The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or grad school search.
For some students, the word “fraternity” conjures up thoughts of brotherhood, community service and leadership. They might bring up the fact that 15 percent of Fortune 100 CEOs are fraternity alumni, according to data from the North-American Interfraternity Conference. They may remember that 31 percent of all U.S. Supreme Court justices have had fraternity roots, according to the same organization.
Other student brains may bend in the opposite direction — to news reports of dangerous hazing, racist chants and sexual assault .
Depending on which side of the debate they fall, students may want to flock to — or steer clear of — these Greek-centric schools.
Consider these seven factors before pledging at a [fraternity or sorority.]
On average, 8.7 percent of male undergraduates were part of a fraternity in 2013, according to data reported by 906 ranked colleges and universities in a U.S. News survey.
At Welch College, where 84 percent of male students participated in fraternity life, there are four fraternities, according to data the school reported to U.S. News. And female students joined sororities in even higher numbers, with 96 percent involved with the sorority scene.
The list of the 10 most fraternity-focused schools is dominated by Southern institutions, with universities in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia making appearances.
Discover a range of [fraternity scholarships.]
Below are the schools that produced the highest percentage of male, degree-seeking undergraduate students in fraternities in fall 2013. While fraternities are predominately male, there are a few coed fraternities.
| School name (state) | Percentage of male undergraduates in a fraternity (fall 2013) | Total undergraduate enrollment | U.S. News rank and category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welch College (TN) | 84 | 338 | 52 (tie), Regional Colleges (South) |
| Washington and Lee University (VA) | 82 | 1,855 | 14, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| DePauw University (IN) | 78 | 2,304 | 51 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Sewanee–University of the South (TN) | 67 | 1,620 | 45 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Ohio Valley University (WV) | 66 | 418 | 56 (tie), Regional Colleges (South) |
| Millsaps College (MS) | 60 | 744 | 89 (tie),National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Wabash College (IN) | 60 | 902 | 61 (tie),National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Harding University (AR) | 55 | 4,428 | 22, Regional Universities (South) |
| Albion College (MI) | 53 | 1,307 | 99 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Centre College (KY) | 53 | 1,381 | 45 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
Don’t see your school on the list? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find schools with high fraternity membership, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.
U.S. News surveyed nearly 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2014 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The fraternity data above are correct as of June 23, 2015.
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10 Colleges with the Most Students in Fraternities originally appeared on usnews.com
