How many academic references do I need?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

Between two and five is the norm that academic programs and job postings will require. If the posting asks for a range (e.g., 2-4), always aim for the high end of that range. However, it's better to have two quality references rather than two good ones and two mediocre or poor ones.

Be sure to confirm whether the posting specifies academic or professional references. Some may stipulate a certain number of each, while schools will lean towards more academic references and most jobs will favor professional references.

If you're a recent graduate applying for jobs outside of academia and research, hiring managers want to see more professional references than academic ones. Still, you can include one strong academic reference as a way of supporting your professional ones.