College is expensive. Tuition, textbooks, housing, dining plans, and random fees rack up a serious bill, and that’s before you even factor in the cost of making college enjoyable. Target runs, dorm decor, new fits, and a lil’ treat from Starbucks are essential. For any high school seniors eyeing the Greek scene, you also can’t forget the cost of rushing and sorority life. Everyone knows PHA comes with a price tag attached. But, like, how much does it actually cost to join a sorority? A lot.
The Bama Rush documentary estimated the average cost of rushing at the University of Alabama to be $8,300 a semester. That price fluctuates depending on which school you’re attending, but across the board, the costs for rush and membership are extravagant. Here’s what to know when asking yourself the question, “How much do sororities cost?” Let’s break it down.
Let’s talk rush fees, baby!
Before you even get to campus, make sure you open your wallet and pay that rush fee. This fee is simply paid so you can participate in recruitment and it can be anywhere from $25 to $375. And, since rush happens early, you can also enjoy paying a daily fee for every night you spend on campus before the non-Greek students join you. This can range anywhere from a $35 recurring payment or be a simple one-time $160 payment. Now, after you’ve paid, you’re ready to rush! And remember — you’re not guaranteed a spot at the end of Bid Day, so go in with your best foot forward. No one wants to watch all their hard-earned cash disappear for nothing.Â
The fits aren’t cheap.
Now, let’s talk about the hidden costs of rushing. These are things that are absolutely not a requirement, but that many girls choose to splurge on. Potential new members (or PNMs) drop a bag on nails, hair, makeup, clothes and actual, designer bags. If you haven’t been on the Bama rush side of TikTok, I’m about to blow your mind. Believe me when I tell you girls will spend over $1,000 on just their look before walking into Open House.Â
What’s the cost of (Greek) living?
Let’s say you run home on Bid Day and secure a place in the sisterhood of your dreams — you’re ecstatic, but you also need to be ready to dish out a solid sum each semester to keep living with your new besties. Price, as usual, varies based on where you go to school, but you can rest assured that it’ll be consistently expensive to live in-house no matter where you go.Â
Let’s say you end up at The University of Arizona. You’ll be paying active member fees and housing fees semesterly ranging from $2,500 to $6,600. If you end up at The University of Nebraska, the housing fees would jump up and most sororities would be charging over $7,000 per semester of in-house living in addition to their active member fees.
If you’re looking into joining a Divine Nine, it’ll run your about $1,000-$3,500 for one-time initiation fees, per Mississippi State University. Then semester dues will cost around $75-$300.
There are some smaller schools that have lower recruitment fees and cheaper in-house living fees since Greek life is more low-key on their campus. Truman State University is a great example of this. It’s just $5 to go through rush and they provide a Greek dorm rather than an expensive house.
Additionally, if you’re rushing a multicultural sorority, this will likely cost way less than a traditional Panhellenic sorority. These organizations cost significantly less, averaging only a couple hundred dollars per semester. They are also less commitment than a Panhellenic group. For example, Texas Woman’s University outlines that the “cost is $255 and the average active member dues are $175 for organizations within the Multicultural Greek Council.”
Most Greek chapters have their costs listed somewhere easily accessible online, so just make sure to read them thoroughly before you sign over your soul for the next four years.Â
So, how can you make it more affordable?
There are payment plans. There are scholarships. Greek life doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find scholarships and grants through your sororities national organization or through your university. And some schools even automatically offer payment plans like The University of Nebraska. There are also PHA scholarships and independent ones you can apply to. Open a line of communication with whoever handles the financials at your chapter and let them know your situation so they can work with you. It’s not impossible.Â
The simple fact, however, is that it’s not a super affordable community for a lot of students to embed themselves in, so think deeply and decide if you’re ready for the commitment. Even if you choose to live out of the house at the cheapest school, you’re still going to be paying thousands to maintain your membership. You can make besties for life and have the experience you’ve been dreaming of, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get into your top pick or choose to sit out of rush. Your mental and financial health matter most. So, scroll through all the entertaining Bama TikToks and live life wisely, whether you choose to rush or not.