Membership in a sorority comes with a financial requirement, which should be taken into consideration. Each chapter will … and we suggest that you anticipate the total fees using the higher projections provided below. During “Big-Little week,” each big surprises their little with gifts, food, and clothes. Those funds are often insufficient to support the need presented by potential members—and are sometimes insufficiently advertised those those debating Greek life. Already branded with a reputation for exclusivity, Greek organizations are made even more inaccessible by high dues and a host of hidden expenses. It is expensive to join either sorority, but I cannot give you a number amount as it is not a concrete amount annually. All Greek life members can apply to scholarships offered by their respective national societies, but these opportunities are not guaranteed and depend on the alumni endowment of each organization. Aside from the the first rush event—a Greek life mixer at which all fraternities are in attendance—every event is chapter-specific, meaning that there is no single event dedicated to explaining the finances of rushing fraternities. Pledging and initiation can be the most expensive processes of Greek life. Many groups use financial management companies, which offers online access and monthly payment plans. Obviously, sororities are organizations that need some funding to function. Badge fee. It's hard to nail down an actual average of basic costs, such as registration fees, dues and housing because every school is different. “SDT does a really good job of making resources available, but I could definitely see there being a pressure to buy new clothes and other stuff.”. Members also have to pay for apparel like t-shirts (everyone has to match), alcohol, social events like other fundraisers, clothes for themed parties and gifts for younger members. However, the cost of living in a fraternity or sorority house is generally comparable […] If you’re a small chapter, sisters may not need to pay too much comparatively, but sorority dues can often reach over $1,000 per student per semester. At the University of Florida, sorority members pay around $3,700 per year, and that includes housing. While most fraternities and sororities have begun to implement forms of institutional aid, these initiatives are outpaced by student need. Get the latest news and top stories delivered to your inbox. That's all on top of living costs. Greek-letter organizations have been self-sufficient since their inception. • Most of the fraternities and sororities have reduced dues for members on co-op • New member dues are typically more expensive • The student would live in the fraternity house over the summer (most of the sorority houses close for the summer; but you can imagine that finding on- or off- I was never part of a sorority myself. Usually, the first semester of membership is the most expensive because of one-time membership fees. The number of students who express interest in joining fraternities or sororities has increased every year, with hundreds of students going through the rush process last year and close to 20 percent of the student body currently involved in Greek life. “I am considering rushing again, but the financials are still really holding me back,” a Columbia College sophomore who received a bid during the last recruitment cycle but had to decline for monetary reasons said. For the six sorority chapters under the Columbia Panhellenic Council, dues average $650 for new members and about $400 for returning members, with some houses decreasing dues based on the season or length of membership. Additional information regarding the average chapter dues at the University of Alabama may be… Because of new member dues, you can expect your first semester in a sorority to be the most expensive. Despite the widespread appeal of Greek life as a means to find community, for many, the community it offers is unapproachable from the start because of the baseline cost of dues. However, most Greek life organizations on campus have attempted to provide aid in ways that vary widely from chapter to chapter. At the end of the day, there is no cheap way to do sorority life. Some people think joining a sorority is basically "buying friendship," but anyone who has joined one will tell you that's not always true. Joining a sorority could mean spending almost $500 on just t-shirts over four years. Here are some examples, but keep in mind every school and chapter are different. The first semester will be the most expensive because recruitment, registration and initiation fees are piled on everything else. That adds up to $5,200 just to be in a sorority. Again, this is dependent on the school and sorority, but with all the activities you do in a sorority, dues can be expensive. According to data from the 2015-2016 school year, the least amount a UCF student would have to pay as a new member of a sorority is $956 per semester at Delta Zeta, compared with the highest amount – $2,346 – at Delta Delta Delta. After the newness has worn off, sisters and brothers are responsible for paying active member dues every semester. That's a lot for t-shirts you'll end up giving away or throwing out. Fraternities and sororities pay their own way through dues, membership fees and one-time new member or initiation fees. She lived in the sorority house for some, but not all, of her four years in college. Penn State and the University of Mississippi don't offer housing for sororities, but members must pay either monthly or per semester to be a part of them. At the end of the article, DiGangi expresses how she feels about the costs in hindsight. Columbia has no such centralized information about the costs of Greek life (Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Jazmyn Pulley was not made available for an interview). With these barriers of entry, students involved in Greek life noted that most of their fellow members were from affluent backgrounds. New initiate bond card and certificate fee. pledging, initiation, badge or pin fee, etc.) Most new members are also responsible for social expenses and numerous extra fees, too. Then, if you chose to accept a bid to a sorority, your first semester dues as a new member will range between $400 and $800 depending on the chapter. For the six sorority chapters under the Columbia Panhellenic Council, dues average $650 for new members and about $400 for returning members, with some houses decreasing dues based on the season or length of membership. Citations: Here's What It Cost Me to Be in a Sorority for 4 Years (Credit.com), How Much Do Sororities Cost? Before joining, create a plan on how you will afford the dues and be prepared to commit financially. This standardization is facilitated by the use of payment plans, which allow members to pay their dues in scheduled installments over a longer period of time. All rights reserved. Beta’s dues are $600, which falls on the higher end of the spectrum for fraternities, but—according to President Justin Borczuk, CC ’18—they help prevent brothers from having to pay out-of-pocket. “Even though no one has to know my financial background and my low-income status ... subconsciously it’s going to take a toll on me and the way I perceive myself.”, rahil.kamath@columbiaspectator.com | @columbiaspec. S only expense will be the most part, joining a sorority or fraternity gives you a lifelong sisterhood brotherhood!, eight did not respond to Spectator ’ most expensive sorority dues dues should be shared during recruitment for paying Active dues... 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