How to Join
Recruitment Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in fraternity or sorority recruitment activities, students must meet the following criteria:
- Have earned at least 14 credit hours at Penn State; or earned 27 transfer credits; or be considered an Adult Learner
- AP, dual enrollment, and transfer credits do not apply
- Have a 2.50 cumulative Penn State GPA
- Not have conduct probation with a transcript notation at the time of recruitment or intake
- Not be suspended or expelled at the time of recruitment or intake.
- Be enrolled as a full-time student
- Participate in an online information session sponsored by the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Recruitment information links:
Financial Obligations
Like any opportunity for involvement in college, there is a financial commitment associated with joining a fraternity or sorority.
Chapter Fees
Fees differ among individual chapters. New members can expect to pay higher dues their first semester than in subsequent ones. The fees go toward the Inter/Nationals, chapter operating expenses, and social functions. Additional costs throughout the semester will go toward chapter meal plans, pictures, gifts, t-shirts, etc. Ask about the financial obligations of membership during the recruitment process.
University Fees
The University instituted a semesterly Greek membership fee. This fee will be charged to your bursar account each semester you are a member of a Greek organization. The fee is $90 for Interfraternity & Panhellenic Council members and $30 for Multicultural Greek & National Pan-Hellenic Council members. The fee goes toward increased safety initiatives and resources as well as educational activities.
Fraternity and Sorority Housing
Students considering joining a fraternity or sorority that has an on-campus floor or off-campus facility should expect to live on the floor, within the South Halls community, or in the chapter’s off-campus facility for the entire academic year during, at a minimum, their first year of membership.
Many Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities have recognized off-campus houses, however there are a few organizations that do not currently have an off-campus house. Off-campus fraternity facilities are owned and operated by alumni from each organization. Many offer meal plans for both residents and out-of-house members. Students considering joining an IFC fraternity are also encouraged to consider off-campus fraternity housing as one of the many options at Penn State. Interested students should not sign a lease or Housing and Food Service (HFS) contract until they complete recruitment during the spring semester and receive a bid for membership. To allow all students that join our IFC community the opportunity to live in off-campus fraternity housing, the LiveOn Housing Process for on-campus housing remains open through mid-February, following IFC primary recruitment.
Most of our Panhellenic Council (PHC) sororities have floors in our renovated, on-campus South residence halls, which include private living rooms and kitchenettes for exclusive use by sorority members. Our sorority floors provide a wonderful community building experience for PHC members where they can grow as individuals and leaders. Each sorority may have different membership requirements, but many expect that members live on the sorority floor during their first year of membership in the organization. While applications for housing contracts are not due until the PHC primary recruitment process has concluded each Spring semester, we recommend that students interested in participating in the PHC sorority recruitment process also participate in the University’s housing process for current students during the Fall semester. Students who accept an on-campus housing contract and join a sorority through PHC’s Spring primary recruitment process should expect to live on the sorority’s floor or within the South Halls community during, at a minimum, their first year of membership.
Currently, our National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) organizations do not offer formal group living spaces however the university is open to providing on-campus group living opportunities for chapters interested in living together.
