Greek Life in College: What It Costs and How To Pay for It

Greek life can be a valuable part of the college experience. You gain new connections, leadership skills, and academic and social opportunities. But there are fraternity and sorority costs you must consider as well, adding to your total college expenses. Typically, you must pay a membership fee each semester just to join a fraternity or sorority, on top of other fees. 

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How much does Greek life cost?

The cost of Greek life depends on your school, region, chapter, and whether or not housing is included.

“The average range could be from $500 to $3,000, depending on the organization,” explains Deronda Washington, director of fraternity and sorority life at the College of Charleston.

Many organizations require an initiation fee of $100 or more, according to the College Benefits Research Group. Then there are new-member and recurring fees. 

For example, new-member fees at The University of Arizona range from $200 to $475 and are typically paid once, while active-member fees range from $125 to $320 per semester for fraternities without housing. 

For sororities, new-member fees range from $75 to $360, while active-member fees range from $150 to $360 without housing. 

At West Virginia University, the estimated range for fraternity and sorority membership dues is $200 to $800 per semester. Northeastern University states that membership costs can range from about $30 to $500 per semester. 

The cost of Greek life goes up when you add housing to the equation. The University of Rhode Island notes that living in a chapter house could cost about $5,000 to $8,000 a semester.

What are the main expenses of Greek life?

Greek life costs can vary widely by chapter. If you’re considering Greek life as part of your college experience, make sure you understand the cost of joining a fraternity or sorority. Check with your chapter about specific fees so you understand total costs and can budget accordingly. 

“The associated costs are typically for recruitment, initiation fees, national and chapter dues. If there is a philanthropic commitment, this is also included,” notes Washington.

Some of the main expenses of Greek life include:

• Initiation fee 
• New member fee
• Membership dues
• Badge fee
• Housing
• Meals 
• Programming
• Parlor fees 
• Room fees 
• Social dues 
• Apparel
• Events
• Travel
• Philanthropy 
• National dues 

How to pay for Greek life expenses

Figuring out how to pay for college is already challenging. Paying for Greek life on top of that adds even more variables. To help you pay for the cost of Greek life, you can consider:

• Budgeting: Break down all your Greek life costs so you know what to expect and can budget accordingly. Track your expenses every semester and plan ahead. 
• Payment plans: Some chapters may offer payment plans for your dues or membership fees, which can make paying for Greek life more manageable. Check with your chapter about what plans may be available and inquire about the terms. 
• Part-time work: Taking on part-time work on or off campus can give you more funds to help pay for the cost of joining a fraternity or sorority. Consider tutoring, pet sitting, babysitting, or freelancing using your existing skills. 

Greek life expenses can add up. Consider reducing the optional expenses for certain social events and travel.

Can student loans cover Greek life costs?

The answer to whether or not federal or private student loans can help you cover the cost of Greek life is less than straightforward. Student loans typically can’t be used for your fraternity or sorority membership dues, as they’re not a qualified expense. 

“Students pay for FSL [Fraternity and Sorority Life] dues with money saved. Typically, student loans are for educational purposes,” explains Washington.

However, you may be able to use federal or private student loans to cover eligible expenses like housing and meal plans if billed through the university.

“Each college has several ‘student budgets’ as part of the cost of attendance, including one for students living on campus in college-owned or operated housing, one for students living off campus in an apartment, and one for students living off campus with parents or other family,” says Mark Kantrowitz, author of “How To Appeal for More College Financial Aid.” 

“Each of these student budgets has a housing and meals component, which can be used to pay for the housing and meals costs of Greek life,” he adds.

It’s important to review your chapter’s billing practices so you understand what costs may be covered by financial aid.

Scholarships and grants for fraternity or sorority members

There are particular rules around what you can use student loans for. But what about scholarships and grants? 

“Typically, there are no grants or scholarships for joining; however, once a member, there are scholarships available that may have been endowed or created specifically for an FSL member,” says Washington.

You can see if your chapter has financial assistance programs or payment plans for your membership dues. Once you’re an initiated member, you can explore various scholarships for Greek life through foundations, national organizations, universities, and more. Some include: 

• Scholarships.com: You can search the Greek life scholarships available on Scholarships.com, which could be several thousand dollars or more. 
• Phi Mu Foundation: The Phi Mu Foundation offers various academic scholarships that may be chapter-, state-, or major-specific. 
• Sigma Pi Educational Foundation: You can use their site to find scholarships for Sigma Pi members. 
• Greek Life Endowed Scholarship: University of Massachusetts Lowell students may be eligible for this scholarship if they participate in Greek life. Your school may offer its own scholarships for Greek life.