The 10 Best Fraternities in the US: A Guide for Prospective Members

Fraternities have been part of American college life for nearly two centuries. Today, NIC member fraternities operate through 6,100 chapters on 800 campuses, with 380,000 undergraduate members and 4.2 million alumni. Each year, hundreds of thousands of college men go through rush, pledging organizations that will shape their social lives, professional networks, and personal development long after graduation.

This guide profiles ten of the most prominent fraternities in the US, covering what each one stands for, who it tends to attract, and what sets it apart, so you can find the right fit before you walk into a rush event.

• What Are the Best Fraternities in the US?
• Sigma Chi
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• Beta Theta Pi
• Pi Kappa Alpha
• Tau Kappa Epsilon
• Phi Delta Theta
• Alpha Tau Omega
• Kappa Sigma
• Lambda Chi Alpha
• Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Interested in Joining a Fraternity?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Fraternities in the US?

It’s worth clarifying upfront that no single fraternity is the best for every student. What matters is the fit between a student’s values, goals, and the culture of a specific chapter. That said, some fraternities have built particularly strong national reputations through the scale of their networks, the accomplishments of their alumni, and the consistency of their chapter culture.

The ten fraternities below are among the most prominent in the country. Here’s a quick summary before exploring each:

Sigma Chi

Founding year: 1855

Founding school: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

Number of active chapters: 244

Sigma Chi was born out of a dispute over fairness and honesty within an existing fraternity. When Minor Millikin attempted to use strong-arm tactics to control the dissenting brothers, Ben Runkle dramatically pulled off his badge and walked out, followed by five colleagues. That occasion made the schism irreparable, and out of it came the founding of Sigma Chi. Justice became the fraternity’s defining principle from day one.

Today, more than 70% of Sigma Chi chapters are above the all-men’s average GPA on their campus. Sigma Chi men contribute more than 250,000 hours of community service each year and have contributed more than $40 million to charitable causes over the last 10 years. 

The fraternity’s preferred philanthropic partner is the Huntsman Cancer Institute. In 2015, Sigma Chi made history with the largest-ever philanthropic commitment from a Greek-letter men’s organization, a $10 million pledge to HCI, and later surpassed that with an additional $20 million pledged toward HCI’s Women’s Health Center and Research Wing through 2030.

The Significant Sig Award recognizes alumni whose achievements in their fields have brought great honor and prestige to Sigma Chi. The fraternity has recognized more than 2,500 brothers since the award’s introduction at the 1935 Grand Chapter. Notable Sigma Chi alumni include actors Brad Pitt, Tom Selleck, Woody Harrelson, and late-night host David Letterman.

Sigma Chi tends to appeal to students who want a large, well-established chapter presence combined with a meaningful philanthropic program and a strong entertainment and sports alumni network.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Founding year: 1856

Founding school: University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Number of active chapters: 215

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded on March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, by Noble Leslie DeVotie and seven others. The Civil War nearly wiped out the fraternity entirely, with most of its early chapters lost to the death toll of the conflict. Its survival and national expansion after the war is a defining part of its institutional identity.

Since 1856, Sigma Alpha Epsilon has been building a brotherhood with the guiding creed of “The True Gentleman,” a short declaration of character that every SAE member commits to. This roots members in values of impeccable character, self-control, humility, and leadership. It has expanded to over 200 chapters across the United States, initiating over 360,000 brothers. 

The SAE Foundation supports scholarships that recognize the highest standards of the fraternity’s values: Friendship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. In 2025, the fraternity raised $448,000 in awards and scholarships. 

Notable SAE alumni include novelist William Faulkner, actor Sam Elliott, and University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart.

SAE is a strong fit for students drawn to a culture built around character and personal integrity, particularly those at large SEC and ACC schools where its chapters have historically been among the most active.

Beta Theta Pi

Founding year: 1839

Founding school: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

Number of active chapters: 150

Beta Theta Pi, commonly known simply as Beta, was founded on August 8, 1839, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of the oldest fraternities in existence, it was founded by students who had previously been members of the Erodelphian and Union Literary Societies but had greater aspirations for their own organization. It is the sixth-oldest fraternity in the country and the first founded west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Beta Theta Pi operates under the Men of Principle initiative, which holds chapters to a consistent standard of conduct and values-based membership development. The fraternity also has programs that award nearly $400,000 in scholarships each year, including 100 tuition-based merit scholarships given to Betas (undergraduate and graduate) or their sons and daughters.

With 220,000+ lifetime members, Beta offers a wide network of CEOs, coaches, entrepreneurs, astronauts, and innovators. The fraternity provides lifelong access to a comprehensive online mentoring platform, with more than 100 chapter- and location-based alumni associations.

Beta tends to attract students who prioritize intellectual culture and want a fraternity experience grounded in personal accountability. Its strongest chapters are found at selective research universities.

Pi Kappa Alpha

Founding year: 1868

Founding school: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Number of active chapters: 225

Pi Kappa Alpha began in Room 47 of the West Range at the University of Virginia, where Frederick Southgate Taylor and a small group of friends founded the fraternity on March 1, 1868. Three of the original founders had served in the Civil War, and the fraternity was built on ideals of integrity, intellect, and high moral character. PIKE has initiated more than 320,000 men into the brotherhood, with 200 chapters across the US and Canada.

PIKE annually raises over $3 million for different philanthropies, and members perform over 300,000 hours of community service. As for career opportunities, PIKE members are 3x as likely to obtain an internship while in college and 2x as likely to have a job waiting for them when they graduate.

Notable PIKE alumni include author Stephen Covey, country singer Tim McGraw, journalist Ted Koppel, Bain and Company founder Bill Bain, and former Vice President John Nance Garner.

PIKE draws students who want a wide national footprint combined with a culture that takes leadership and professional development seriously. It has strong chapters at large flagship universities, particularly in the South and mid-Atlantic.

Tau Kappa Epsilon

Founding year: 1899

Founding school: Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois)

Number of active chapters: 212

Tau Kappa Epsilon was founded on January 10, 1899, at Illinois Wesleyan University. From the start, its founders built a brotherhood based on character and merit rather than wealth or social standing, with the stated purpose of promoting mental, moral, and social development in college men. Since its founding, TKE has never had an exclusionary or discriminatory clause to prevent individuals from joining.

TKE’s philanthropic commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has a direct origin story: founding member Danny Thomas established St. Jude in 1962 and enlisted his fraternity brothers to help fund it. In 2016, TKE completed a $2.6 million fundraising commitment to St. Jude, the second time the fraternity has fulfilled a major pledge to the hospital, having previously raised $1 million ahead of schedule.

In 2019, TKE pledged to raise $10 million over ten years toward naming the Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Research Floor at St. Jude, one of the most significant philanthropic commitments made by any men’s fraternity.

TKE is one of the largest collegiate men’s social fraternities in North America, with over 302,000 initiated members and 213 active chapters. Notable TKE alumni include President Ronald Reagan, Elvis Presley, Conrad Hilton, Terry Bradshaw, Aaron Rodgers, and Howard Schultz.

TKE is well suited for students who value an inclusive, merit-based culture and want to join a fraternity with a documented philanthropic track record and broad national reach.

Phi Delta Theta

Founding year: 1848

Founding school: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

Number of active chapters: 219

Phi Delta Theta was founded on December 30, 1848, when six Miami University students known as the “Immortal Six” signed The Bond in a dormitory room in Old North Hall. It is one of three fraternities that form the Miami Triad, alongside Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Chi.

The fraternity was built on three Cardinal Principles that have not changed since 1848: the cultivation of friendship among its members, the acquirement individually of a high degree of mental culture, and the attainment personally of a high standard of morality, shortened to Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude. The fraternity’s philanthropy, Live Like Lou, supports ALS research and awareness, named for fellow Phi Delt Lou Gehrig.

Phi Delta Theta has initiated more than 288,716 men since its founding, with over 195,000 living alumni. 

Phi Delta Theta’s alumni include Neil Armstrong, who carried his Phi Delt badge and flag to the moon on Apollo 11, along with fellow Phi Delt NASA astronauts Jon McBride and F. Story Musgrave. The fraternity’s alumni also include six MLB Hall of Famers such as Lou Gehrig and a President of the United States in Benjamin Harrison, who was the first US president to be a fraternity member.

Phi Delt is a strong fit for students who want a chapter with deep historical roots, a rigorous values framework, and a legacy that spans science, sports, and public service.

Alpha Tau Omega

Founding year: 1865

Founding school: Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, Virginia)

Number of active chapters: 125

Alpha Tau Omega holds three distinctions no other fraternity can claim: it was the first founded after the Civil War, the first built around original ideals rather than in reaction to an existing organization, and the first established as a national fraternity from day one.

ATO describes itself as America’s Leadership Development Fraternity. The LeaderShape Institute, created by Alpha Tau Omega in 1986, is considered one of the country’s premier leadership development training programs for college students and young professionals. The program has since expanded beyond ATO and is used by colleges and universities across the country as a standalone leadership curriculum. More than 234,000 men have been initiated into the ATO brotherhood since its founding.

Notable ATO alumni include Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier, ABC sportscaster Keith Jackson, and former MIT President Karl Taylor Compton.

ATO appeals to students who want leadership development built into the foundation of their fraternity experience, particularly at schools with military traditions or strong ROTC programs.

Kappa Sigma

Founding year: 1869

Founding school: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Number of active chapters: 318

Kappa Sigma was founded on December 10, 1869, when five students at the University of Virginia gathered in the room of William Grigsby McCormick at 46 East Lawn. The founders formalized their friendship and created a fraternity dedicated to the pursuit of learning.

Kappa Sigma is the largest college social fraternity in the world, with more than 200,000 living members, over 17,000 undergraduates, and more than 300 chapters and colonies throughout the United States and Canada. Its four pillars are Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. The Military Heroes Campaign, Kappa Sigma’s primary philanthropy, raises funds to support veterans and active-duty service members, with chapters logging tens of thousands of service hours and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in support of military families.

Notable Kappa Sigma alumni include William Hewlett, co-founder of Hewlett Packard; Edgar D. Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut and lunar module pilot; and Denton A. Cooley, founder of the Texas Heart Institute and the first surgeon to perform a heart transplant in the United States.

Kappa Sigma is well suited for students who want to join the largest fraternity in the world by membership, with a service culture that has a particular focus on honoring veterans. Its chapter presence is especially strong in the South and Pacific Northwest.

Lambda Chi Alpha

Founding year: 1909

Founding school: Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts)

Number of active chapters: 185

Lambda Chi Alpha was founded on November 2, 1909, at Boston University. Since its founding, the fraternity has redefined fraternity life by eliminating pledging, focusing on personal growth, and promoting inclusive brotherhood. Its founders believed leadership is built on character, guiding its actions through service, scholarship, mentorship, and moral courage.

Lambda Chi Alpha’s hunger relief work is among the most concrete philanthropic programs in the fraternity world. The fraternity launched the North American Food Drive in 1993, the largest single-day fraternity philanthropic project at the time, raising more than 256,000 pounds of food in its first year. Since partnering with Feeding America, Lambda Chi Alpha chapters have collected over 10 million pounds of food, equating to nearly 9 million meals for Americans facing hunger.

Notable Lambda Chi Alpha alumni include honorary member and 33rd US President Harry S. Truman, country singer Kenny Chesney, and former U.S. Representative Ron Paul.

Lambda Chi Alpha is a strong choice for students looking for a chapter with a serious anti-hazing commitment, a measurable service record, and wide chapter presence at mid-sized state universities.

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Founding year: 1901

Founding school: Richmond College, now University of Richmond (Richmond, Virginia)

Number of active chapters: 187

Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College. Its 12 founders were rejected by existing fraternities on campus for their values and backgrounds, and they built SigEp on three Cardinal Principles: Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love, with the stated desire that “this fraternity will be different.”

The most distinctive thing about SigEp is the Balanced Man Program. The BMP is a non-pledging, non-hazing, four-year personal, academic, leadership, and professional skills development experience built around equal rights and responsibilities, continuous development, and mentorship. 

In 1994, SigEp received a $250,000 federal grant to support the program’s national implementation, recognizing its impact on student safety and its potential to elevate the quality of Greek life on campuses across the nation. The fraternity now offers the Balanced Man Scholarship at over 140 universities, awarding more than 500 scholarships per year to incoming students.

SigEp has 187 active chapters and more than 371,000 lifetime members. Notable SigEp alumni include Nobel Laureate in Economics Kenneth Arrow, Hollywood actor Glen Powell, and award-winning director Jon M. Chu. 

SigEp tends to attract students who want a structured, hazing-free personal development program as the backbone of their membership, backed by one of the more rigorously designed membership models in Greek life.

Interested in Joining a Fraternity?

Joining a fraternity has measurable benefits that extend well beyond the social calendar. Members experience stronger retention and persistence to graduation, nearly 75% of chapters offer focused leadership development programming at least monthly, and more than 8 out of 10 fraternity members say they would re-join their organizations.

Fraternity members can tap built-in alumni networks, finding jobs more quickly than their peers. Research shows almost half of members had a brother help them find an internship or job and provide career advice. The numbers on the alumni side are equally striking: 85% of Fortune 500 executives belong to a fraternity, and 76% of all U.S. Congressmen and Senators have been fraternity members.

There is one practical reality worth acknowledging: the strongest, most prestigious chapters of the fraternities on this list are concentrated at highly selective universities. The University of Virginia, Purdue, Georgia, USC, and similar flagship and private research universities tend to house chapters with the deepest alumni connections and the most competitive rush processes. Getting into those schools is the first step toward joining those chapters.

That’s where we can help. AdmissionSight’s Academic and Extracurricular Profile Evaluation gives you a clear picture of where you stand and exactly what needs to improve, covering everything from GPA and test scores to extracurricular positioning and application strategy. The results speak for themselves: 98% of AdmissionSight students get accepted to a top 30 university. If joining one of these fraternities at a top school is the goal, the process starts here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best fraternities for networking and career development?

It comes down to scale. Kappa Sigma has over 200,000 living members, TKE has over 302,000, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon has over 360,000, meaning the odds of finding a brother in your industry or city are high. That said, the practical strength of any chapter’s network depends more on the school it’s at than the national brand.

2. What college has the best fraternities in the US?

According to Niche’s 2026 Best Greek Life ranking, Florida State University ranks first, followed by Tulane University and the University of Alabama. Beyond student satisfaction, the University of Virginia, Purdue, and the University of Michigan are known for chapters with deep alumni networks and competitive rush processes.

3. What are the best fraternities for students who want a strong academic culture?

Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, and Sigma Phi Epsilon all build academic accountability into their membership programs. For the most accurate picture, look up individual chapter GPA data at your specific school rather than relying on national reputation alone.

4. How do I know which fraternity is the right fit for me?

Attend rush events at multiple fraternities and pay attention to the people instead of just the brand. Talk to current members and recent alumni. Consider what matters most to you: philanthropy, leadership programming, career networking, or chapter culture. The national organization sets the framework, but the chapter sets the experience.

5. Are the best fraternities only at large universities?

No. Large institutions like Purdue, Penn State, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign lead in total chapter count, but strong chapters exist at smaller schools too. Washington and Lee, Bucknell, and Lehigh all have active Greek communities with high participation rates. Chapter quality comes down to membership culture and alumni engagement, not university size.

Takeaways

• The best fraternity isn’t a universal answer. The right fit depends on the chapter at your specific school and your personal goals and values.
• Some fraternities are built around specific strengths: ATO and SigEp for leadership development, Phi Delt and Beta for academic culture, TKE and Lambda Chi for philanthropy.
• Fraternity membership has career advantages. 85% of Fortune 500 executives and 76% of US Congressmen and Senators have been fraternity members.
• The strongest chapters of the fraternities on this list are concentrated at highly selective universities, making admissions the first barrier to entry.
• Getting into the right school requires a strong academic and extracurricular profile. Working with a college admissions expert can give you a measurable edge in the process.