HBCU Greek Life: Joining a Sorority or Fraternity at an HBCU

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are institutions created specifically for Black students while schools were still segregated.

Many of these institutions offer Greek Life through Historically Black fraternities and sororities. Keep reading to learn more about Greek Life at Historically Black Colleges and universities.

Common Greek Organizations at HBCUs

HBCUs can offer many Greek Life organizations, but the most common by far are organizations under the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a council of nine Black Greek letter organizations called the Divine Nine.

Within the Divine Nine, there are five fraternities:

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

There are also four sororities:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

These organizations were founded to provide sororities and fraternities to Black students at a time when most white organizations did not allow Black members.

A large percentage of four-year HBCUs offer at least a portion of organizations from the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Below, you'll find a brief summary of each fraternity and sorority in the Divine Nine, in alphabetical order.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded in 1908 at Howard University, and HBCU in Washington, D.C. It was the first intercollegiate historically Black sorority.

Today, the organization has over 300,000 international members, with 114,000 currently active members, and 1000 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and South Africa.

Throughout its history, the sorority has been a champion for civil rights and social justice.

It was the first organization to take life membership to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

It's also taken on health campaigns as well, partnering with the American Red Cross to fight AIDS in the Black community and advocating for research into sickle-cell anemia.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the oldest intercollegiate Black fraternity, organized in 1906 at Cornell University.

The fraternity has over 680 chapters across the world with more than 290,000 members throughout its history.

Special initiatives for the fraternity include Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, the Leadership Development Institute, and the World Policy Council.

The fraternity is also involved in national programs to increase voter registration, improve the quality of life for members and their families, and provide education and skill-building for young men.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded in 1913 at Howard University.

While it is a historically Black sorority, it is open to women of all races and religions. The organization has over 1,000 chapters across the world.

For the sorority's first act of public service, it participated in the Suffrage March of 1913. Since then, they've continued championing women's and civil rights.

In 1937 they started the first national traveling library program. Called the National Library Project, it served rural areas in the south.

Today, Delta Sigma Theta has programs to promote economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity is the newest and smallest fraternity in the Divine Nine. It was founded in 1963 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

The fraternity was founded just a few weeks after the historic March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous and unforgettable 'I Have a Dream' speech.

Throughout its history, the fraternity has partnered with organizations that include the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Sickle Cell Foundation.

Iota Phi Theta continues to make an impact on their community with multiple health initiatives, educational initiatives, and initiatives designed to address and end all forms of abuse including human trafficking and domestic abuse.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was founded at Indiana University Bloomington in 1911. Though it's a historically Black fraternity, it allows students of all races.

The fraternity has over 700 chapters, one in every state in the U.S. and many across the world. It has over 160,000 members.

When Kappa Alpha Psi was founded, there was only a small number of Black students at the university.

This was a way for these students to band together in a hostile state flooded with the Ku Klux Klan.

Today, the fraternity sponsors programs that provide community service, social welfare, and academic scholarships. It also supports the United Negro College Fund and Habitat for Humanity.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was the first fraternity founded at an HBCU when it was established at Howard University in 1911. Since then, it's chartered over 750 chapters.

Like many other NPHC organizations, the fraternity is a patron of the United Negro College Fund. It also requires all chapters to be lifetime members of the NAACP.

All chapters also participate in social action programs including voter registration initiatives, literacy programs, mentoring, and fundraising for charitable organizations.

Additionally, the fraternity focuses on scholarships and college endowment funds for HBCUS as well as health initiatives that promote HIV/AIDS awareness, sickle cell anemia research, and blood donation.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is another member of the Divine Nine founded at Howard University.

It was established in 1914 with the goal of creating an organization that immersed itself in the community.

Today, the fraternity has over 700 chapters across the world and over 200,000 members in the United States and internationally.

Phi Beta Sigma focuses its efforts on issues that impact the African-American community. It has programs for business, education, and a variety of social action efforts.

These social action efforts include programs for civil rights, health and wellness, voter registration, homelessness, and more.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority was founded in 1922 in Indianapolis, IN to support Black women who were pursuing degrees in education. It's the only sorority in the Divine Nine that was not established at an HBCU.

The sorority has over 100,000 members through more than 500 chapters in the United States and throughout the world.

Sigma Gamma Rho partners with Operation BigBookBag, a program that works to address the needs, challenges, and issues faced by educationally at-risk school-aged children.

The sorority also works with organizations that focus on women's health, including maternal and infant health care for Black populations.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is another sorority founded at Howard University. It was established in 1920 and has a strong focus on social initiatives.

The sorority has hundreds of chapters worldwide and a membership of over 100,000. It was the first member of the NPHC to charter a chapter in Africa.

The primary goals of Zeta Phi Beta are to award scholarships to students, conduct community education programs and other educational activities, and assist with research relevant to the foundation.

Partnerships for the sorority include March of Dimes, St. Jude's, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

The sorority is also a member of organizations that include the NAACP and the United Nations.

How to Join Greek Life at an HBCU

The steps you'll need to take to join Greek Life at a Historically Black College and University will depend on the sorority or fraternity you want to pledge and which college or university you go to.

There are specific requirements you may need to meet. Common ones include having completed at least 30 credits and maintaining a 2.5 GPA.

Joining a Sorority or Fraternity at an HBCU

Most HBCUs offer fraternities and sororities that are part of the NPHC. Check out the organizations above to learn more today!