A Guide to APA Style Title Pages

When you’re submitting an academic paper in APA format, your title page is the very first impression your reader or evaluator receives. While it may seem like a minor detail, a properly formatted title page shows that you’re serious about your work and that you understand and respect academic conventions. It’s also one of the easiest parts of your paper to get right—once you know the rules.

The American Psychological Association’s style guide, currently in its 7th edition, provides clear and specific guidance on how to format the title page of a paper. This guide breaks down those rules so that whether you’re a college student or a professional researcher, you can format your title page confidently and correctly.

Why Is the APA Title Page Important?

The title page isn’t just a decorative cover—it communicates essential information about your work. It tells your audience what your paper is about, who wrote it, what institution it’s associated with, and who the intended reader (like your instructor) is. For professors or journal editors reviewing dozens or even hundreds of submissions, a clear, consistent format saves time and helps maintain a professional standard.

Formatting your title page correctly also demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to academic integrity. Mistakes on the title page can be a red flag for sloppiness elsewhere in the paper, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

General Formatting Requirements

Before we dive into the elements of the title page itself, it’s important to make sure your document is set up according to APA’s basic formatting standards. These apply not just to the title page, but to the entire paper.

Make sure your document follows these general guidelines:

• Font: Use a readable, accessible font. APA recommends options like Times New Roman (12 pt), Calibri (11 pt), Arial (11 pt), or Georgia (11 pt). The font should be consistent throughout the entire document.
• Spacing: All content should be double-spaced, with no extra spacing between lines or sections unless specified.
• Margins: Set your margins to 1 inch on all sides—top, bottom, left, and right.
• Alignment: Center all the text on the title page horizontally. Do not right-align or justify.
• Page Number: Include a page number in the top-right corner of the header. The title page is always page 1.

These formatting elements may seem small, but together they create a clean, organized look that makes your paper easier to read and navigate.

Need more assistance? Check out our guide to How to Format a Thesis.

Elements of a Student Title Page (APA 7th Edition)

For students submitting work for college or university courses, APA has simplified the title page in its 7th edition. The student version of the title page requires six key elements. These should appear centered in the upper half of the page (both vertically and horizontally aligned), and in the following order:

1. Title of the Paper
   This should be a clear and concise summary of your paper’s content, written in title case (meaning you capitalize all major words). The title should be bolded and positioned about three to four lines down from the top of the page. Keep it brief, informative, and relevant.
2. Author’s Name
   List your full name below the title. Do not include titles (like “Dr.” or “Ph.D.”) or affiliations beyond your name—those will be included separately.
3. Institutional Affiliation
   This is the name of the college or university where the paper is being submitted. It should reflect your current academic affiliation.
4. Course Name and Number
   Include the course number followed by the full course name, e.g., ENGL 101: College Writing. Make sure to match your instructor’s formatting preference if one is provided.
5. Instructor’s Name
   Use your instructor’s preferred title and full name. For example, Dr. Anne Johnson or Professor Mark Lee.
6. Due Date
   The date you are submitting the paper, written in Month Day, Year format, e.g., April 5, 2025.

These details should appear in the exact order listed above, with double-spacing between each element and no extra spaces in between. Do not include a running head unless specifically instructed by your instructor or institution.

If you’re looking for assistance with formatting the rest of your dissertation or thesis, take a look at our guide to How to Format APA style.

Formatting Tips

Once you have the right content, the next step is ensuring it’s formatted correctly on the page. Many formatting errors occur because of inconsistent spacing, misalignment, or incorrect use of font styles.

Here are some best practices to follow:

• Title case should be used for all headings and titles. This means capitalizing the first word and all major words in the title.
• Only the title of the paper should be in bold. Do not bold your name or any other elements.
• All text should be centered horizontally. APA does not require vertical centering, but placing the content in the upper half of the page is recommended.
• Avoid using extra line breaks between elements. Double-spacing is sufficient.
• The page number should appear in the top-right header area, starting from the title page onward.

Sample APA Student Title Page

Here’s an example of how your title page might look: