APA Title Page Format: How to Set It Up Correctly

Student vs. Professional APA Title Page: Which One Do You Need?

The first thing to figure out is which version applies to you, because they're set up differently.

If you're submitting a paper for class, you almost certainly need the student version of the APA title page, not the professional one. The student version is designed for academic coursework: simpler, with fewer required elements, and no running head.

The professional version is for papers being submitted for publication in academic journals. It includes a running head (an abbreviated title in the header) and a required author note that includes ORCID IDs, disclosures, and contact information.

What Goes on a Student APA Title Page?

A student APA title page has seven required elements, and page number is the one most students forget.

Here's each element in order, per the APA Style title page guidelines:

Paper title

Centered, bold, in title case (capitalize major words). Position it about three to four lines down from the top margin. Keep it concise; APA recommends no more than 12 words if possible, though this isn't a hard rule.

Author name(s)

Your first name, middle initial (if used), and last name. Don't add titles like "Dr." or degrees like "B.A." APA format doesn't include those on the title page.

Author affiliation

The name of your department and institution, on separate lines. For example: Department of Psychology, followed by University of [Institution Name].

Course number and name

Include both, separated by a colon. For example: PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology.

Instructor name

Use whatever form of address your instructor prefers (Dr., Professor, first name). When in doubt, use their full title.

Page number

This goes in the top-right corner of the header. Page numbering starts on the title page itself, so page 1 goes here.

All of these elements are centered on the page and double-spaced throughout. The title is the only element that's bolded.

Step by Step: Setting Up Your APA Title Page in Word

Your APA title page should take less than five minutes to set up once you know the order of elements.

Here's how to do it for a student paper:

Step 1: Set your margins. Go to Page Layout and set all margins to 1 inch.

Step 2: Set your font. APA 7 accepts a few options: 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, or 11-point Georgia. Times New Roman is the most commonly expected default. Check if your instructor has a preference.

Step 3: Insert the page number. Double-click the header area, then insert a page number in the top-right corner. It should be a plain numeral, no "p." or "Page" before it.

Step 4: Position your title. Click out of the header. Press Enter three to four times from the top to move your cursor roughly to the upper-middle area of the page. Type your paper title, bold it, and center it.

Step 5: Add your name. Press Enter once after the title. Type your name: first name, middle initial if you use it, last name. Remove the bold formatting. Keep it centered.

Step 6: Add your affiliation. Press Enter and type your department on one line, then your institution on the next.

Step 7: Add course, instructor, and due date. Each goes on its own line, centered, no bolding.

Step 8: Check your spacing. Everything should be double-spaced. If you've been hitting Enter between elements, select all the text and apply double-spacing from the paragraph settings instead.

APA Title Page Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

The most common APA title page mistake is adding a running head to a student paper. APA 7 no longer requires it.

Here are the other errors that cost students points:

Using APA 6 formatting

Adding titles or degrees to your name

Forgetting page 1 on the title page

Not double-spacing

Wrong title casing

Centering without checking alignment

For more on how all these elements fit together, our APA research paper example shows a complete paper from title page to references.

Conclusion

The title page is the first thing your professor sees, and it takes five minutes to get right. Know which version applies to you (student, almost always), place all seven elements in order, and double-check your spacing and title casing before you submit. The running head confusion is real, but now you know: APA 7 student papers don't need one.

Once your title page is sorted, make sure your APA in-text citations are formatted correctly throughout the paper.