Conferral date vs. ceremony date | Transcript and official record |
| Degree title differs | Resume shorthand vs. official title | Diploma/transcript |
| Major differs | Major vs. concentration confusion | Official academic record |
| Name differs | Name changed since attendance | School record and identity documentation |
| School name differs | Merger, rebrand, campus name | Institutional history |
| No degree found | Attendance without graduation, data issue, or incorrect claim | Transcript / school verification |
A discrepancy is not automatically an error. First determine whether the two sources are describing the same fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do background checks show education?
They can if the employer orders education verification.
Do employers verify degrees?
Many employers do, particularly when the degree is relevant to the role or included in their screening policy.
How do employers verify education?
A screening company may contact the school, use an authorized verification database, or request supporting documents when direct verification is not available.
Can an employer check a degree from 20 years ago?
Potentially, yes. Education verification is not subject to a universal seven-year cutoff.
What happens if a background check cannot verify education?
The provider may make additional attempts, request documents, or report that the education could not be verified. The meaning depends on the provider and employer process.
Does a background check verify high school?
It can, if the employer orders verification of a high school diploma, GED, or other credential.
Can a background check verify a major?
Yes, some education-verification services may confirm the major or field of study.
Your next step
Use the Background Check Prep Packet to organize the facts, questions and supporting records relevant to your situation.