As a parent, we recommend that you support your student throughout the joining process. Joining a fraternity or sorority can be overwhelming, and we recommend that you serve as a sounding board for your student. It is important to be supportive and ask questions to your student about what they are looking for in a chapter, and allow them to determine where they feel most comfortable.

Please remember to keep an open mind. Just because a parent or family member was affiliated or not affiliated, does not mean that your student needs to make the same decision.

Please recognize that the chapters are different on every campus. Fraternities and sororities at Northeastern University may not have the same values or expectations as where you attended school. It is important that students choose the organization that feels right for them.

The financial obligations of joining a fraternity or sorority depend on the individual chapter. Costs of membership can range anywhere from around $30-$500 per semester. The semester you join often has a few one time costs, generally making your dues as a new member slightly higher than as an active member. Membership dues  include financial obligations such as inter/national membership fees, insurance, local dues to contribute to events and programming, and other assessments.  Additional costs throughout the year may occur such as purchasing t-shirts, attending social events, and contributing to philanthropies.

We recommend having a conversation with your student about expectations related to who will be financially responsible for the costs of membership.

Fraternity and Sorority organizations at Northeastern University do not have on or off-campus houses, with the exception of one local fraternity. Members of organizations are not required to live together, but many affiliated students often choose to be roommates with their sisters or brothers!

Each chapter is self-supported through dues charged to all members. In the first year of membership, a few one-time expenses are assessed. After those initial payments are made, your student’s expenses will be their regular dues. Each chapter has a different dues structure and thus finances will vary between chapters.

Northeastern University has no tolerance for hazing. Find out more information about hazing prevention through the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. Please do not hesitate to contact the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff in the Center for Student Involvement at fsl@northeastern.edu if you have any questions about Fraternities and Sororities at Northeastern University, or to report concerns or policy violations.