Largest Fraternities and sororities
 

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if anyone knew who the top 10 fraternities and sororities were by chapter size and initiates.

Thanks for your help!

Zeta Tau Alpha is the third largest NPC sorority. I believe that is based on total members, but could be number of chapters, or possibly a combination of both.

Chi Omega is the largest NPC sorority--based on # of initiates-- which I believe is about 240,000.

I'm pretty sure that the top four NPC sororities in number of initiates goes in this order:
1. Chi Omega
2. Delta Zeta
3. Zeta Tau Alpha
4. Alpha Phi

No way! Phi Mu is number two.

Here are the sororities ranked roughly by size (number of chapters currently active, not initiated women or number of chapters ever installed)

176 chapters - Chi Omega
More than 150 chapters - Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau Alpha
More than 130 chapters - Delta Gamma, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Chi Omega
More than 115 chapters - Alpha Omicron Pi, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta
More than 100 chapters - Gamma Phi Beta, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Sigma Sigma
More than 50 chapters - Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Phi Sigma Sigma, Delta Phi Epsilon
50 or fewer - Sigma Delta Tau, Theta Phi Alpha

I know Lambda Chi Alpha is in the top 3 of the Fraternities w/ over 227,000 initiated brothers.

i think we are now over 400,000 initiates.
I believe the top three fraternities are (in no order):

Lambda Chi Alpha
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Pi Kappa Alpha

I wish that were the case my friend, but not quite. Largest init # is SAE, with around 250,000. We are close on everyones heals with about 235,000. Not bad considering almost everyone (NIC wise, excluding TKE, Sig Ep and Sig Taus)is about 50 years older than us.

ZAX
lifesaver

AGD has 115 Active I believe. We had 2 deact this school year :(

Actually, SAE has over 260,000 initiates at this point.

We initiated our 250,000 brother last year, not bad considering we turned 100 yrs old last year. I'm in SigEp.

Delta Sigma Theta
Kappa Alpha Psi

APO #1!!!
 

Alpha Phi Omega is the largest non-NIC affliated fraternity and service fraternity, with over 315,000 initiated brothers worldwide and over 700 chapters in the USA.

Kappa Kappa Gamma has had 128 chapters, but I'm not sure how many are still active, probably at least 110. It has also had over 186,000 initiated members as of June 2000. For some reason I thought Kappa was in those top four, knowing that ChiO, DZ, and ZTA were up there too.

I know that Alpha Chi Omega has 133 chapters nationally which includes our new colony at Elon University. I think that makes us one of the largest sororities...

Uhhh...hence why I said I didn't know for sure. jeez.....

No, ZTAngel, you were right the first time. Delta Zeta is second in number of chapters, right behind Chi Omega.

Delta Phi Epsilon is one of the youngest and hence smallest sororities out there. We have chartered about 140 chapters since 1917, but only about 80 active chapters exist now.

Actually, Pi Phi now has 131 chapters since we just extended to Loyola and Colorado Springs.
As of Dec 2002 there were over 205,000 initiated members!

31,000 chapters....Umm, I don't believe there are that many universities/colleges...

Considering Beta Sigma Phi is INTERNATIONAL in 23 COUNTRIES...31,000 seems likely. ;)

Beta Sigma Phi is not an NPCor NPHC collegiate organization--which gives them the opportunity to expand in a less constraining way.

The largest in the US (and canada) has ~160 or so chapters....multiply that by 23, and you still don't have anywhere near 31,000....

310 would be a little more likely. Even 3,100 isn't unbelievable if they're located in communities and colleges.

That is how there is 31,000. :)

Also, the largest in the US/Canada is Chi Omega with 176 chapters.

While Chi Omega has more initiated members, Delta Sigma Theta is by far larger in terms active chapters. We have over 900.

I believe in my new member material it said AGD had 137 chapters, however as of right now only 117 are active. I could be wrong, and if I am thenI am sure OTW or one of my more internet saavy sisters will let me know!
Love and loyalty, Sarah

According to the IHQ website...the current active collegiate chapter total is at 114. It was at 117, but we're all aware of the recent chapters that were resolved into their alumnae chapters. :( The number of collegiate chapters chartered is at 179 (I think).

I think the Junior Circle and alumnae chapter/club total is around 250 with a membership of around 130,000 sisters worldwide.

179 chapters though? DANG! I thought it was 40 less than that... even with inactive chapters 114... boo hiss.. that makes me sad :( I am going to sulk)

I think Theta Chi is sixth biggest for members and seventh for chapters. Thats not what matters though. What matters is that we have around 75% ratio of active chapters to chapters installed. In 1950 we had 100 chapters and all 100 were active. And this record has never been beaten. We might not be the biggest, but we are in it for the long run.

Are you certian of that? I have ALWAYS been told by just about anyone who is around when this subject is brought up, that Sigma Phi Eplon has the largest number of initiated members of an NIC fraternity, while Tau Kappa Epsilon is the largest based on chartered chapters

I think sig eps and tekes are in the top 5, and close behind the top three. but last i heard the top three were lambda chi, sae and pikes.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by chopper816
i think we are now over 400,000 initiates.
I believe the top three fraternities are (in no order):

Lambda Chi Alpha
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Pi Kappa Alpha
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

hence Why I posted....

I wish that were the case my friend, but not quite. Largest init # is SAE, with around 250,000. We are close on everyones heals with about 235,000. Not bad considering almost everyone (NIC wise, excluding TKE, Sig Ep and Sig Taus)is about 50 years older than us.


For those not following along at home....

SAE has most initiated number of members. (around 255,000)
Sigma Chi has 2nd most (around 238,000)
Lambda Chi has about (235,000)
TKE has the most chapters. (Around 300)
Sig Ep has second most # of chapters (around 250)
Kappa Sig has third most with about (around 245)

*Information taken from the fraternity headquarters themselves in 1999 when I was IFC rush chair and called indy for the info myself. IF anyone doubts these numbers I suggest you consult the NIC, call all the fraternities themselves, or consult an old outta date issue of the Bairds Manual.

It aint about the numbers tho, as my good friend Billy O said. His orgination has the largest # of active chapters to chapters installed. My org has the largest average chapter size. Another fraternity I know of has the largest living alumni base. Another has the largest number of active undergrads. And ya know what. Aint a damn fool outside of the org with that particualr stat gonna give a daymn. Hell, If I was going through rush and some active tried to sell me on his chapter using, "largest average chapter size." I'd be convinced their social and academic programs must suck if this is what they are trying to sell me on.


PS: I dont think org. size is necessarily the best indicator of overall strength. This being 2002, lets look at a real factor of an orgs. stability and health; risk management claims, monies paid out to settle claims and insurance premiums each member is charged. Cause you can be the largest org., but if your barely fighting off bankruptcy because you have NO Risk Management accountability definately wont assure your long term viability. BTW, dont think I am making this up either. I know of 2 NIC member fraternities that are having to sell off chapter properties to settle punative damage awards. Food for thought.

Let me expound on this...

I think that having stats like largest avg. chapter size is cool as can be (no foul languge :) ) However, I would like to see my org get up there. At least beat sigma chi. Why them? Both them and us attract the same kind of person generally-though each individual is different. Thats why.

We are talking international, world, i'm sure there are well over that amount of universities, colleges.
I'm sure the number of schools in the states is huge.

Chi Omega ia the largest women's organization next to Girl Scouts of America. Way to go Chi O!!!! I know this because I'm the new member educator and it's in my manual!!!

Just to keep everyone current...

My chapter recently had some members initiated. Their paperwork was processed just within the last month and their badge numbers (# of initiated members up to and including themselves) was almost 262,000. If SAE isn't at 262K by now, we will be within the next couple of weeks. If any NIC fraternity can claim more than that, then more power to 'em.

I believe we have recently (in December) installed the 230th chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha. However, not all of these remain active.