Every good American college movie features a fraternity or sorority. Think Bad Neighbours, Sydney White, Animal House, Legally Blonde and even Monsters University. These representations of Greek Life range from slightly stereotypical to totally fictional so we’re here to set the record straight on what being part of a fraternity actually means.
We’re going to tell you what a fraternity is, what a fraternity house is, what it’s like to live in a fraternity house, and everything else you might want to know when it comes to American fraternities and sororities. See our FAQ at the end too!
What is a fraternity? Some history and the basics
Usually open to undergraduate students, fraternities and sororities are single-sex social clubs that promote community and philanthropy.
The word fraternity comes from the Latin for brother (‘frater’) and the word sorority comes from the Latin for sister (‘soror,’) indicating who the club is for. It’s typical for members within the club to refer to each other as brother and sister too as a sign of membership.
As fraternities came first, it’s also common for fraternity to act as an umbrella term for both fraternities and sororities. All fraternities and sororities also fall under the umbrella of Greek Life or Greek-letter organisations, referring to their individual names, identified with Greek letters. For example, at Yale University you’ll find the fraternities Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi and Delta Kappa.
College administrations used to oppose fraternities (back when they first started out and were considered anti-administration) so historically there’s been some level of secrecy surrounding the clubs, creating strong community traditions and tight alumni networks that anyone who graduates from a fraternity or sorority is automatically a part of. Nowadays though, Greek life happens out in the open and is often part of university marketing campaigns as it promotes fundraising on campus.
Social fraternities operate as social networks for their members, with a focus on personal development, charity work and fun extracurricular activities. There are also professional fraternities and service fraternities, which focus on particular industries and community service respectively. Today we’re focusing on social fraternities and sororities.
Once you get accepted to college, you can find fraternities within their college campus, known as a ‘chapter,’ but belong to a national fraternity. For example, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity has 141 chapters across more than 10 states and universities. Many of the national fraternities defer to the North American Interfraternity Conference for governance, support, and networking.
What is a fraternity house?
A big part of fraternity life is the fraternity house. It is exactly what it says on the tin. A house run by the fraternity for the fraternity. Members can live and socialise at the property and it acts as a central hub for events and meetings.
Separate from university dorms, it serves the same basic purpose (your home while at college) but with the added benefits of living with your Greek brothers or sisters, being under the same roof as all key social events and, more likely than not, with a bit more comfort.
Fraternity housing is either on campus or off campus, with the former leased to the fraternity from the university and therefore coming with university policies and the bonus of being close to the action, while the latter is owned either by a fraternity housing association or private landlord.
Although it can vary greatly between individual fraternities and sororities, fraternity houses are big, and you can usually expect to find the following:
- Shared bedrooms (always check to see how many people you could be sharing with as it can range from twin rooms to hostel style dorms with over 10 people sharing)
- Kitchen
- Study spaces
- Social spaces (living room, TV room etc.)
- Dining room
- Meeting rooms (as the house is often the HQ of the fraternity, all governance is carried out on site)
- Event spaces
- Garden
- Bathrooms
Anyone who is a member of the fraternity should be allowed to stay there, but sometimes priority is given to freshman or seniors, depending on the fraternity tradition. After their first year in the house, some members of the fraternity may choose to find a private house with a smaller friendship group for added living privacy while remaining part of the fraternity.
How do frat houses work?
To live in a frat house you must first be part of a fraternity. The majority of fraternities have joining periods at the start of every academic year, broken into two phases: rushing and pledging.
Rushing is when fraternities and sororities are recruiting members. It’s their opportunity to sell themselves through events and your chance to get to know all the different options available to you. It’s almost like a mutual interview.
Pledging comes after rushing and is almost an orientation for the individual fraternity you’ve chosen. It’s your chance to learn their values and traditions and demonstrate that you’d bring value and fit into the social club.
Once you’re a member, you’re then welcome to live in the house.
Often senior members of a frat will act in essential roles in the frat house, such as house manager, treasurer and social secretary. These roles help the house operate smoothly with oversight on cleanliness, relationships, events, finances and more. They also act as points of contact for you if you’re ever in need of support.
Above the live-in committees, there are external oversight boards depending on who owns the property. If it’s leased from the university then the fraternity will have to confer to their policies, both socially and legally. If it’s leased from a fraternity housing association, which might be run by alumni or a national network, or a private landlord, then the property is subject to their oversight, which might be more relaxed.
Always check to see who owns the property as there might be a co-operate membership scheme which allows you some ownership over the running of the house. This varies greatly between fraternities.
What’s it like to live in a fraternity house?
Living in a fraternity house will directly shape your university experience. It will come with built-in friends, a social calendar, study support, a professional network of alumni to draw on, and add to your resume with philanthropic opportunities to get stuck into.
Fraternity alumni often cite how social the houses are as a benefit to living there. They’re busy places with a big emphasis on socialising and come with responsibility as part of the frat. You’ll be expected to participate in events, socialise with your brothers or sisters, and contribute to the frat through volunteering and more.
You’ll always be sharing space. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, privacy isn’t guaranteed in a frat house. As it’s the HQ for a frat, there’ll be lots happening all the time, from parties to meetings to fundraisers.
Your day-to-day will always look different depending on your academic calendar and what your fraternity prioritises. A good place to start to get a more detailed understanding is by checking out ‘A day in the life of a frat house’ videos on YouTube.
How much does it cost to live in a fraternity house?
As with any accommodation, living in a fraternity house comes with rent and other associated costs. It varies between fraternity and sorority and can change annually with inflation. It’s important to check directly with the house you’d like to live in what fees you’ll be expected to pay.
Remember, housing fees are an additional cost on top of the expected membership fees. As a joining member you'll be expected to pay:
Registration fee
Membership fee
Alumni dues
Housing fee
Meal plan
Social expenses
as well as miscellaneous costs, such as clothing, drink and other typical college costs. All these costs vary from fraternity to fraternity.
At the University of Arizona, annual member fees including housing range from $3,000 to $9,350, but that includes membership fees too.
At North Carolina State University, Greek life has to comply with the university regulations as the ‘Greek village’ is on campus. This means there’s more transparency around fees. Rent here ranges from $4,186 to $12,000. This doesn’t include the meal plan or membership fee, which is an additional cost.
As you can see, Greek life can be expensive but that doesn’t mean it’s not for you. Almost all fraternities now offer payment plans, scholarships and other financial aid in order to create accessibility for prospective members.
Check out the individual finance support available at the chapter you’re looking to pledge. Rushing is the best time to ask your questions about finances too as many people will be in the same boat and fraternities will have advice and information on hand to talk you through options.
Fraternity house vs dorm: what’s the difference?
There are many differences between a fraternity house and a dorm, including cost, location and available amenities.
A dorm will usually consist of many shared bedrooms and maybe a canteen and one shared living area, with other social areas provided elsewhere on campus. Also, a dorm will often be mixed gender.
Comparatively, a frat house will be single-sex and have all of its social spaces under one roof. You can sleep, eat, study and party all in one place.
Location wise, dorms are on-campus, near to other university facilities like the gym, library and lecture halls. Fraternities meanwhile can be both on and off campus, with distances to important amenities like these ranging. Sometimes a university’s Greek life houses will all be concentrated in one area, often nicknamed the Greek village, so your neighbours will be other fraternities and sororities.
Cost-wise, university dorms are, on average, cheaper. The price reflects the quality of the living space and, while more expensive, a frat house will come with added comforts and benefits.
Should you live in a fraternity house?
Only you can decide if a fraternity house is the right space for you. The key takeaway is that they're social, values driven and busy. Your lifestyle will be jam-packed, full of friends, events and meetings. Many fraternities do have academic expectations too of its members, so will offer a good study attitude to encourage your commitment to classes.
If you find yourself easily distracted, often needing downtime and perhaps wanting a bit more privacy, then a frat house might not be the best living situation for you. However, each frat is different and the orientation period at the start of the academic year is the best time to get to know each one and see if there's a fit for you.
Don’t let cost be a barrier though, as many fraternities and universities offer financial aid to allow students to engage with Greek life. Always ask what payment options are available.
FAQ
Is living in a fraternity house a good idea for me?
It depends what college experience you’re looking to have. If you can afford it, enjoy socialising and are looking for a built-in family that prioritizes fundraising, leadership and community, then frat life could be the perfect fit. If you’re quieter but looking to step out of your comfort zone in college with people who share similar values, then Greek life might also be for you!
There are so many options available that there’s surely something for everyone. But use the rush period at the start of the academic year to really get to know each chapter before making your decision. You can also join a fraternity at any point in your college career, so don’t feel pressured to make the decision as a freshman.
What’s hazing?
Now banned by fraternities nationwide, hazing is a tradition associated with pledging that often involved excessive drinking and other substance abuse, as well as semi-dangerous activities prospective brothers and sisters would be expected to carry out to demonstrate their commitment to joining the fraternity or sorority. It’s the tradition of hazing that has influenced a lot of media portrayals of frat houses. Almost all fraternities now have clearly signposted reporting routes for any occurrences of hazing and universities, and law enforcement, enforce strong disciplinary repercussions for any fraternities found to be involved in the activities. You should not be expected to participate in any activity that makes you uncomfortable to join a frat.
Who owns fraternity houses?
Ownership varies between fraternities. Some properties are on land owned by the university and leased to the fraternity. Some are owned by the fraternity itself, usually through a national housing association that’s been set up by the fraternity. Some are owned by alumni or private landlords and again leased to the fraternity. Some might be owned by a membership co-operative, whereby each member owns a % of the house and is therefore responsible for management.
Are fraternities and sororities the same?
Fraternities and sororities serve the same functions (both social clubs) but the key difference is that fraternities are for men and sororities are for women. In some instances there are mixed clubs but, most often, they’re gender segregated but have sibling houses of the opposite sex who they run joint events and functions with.
Do all universities have fraternity houses?
No. Greek life is widespread in North America but not universal. Some universities have never had it, some universities have banned it following instances of serious hazing or other anti-social behaviour, and some universities pride themselves on their Greek villages. Fraternities and sororities have to be endorsed at a local level (chapters) by the college so there’s always a symbiotic relationship that revolves around policies, social and academic expectations and fundraising.
