APA Title Page
Updated September 2026
APA 7 has two title-page formats — a simpler student version and a professional version — and most coursework uses the student one. Both are double-spaced, centered, and use the same font as the body.
The student title page
- Title — bold, centered, in Title Case, placed three or four lines down from the top.
- Author name — one blank line under the title; full name, no titles or degrees.
- Affiliation — your department and university.
- Course number and name, then the instructor, then the due date — each on its own line.
- Page number — top-right corner; the title page is page 1.
- No running head — students don't need one in APA 7 (this changed from APA 6).
The professional title page
Used for work submitted for publication. It adds two things the student version omits: a running head (a short version of the title in ALL CAPS, top-left of every page) and an author note (a paragraph at the bottom with affiliations, ORCID iDs, disclosures, and contact info). Everything else matches the student layout.
Common title-page mistakes
- Adding a running head to a student paper — not required in APA 7.
- Bolding or enlarging the author name or affiliation — only the title is bold.
- Putting the title in ALL CAPS on the page — that's the running head's job, not the title's.
- Single-spacing — the whole title page is double-spaced like the rest of the paper.
After the title page
The order runs title page → abstract (if required) → body → references. For the body and heading rules see APA Format; for the abstract see APA Abstract; and let the Bibliography Builder handle the References page.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Does a student APA paper need a running head?
- No — APA 7 dropped the running-head requirement for student papers. Only professional papers (submitted for publication) use one. The page number still appears top-right.
- What goes on a student APA title page?
- Title (bold, centered), author name, affiliation, course number and name, instructor, and due date — all centered and double-spaced.
- Is the title in ALL CAPS?
- No — the title is Title Case and bold on the page. ALL CAPS is only for the running head on professional papers.
- How far down does the title go?
- Three or four lines from the top of the page, centered.