When you join a sorority, there is a financial obligation that comes along with membership. This financial commitment is often referred to as “dues” or “membership dues” by chapter members. The dues amount will vary from chapter to chapter.

The women of the sorority chapter vote to approve the budget either each semester or each year. This vote determines how much each member will pay in dues. These dues go toward chapter expenses and activities such as educational programming, fundraising events or sisterhood activities. They also cover things such as insurance for each member and fees to the inter/national organization to ensure they can provide educational and helpful resources to chapters. On campuses with sorority housing, there will also be expenses like room and board (rent) and meals that members who live in the house pay.

Sorority dues can pay for:

Chapter Programming

Educational Tools

Dues to Inter/National Organization

Sisterhood & Social Events

Recruitment is the perfect place to have your questions answered. Ask about what your financial responsibility would be. You can also ask about financial assistance a sorority provides. While you will be required to meet the financial obligations, sororities often allow members to set up a payment plan that works best for them. Sorority chapters should provide answers toward the cost of sorority membership during recruitment. Typically, the first semester as a sorority member will be more expensive than any other because you will be asked to pay new member and initiation fees as well as purchase a membership badge. 

While you will be required to meet the financial obligations, sororities often allow members to set up a payment plan that works best for them.

The total amount owed for dues will vary with each chapter and with each campus. The funds collected from chapter members help pay for chapter operations, events, programming, and support for the inter/national organization. Chapters that host more events might charge more money in dues to pay for those events. Other chapters might charge less money for dues but expect you to pay individually throughout the year for different things you might want to do such as purchasing T-shirts or participating in additional sisterhood or social events. 

It is important to understand the financial obligations to membership before accepting a bid from an organization. All NPC member organizations should be transparent during the recruitment process about the cost of membership and what your money will be going toward. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and become as informed as possible.

You can find your campus here. By visiting their website and social media links, you can learn more about the sorority experience on that campus, including the cost of membership.

Alyssa

Alyssa is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. She attended IUPUI, where she earned degrees in public relations and English. Alyssa is a dog lover and podcast enthusiast.

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