Approximately 9 million people across the United States—roughly 3% of the adult population—belong to sororities and fraternities either as active members or alumni. About 750,000 active members belong to 6,000 chapters of these “Greek” organizations across the country.
Student-led organizations with specific rituals and traditions that provide community and life-long connections, Greek organizations help students make the most of their college experiences and provide support long afterward.
Why is it called Greek Life?
Fraternities and sororities are referred to as “Greek” because they are known by their Greek initials. Phi Beta Kappa was the first fraternity, founded at the College of William and Mary during the American Revolution. Its letters—ΦBK—stood for Philosophia Biou Kybernētēs. Roughly translated, these words mean “the love of wisdom is the guide of life.”
Other organizations followed PBK’s model and became known by their initials. Gradually, participation in these organizations became known as “Greek Life.”
Greek Life 101
Phi Beta Kappa is probably not the first Greek organization that comes to your mind! But it is proof that the Greek Life world is broader than the types of Greek chapters that make their way into movies and shows. Generally speaking, Greek organizations fall into three categories:
- Social Greek organizations: These fraternities and sororities—with “rushes,” initiations, parties, and traditions specific to each—are the type most often portrayed in popular media. Fraternities are usually open to college men, and sororities to college women. Examples of social Greek organizations include Pi Kappa Alpha and Delta Gamma.
- Multicultural Greek organizations: These fraternities and sororities bring students with common interests and backgrounds together to form communities and provide public service. Lambda Theta Phi and Gamma Zeta Alpha are examples of multicultural Greek organizations.
- Professional and academic Greek organizations: These organizations are focused on academic areas of study and specific career paths. For example, Theta Tau is a co-ed fraternity for engineers and Mu Phi Epsilon is a co-ed fraternity for musicians. These provide opportunities for networking and discipline-specific mentoring.
Joining and membership
In most cases, joining a Greek organization isn’t as simple as signing up. The decision that someone should become a new member is made by both the applicant and the members of the sorority and fraternity.
During a period of time known as “Recruitment,” “Rush,” or “Intake,” students attend events hosted by chapters, and get to know–and work to impress—its existing members. Formal applications can request information including your activities, grades, and whether any family members have been members of that organization.
“As a first-year [student], I had a hard time putting myself out there, but when I heard about recruitment and saw more people getting involved, joining Greek life sounded like a great way to reach out and have people reach back,” says Aliza Retuta, a member of University of the Pacific’s chapter of Delta Gamma. “You dive head-first into social dynamics.”
After being formally accepted into a sorority or fraternity, new members go through an educational period that lasts between one and two months. Then, they are formally initiated into the organization.
How are Greek organizations structured and governed?
When you join Greek life, you join a campus chapter of a larger organization. Your chapter operates under a charter from the larger organization, and has a leadership board that makes decisions, plans events and organizes communal activities.
Most fraternities and sororities are also part of overarching organizations as well: The North-American Interfraternity Council is an umbrella organization including many fraternities. The National Pan-Hellenic Conference includes many sororities. And the Multicultural Greek Council includes many multicultural Greek organizations.
Campus-level versions of overarching councils are often established on campuses that have multiple chapters of their member organizations, and these councils also exercise governance over campus chapters of Greek organizations.
University student life offices may also regulate the activities of campus chapters, especially if their houses are located on campus.
Benefits of participating in Greek life
Joining a Greek organization means becoming part of a close-knit community with an established ethos and values that unites students across areas of study and years in school.
“It’s an opportunity to meet people you might not encounter in classes—pre-dents with business or music majors, for example,” says Simran Dhillon, also a member of Pacific’s Delta Gamma chapter. At the same time, Retuta adds, “By joining a Greek organization rooted in values, you surround yourself with like-minded people.”
The social benefits provided by participating in a sorority or fraternity expand beyond chapter activities. A 2021 Gallup survey found that Greek alumni were nearly four times as likely to have felt supported by faculty and mentors and to have engaged in experiential learning than their non-Greek peers.
Greek organizations value their members’ academic accomplishments. Many have GPA requirements for applicants and provide support for their members’ academic careers.
“Chapters help you build your resume and include structured study hours to support academic success,” says Serena Lopez, a member of Pacific’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. “Greek life helps students build social connections and learn time management. It provides life-long involvement and connection beyond college.”
Greek life encourages personal growth in other ways, too.
“Leadership opportunities within your chapter help you grow personally and professionally,” says Gissel Vigil, a member of Pacific’s chapter of Alpha Phi. Anshini Parikh, a member of the same sorority, agrees. “Greek life allows you to engage in community service and support philanthropy that benefits the broader community.”
Alumni networks provide members with valuable networking opportunities and connections across industries. While estimates of the percentage of CEOs and other high-profile groups in business and public life who are Greek alumni vary considerably, it seems clear that the question is how large that number is, not whether it is significant.
“Greek life provides professional benefits and networking opportunities that aren’t always obvious to outsiders,” Retuta notes. “Greek organizations encourage behaviors essential for the workforce: public speaking, conflict mediation, financial responsibility and clear, effective communication.”
Gallup found 51% of Greek alumni found jobs before or within two months of graduating compared with 36% of their peers nationally.
Things to consider before joining Greek life
Participation in Greek life requires commitments of time and money:
- In addition to the time needed for special events, belonging to a Greek organization usually means participating in weekly meetings, at a minimum.
- Dues can range from $300 to $800 per semester for social Greek organizations, while those for professional organizations are usually less.
- Housing costs can be comparable to or sometimes less expensive than on-campus housing and meal plans.
Additionally, it is worthwhile to look at the hazing policies at your university. Because of underreporting, its frequency is hard to know. Consequently, it is important to check whether your university has a hazing policy and to understand what it contains and how it applies. You should also investigate the anti-hazing resources the university makes available to chapter members. For example, at Pacific, students involved in Greek life must attend trainings on reporting procedures, bystander intervention, safety and risk management guidelines, mental health resources and hazing prevention workshops. Any reports of hazing at University of the Pacific are taken seriously and addressed immediately.
Greek life at Pacific
Pacific hosts seven social Greek organizations, five multicultural Greek organizations and 14 professional Greek organizations.
Six chapters have houses on Pacific’s Stockton Campus: Alpha Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi and Theta Chi houses are owned by Pacific and maintained by Residential Life and Housing Office, and were renovated in 2024. Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta are also located on Campus.
“I’ve had the best experience living in my house,” said Arilius Khim, a member of Theta Chi. “I’ve made a closer bond with my brothers, and it’s also helped me a lot academically. Without their support, being an engineering major would be a lot harder.”
Recruitment for all chapters (except for pharmacy Greek organizations) takes place during the fall semester, and each organization has a specific process for recruiting new members.
Additionally, Pacific’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa inducts new members each year, and sponsors events during the year. Only 10% of universities in the United States have chapters. Members must be invited, but students can increase their odds of being asked by fulfilling the qualifications.
Should you go Greek?
Greek life isn’t for everyone, but many students with widely different backgrounds, experiences, personalities, goals and interests can find community in Greek organizations. If you’re looking for a family-like atmosphere, being challenged to lead and to give and grow, and are looking out for your future, looking into Greek life might be very rewarding.
“Joining Greek life is like joining a family,” says Mariana Arellano, a member of Pacific’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. “The group should match your energy, be there when you’re down, be ready for that food run or just to sit on each other’s floor to rant about classes. There’s never a dull day being around your Greek family.”
Learn more about Greek life at Pacific.