Sorority Fees . . .

[AchtungBaby80]

Well, I guess our dues aren't that bad at $55.50 a month (that doesn't include parlor fees, etc., though). I guess it rounds out to about $1,000 a year, which is in the low range on my campus. But, you have to watch out for hidden costs--it seems we're always being hit up for some kind of money, be it $ to fund our annual Mr. UK pageant ("Well, we didn't raise enough money, so you're just going to have to pay it out of your own pockets!"), or $ to cover fund-raisers that went awry (like the magazine-subscription fiasco). It really burns me up sometimes, but I know it could be a lot worse.

[RxyChrldr]

My total for living in-house fall quarter was $2094...argh!

Lea, this is a break down for AGD at U of Mich. We were the cheapest on campus, but dont worry NOT all schools are this expensive if you think it is. A "friend" of mine at her school only had to pay $50 a semester for dues. Plus some schools dont have the extra added accomadations like, house to live in etc.

New Member Fee -$75
Badge- $ 21-$200 (depending on which one you get)
Dues- $88 a month (7 months)
Initiation Fee- $250
Parlor dues (pay when you dont live at the house)- $50 (but we got away with not having to pay it)

Room and Board -$ 2500 a semester (includes housekeeper, free parking lot, cable, food, busboys etc.)

So we paid about $1000 dollars, I didnt think we paid that much but we did. Like I said UofM is only one case, cuz you one of our chapters only has to pay 250 a semester for housing.

Plus some orgs on our campus have a separate fee for Date Parties or Slush funds were you pay up front ranging from $50-$120.

***REMEMBER ALWAYS TO ASK IF THERE IS A FINANCIAL PLAN***
Every org had one incase ppl did need help with paying for stuff. Also not all the money is due up front, its usually scattered over the school year.

[ZetaLuvBunny]

Our ZTA fees were $550 or so the first semester (not including badge fee), and $261 this semester. We don't even have a house, just a chapter room! I know the AOII on this campus pays somewhere around $750 their first semester which is just outrageous considering NO sororities on this campus have houses! Then, of course, by your 2nd or 3rd semester you will probably take a Lil Sis and spend anywhere from $150-$400 (up to you) on her. One girl in my sorority spent around $700 EACH on her TWO little sisters, but she just has a lot of $$$. PLEASE don't let this discourage you, as most fees are NOT this high, especially without a house. I thought I wouldn't be able to pay for it, but I managed quite nicely. If your parents aren't willing to help you pay, try to save up some of your graduation money or work over the summer, and that will help you out.

[Betarulz!]

I know that as a NM or pledge, no matter where you go, you'll have to pay extra than you would in the dorms. However once you activate, youre fees will lessen. Of course being in a sorority is going to be extra b/c you can't live in the house.

However the thing to realize is what the cash goes to. As a new member, it's things like weekly formal dinner that you have to go to, it's put into the social budget for the very necessary parties, into to the philanthropy budget so your chapter can hold events and enter in other houses events. Also the higher costs associated with your first semester in a house is due to things like badges that have to be bought, materials that will assist you in your pledgeship and things like that. So the money you spend is worth it, at least in my opinion.

Here at Nebraska, another Big 12 school (assuming you go to Tech) I knwo that every house's live-in fees are less than a dorm contract. And with that you may not be getting the same number of meals, but youre getting someplace that becomes yours, something that feels more like a home than any dorm room ever could. The fees are paying for all the necessary things. So again don't look at the cost as a burden b/c it's all going to things that you need and want.

[aephi alum]

I'm reading about how much some of you have to pay in dues, and YOWZA!! I think I got off light...!

In my local sorority, dues were $60 and initiation fee was $100 (which included the cost of our badge and pledge ring).

The semester we all pledged AEPhi, we raised our local dues to $100, plus we had national dues, badge fee, initiation fee, and a few other odds and ends. I think I paid around $400. After that, our semester dues were around $200. But we did have to pay for some extras, like formal/semiformal and T-shirts.

We didn't have a house or chapter room (Panhel had a room on campus that the unhoused sororities used as a sort of shared chapter room).

[Fayissi]

well I guess i'd have to say that my first choice would be STANFORD, of course. then definitely UC Berkeley, next either UC Santa Cruz or Texas Tech. i just don't know what i'm willing do/put up with to go to the school of my choice. anyways what about you newbie ? -lea

[dzsaigirl]

Last year when I lived in an apartment with another sister, I paid 375 for rent, 150 for food, 30 phone, 40 for electric. That means I paid almost 600 a month before I even thought about dues which were around 100 a month, 12 months a year. So living in an apartment + sorority = around $700/month!!!!!! So living in a sorority house is much cheaper than the alternative! Of course, my parents footed the bill for sorority and food, but the rent, phone, utilities were all ME. And my parents live here in Houston, so there wasn't a reason not to live at home other than wanting to have a fun apartment, so I moved home when my lease was up so that I could save money!

[shadowstar]

the cost does vary from chapter to chapter, but i would hope that all the houses are up front with you about cost during rush. it is only fair that you know what you are getting into financially before you pledge a house. during rush here, we are required to have a poster up at all our parties with the costs for the first semester broken down, which is helpful to the girls going through. on our campus, which is small, it seems that the dues for all the houses are around $300 for the first semester, but it goes down the longer you are involved, since there are fees you only pay once (like initiation fee). most houses have payment plans so you don't have to pay all at once. good luck!!!!

[sundevil2000]

As an ADPI at Arizona State we have the lowest dues on campus. At 510 per semester plus new members pay like 300 extra for initiation and pins. Compared to my friends in Pi Phi, its not a bad deal at all.

[pandarose18]

Boy are we getting off good here!! I am at a small school where we don't have houses and this year our dues just went up to 55 a month 9 months out of the year. New members pay about 350-450 for new member fees and badge and all depending on what badge they choose. We also don't assess which means that everything that is mandatory is included in the $55.00. If we are required to wear a specific shirt for a philanthropy event it is covered. There are however optional things that come up that you may want to buy such as other non-mandatory t-shirts and formals. Be sure to ask if a group does or does not assess. If they do than your dues could varry significantly from month to month. I hope that this information is helpful! Good luck in your decision of what school and with rush/recruitment.

[Fayissi]

Okay, I have a few more questions . . .
What exactly is a 'parlor fee' ? (I know UMgirl said that its a fee for girls that don't live in the house, but is that really fair ? )
What kind of hidden costs might I encounter ? (ie: parties, little/big sisters)
Also, if I decide to live in the house what generally if covered in the room & board fee ? (ie: cook, housekeeper, cable, free parking) -Lea

[FuzzieAlum]

What exactly is a 'parlor fee' ? (I know UMgirl said that its a fee for girls that don't live in the house, but is that really fair ? )

This is for girls who do not live in the house. But how it's implemented varies from campus to campus and even house to house on one campus. Sometimes, anyone who does not live in has to pay, period. Sometimes, anyone who doesn't live in and doesn't have a "reason" (ie, lives at home with the 'rents, is an RA), has to pay. Sometimes no one has to pay it if the house is full. Some of these are more fair than others, but the point behind it is usually that the house costs a fixed amount to run, and if girls aren't contributing rent towards it, they could end up short on their bills to the electric company etc.

What kind of hidden costs might I encounter ? (ie: parties, little/big sisters)

These are really all questions that vary from campus to campus, so I'd ask once you've picked a school. Formals and dances may be included in the general fees or may not. Usually you're expected to buy a few t-shirts, which are reasonably priced. No one HAS to have a little sister, but if you do, you're expected to buy her gifts, such as a lavalier or sweatshirt.

Also, if I decide to live in the house what generally if covered in the room & board fee ? (ie: cook, housekeeper, cable, free parking)

Some houses have cooks, some don't. Sometimes you can choose between the house meal plan and the campus meal plan. Most have parking. Cable, I have no idea.

And on some campuses, no chapters have houses. You just live in the dorms, so all this stuff is moot.

Seriously, my chapter lived in a dorm, so we paid the standard dorm room and board. Dues (once you were initiated) were never over $200, although formal and date party were extra. At some campuses, dues alone can be more than $1000 a semester.

Check out the Greek life sites at the universities you are considering for a better idea.

[tridgirl]

On our campus GLO's are all housed in a big dorm, except a few frats, and you have to live in the wing for two years so I guess its like living in a house. Although you have to live in its a deal because its a suiet style dorm, you have your own bathroom, and its the cheapest on campus about 1200 a semester. Our dues at 300 a semester, the second highest on campus, piphi has the highest with 320. For new memebers there is a 75 dollar new memeber fee and a 175 initiation and badge fee in addition to the dues. We also don't asses, and to Tri Delta this covers sponsor gifts, paddles for your big sis, ablsolutely everything, and really its nice to not have to worry about those expences. The only thing you ever spend money on is party favors, or greek week shirts, which we might even budget for this year cause apparently thats assesing too... So definately ask if the house has a policy on assessing because it will save you a lot of money surprises along the way.

[33girl]

Originally posted by tridgirl
We also don't asses, and to Tri Delta this covers sponsor gifts, paddles for your big sis, ablsolutely everything, and really its nice to not have to worry about those expences. The only thing you ever spend money on is party favors, or greek week shirts, which we might even budget for this year cause apparently thats assesing too... So definately ask if the house has a policy on assessing because it will save you a lot of money surprises along the way.

I have heard people talk about "assessing" before but I don't quite understand what it is. I mean, we did not put costs for the formal in dues because it was not 100% guaranteed that you would go to the formal. I would be kind of jacked if the formal was in my yearly dues and I ended up not going. It's just understood that you (outside of your dues) will pay for the formal and for any paraphernalia you buy...the only para the sorority ever paid for was our pledge shirts (bid day shirts).