Fraternities and sororities are run by students, for students. You’ll vote, hold leadership roles, and help make decisions that actually matter. Chapters also manage real budgets and operations, so joining gives you hands-on experience with leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.

One of the biggest parts of fraternity and sorority life is the friendships you build. You live, study, work, compete, and have fun alongside people who become more than just friends. These connections last well beyond college, creating a support system that often feels more like family.

Greek letter organizations are self-funded, meaning members pay dues and fees that support chapter programs and activities. For chapters with houses, costs may include room and board, with rates varying based on whether you live in or out of the house. While you should always ask about fees during recruitment, Greek housing costs are generally comparable to on-campus living — and in many cases, less expensive.

The social side of Greek life helps turn college into a full experience, not just classes and exams. Chapters host a wide range of events — from barbecues and faculty dinners to formals, trips, and social gatherings. All chapters follow required risk management policies to help ensure a safe and responsible environment for members and guests.

Greek housing looks different from chapter to chapter. Some groups live in RPI residence halls or renovated apartments, while others live in chapter-owned houses. Room setups and the number of residents vary by organization. Chapters with houses often run their own meal plans, either with a hired cook or by members cooking together. All Greek housing is inspected twice each year to meet fire and building safety standards.

Academics come first in Greek life. From recruitment through graduation, chapters emphasize academic success and provide support like study sessions, tutoring, shared resources, and scholarship opportunities. Many chapters and national organizations recognize strong academic performance, and RPI retention data shows that Greek members are more likely to complete their degree than non-Greek students.

Giving back is a big part of Greek life at RPI. Each semester, chapters raise thousands of dollars and contribute hundreds of service hours to local and national causes. From blood drives and fundraising to mentoring Troy youth and helping neighborhood clean-ups, Greek students make a real impact beyond campus.

Greek alumni/ae play a major role in advising chapters. Each chapter has at least one advisor, but often many more, and housing corporation members to help with day-to-day operations. They meet regularly as members of the Alumni Inter-Greek Council, which provides networking and resources for efficient chapter management.

RPI follows a deferred recruitment model. This means:

• First-year students are eligible to join a social fraternity or sorority starting in the second semester of their first year.
• Transfer students may join if they arrive at RPI with at least 12 transferable credit hours.

To be eligible to join, you must:

• Have completed at least 12 credit hours
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, or meet the organization’s higher GPA requirement
• Be in good standing with the university conduct process and not on university probation
• Know that January first-year admits are not eligible until the following fall

If you are a transfer student, you must also:

• Transfer at least 12 credit hours to RPI
• Have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA at your previous institution in the semester before transferring
• Provide GPA verification before joining

Note: The gender-inclusive fraternity within the Professional Fraternity/Sorority community may offer membership to first-year students who do not yet have an established RPI GPA.

After You Receive an Invitation (Bid)

If you accept an invitation to join, you are required to attend Fraternity and Sorority Life's New Member Orientation.