Money?
 

Hey guys,
so I and my friend Chad are both planning on pledging but Chad’s family doesn’t really have the money for him to do so. I told him about the scholarships they may offer, but are there any other options available? How expensive is it to be in a fraternity?:rolleyes:

dues differ from between chapters. go sell blood/plasma/sperm. thats what some of our pledges are doing. hell, its what some actives still do. aren't you still in high school? go get a job and save up.

It can be as little as 1500 a year, but most are far more expensive.

I don't really know how much ours is because my parents pay for it, but I'd guess that's what it's like. Or near it.

I bet my son doesn't know what his dues are either! I'll have to let him know. :rolleyes:

At UT they are around $5,000 per year, so it can be pretty darn pricey. He better start saving his pennies if he wants to join.

Chad can get a job.

Dues vary from campus to campus.

I hope that the $5000 includes living in the house. I know that for my chapter, we pay between $150 and $200 per semester and new member dues are usually around $300. But we also don’t have a house. For at least one of the fraternities, Delta Chi, even with a house, they pay about $450 a semester if they don’t live in the house. And they pay just over $1300 extra per semester if they do. Which comes to about $3500 a year.

So yes, it all depends where you’re going to school and the chapter that you’re joining. Either way, it will cost you. But personally, I worked my butt off over the summer, didn't spend any money, and saved up enough to live on for the school year, pay my dues, and have plenty left over. Just tell him to get a job and don't wait until the last minute to do so. Again, it will cost you, but it's definitely worth it

As everyone has already said, the dues you owe are up to 1) (inter)national dues and 2) local dues. The local dues will depend on the chapter's budget and especially on whether or not they have a house.

Suggestions:

1) apply for scholarship
2) get a part-time job

If neither of those is an option, I would not advise Chad to pledge until he is financially able to fulfill the requirment(s)

Not having a house makes dues much more affordable.

Living in the house and eating meals at the house mine were about $5000 a year I think. Not sure of the exact total, dad paid it, but I know it was something in that range. I think active was about $1100 a semester, meals and rent were $1400. Usually you have to be on meals if your house offers them for at least the first year, have to be on them if you live in the house, and pledge dues are a little bit higher.

^^^ Jesus Christ. I can't imagine paying that amount per semester.

You're at a SEC university, right? From what I've read on here, that's pretty standard but still....damn!

Yeah. The fraternities in the SEC with a full social schedule and a house that's pretty normal. It isn't so bad when you realize it includes housing on or close to campus with lunch and dinner every weekday.

I guess seeing that number as one lump sum is what's throwing me. I'm sure I spend much more than that per semester.

If Chad's parents are planning on paying for him to live in the dorms or have an apartment, then assuming dues include room and board for live-ins, the cost of dues is probably comparable to the cost of dorm or apartment life. Chad should get the facts, crunch the numbers, and present it to his folks that way.

If Chad's parents aren't planning on helping him with that part of college, then Chad can get a job - most chapters will allow members to work out a payment plan of some sort - or not pledge. It's that simple.

We're slightly higher than most FSU fraternities at $790/ semester. The extra costs make it like $2600/ year. House rent (holds 48) is $500/ month.