My sorority has been the largest on campus for a long time; currently we have 35 members. Quota for spring recruitment is usually 10 so we normally come out with around 45 girls by springtime. The largest fraternity on our campus is Sig Ep, and they generally have around 50 members after spring recruitment.

When I was in school, total was 85 and we were in the 45 to 50 range. I liked our small size and close bonds, but recruitment was a problem. We always managed to maintain our size when I was there.

Lambda Chi Alpha
 

At UTSA, my fraternity, Lambda Chi has the most guys at 62, and we are going to get even bigger this spring! This is coming from the rush chair

At ASU (Arizona State University), my fraternity (Delta Sig) had 132 members and I lived with about 40 of them in the house. Let's just say, things get interesting with large chapters.

Broter Andrew,, put some stuff on the LXA thread and keep it updated!!!!:)

You can contact me anytime! I would love to get updated about the Zeta!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

At KU, the biggest sororities are Theta and Chi O - they both have about 170 members. Biggest fraternities are Phi Psi and Sig Ep - they each have about 120 members

I found out today that SK at UCSD is currently at 68! With Spring Rush yet to come. :) Extrememely exciting considering when I joined in Spring 98 there was barely 30 and we only had 22 in Fall 98. It bugs me that Panhel is discussing increasing total. It was decreased from 80 to 70 in Fall 98. SK is finally at 70. I'd want them to be able to not rush for at least a quarter. Plus shouldn't Panhell see if all 8 chapters can maintain total before increasing it? The bonus for SK though is that half the chapter is freshmen and will have 50 members in Fall Rush. :D

At Eastern Michigan University, sorority ceiling is 55 members. The biggest right now are Delta Zeta, Tri-Sigma, and I think we are one of the bigger chapters right now?? For fraternities, I think Sig Ep is the biggest and Sigma Nu, but I think they are all about the same size, give or take a few.

I must say I find this entire discussion fascinating. I go to UMass. 100 men in a chapter would be outrageous. Our largest chapter is SigEp, with something like 60 members. (They don't have a choice but to be big- they need 50 in house just to cover their mortgage). The average fraternity size is about 25. We're in the middle of a recruitment drought- 5 houses have no new members this semester. One chapter lost its house because of low numbers, another is on the brink.

The really sad thing is, ten years ago the average chapter size was 90 men. If you want to see how a party culture can destroy a Greek system, come on over.

The sororities are much better off, with more like 40 or 50 on average, but there are fewer of them (8 sororities to 17 fraternities), and they have other advantages (nicer houses, formal recruitment, etc.)

I'm so proud!!!
 

I don't know who the biggest chapters are at my school, but I just had to brag. When I left my chapter 2 years ago, there were about 25 women returning for formal rush (with 27 PNM's at each party, I don't think it was easy!!) I'm about to go active after 2 years as an alum and I asked how many members we had, and now many would be back for Formal. I started to cry when I was told we have almost 70 members now, and we should have something over 50 returning for Formal. I am so proud of these women, and they prove you can break the cycle of a consistently small house. I have never heard of our numbers being this high, at least in the past 10 years, and every single one of these women is a quality sister, dedicated to the chapter and returning quality members. We no longer have retention problems and in the past 2 years, other than graduating seniors, we have only lost one member, and that was due to financial/private reasons. I just wanted everyone to know that my chapter is filled with amazing girls, and they are proof that you can do anything you set your mind and heart to.

I totally agree...our greek system is more of a community. With only 3 sorors (AZD,DZ,TriSig) and 5 frats(PSP,AKL,FIJI,DSP, and TKE) at like 50 or so actives in each we make up a pretty elite (but not eliteist sp?) group of people.

What probably contributes to our smaller number is the fact that our school has about only 10,000 total students enrolled.

But to get to my point, our greek pride and school support of greeks is just a great as traditionally strong greek schools. Even if we are only a small sample of the student body.

It has always alarmed me that I will talk to members of large chapters at University of Michigan (I work for them, but I go to Eastern) and I'll be talking to a girl and shell say she is, say, a KKG and I'll be like "oh, I know your sister Cory Smith. And the girl will be like "Oh, I've heard the name, but I wouldn't know her b/c she is a few years older and not in my pledge class"!!!!! How do you not even know who a sister is at all?? I know every girl, I've talked to every girl, I've hung out with most of them. It's just really odd to me, coming from a chapter with 50 members

How many members has your chapter initiated?



I still cant imagine that some chapters get over 100 pledges in a semester. If your chapter was founded in 1900 and you only got 50 pledges a semester you would have iniated 10,000 members. If you initiate 100 a semester you would hvae 20,000 total.

My chapter has less than 1000 total.

Me too! I know EVERYTHING about all of my sisters. Where they are from, their family life, favorite things.....I like it so much better. It's really cool to have big numbers and be such a presence, but I still think that I would rather be in my chapter of 45 and know everyone deeply. We have such an incredible bond. Wow! I can't imagine knowing someone's name and that they were my sister, but not really KNOWING them. That's like a foreign concept to me!;)

knowing everyone deeply in a chapter of 45....stuff like that blows my mind. we have 10 and it's hard enough.