Developing Men of Principle for a Principled Life
Mutual Assistance | Intellectual Growth | Trust | Responsible Conduct | Integrity
A Fraternal Experience Grounded in Principled Brotherhood
Founded August 8, 1839, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Beta Theta Pi is home to nearly 140,000 living alumni and more than 9,000 undergraduates on 141 campuses across the United States and Canada. Best known for its award-winning Men of Principle Initiative, Beta aims to foster an enjoyable fraternal experience centered on brotherhood, personal growth, and creating a sense of home among its members.
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Spotlight
Shop Beta's Official Online Stores
Beta’s official online store, BetaSpirit.com, is the Fraternity’s home for branded apparel and gifts, recruitment materials and more. Visit now to take advantage of 20% off shorts and pants through August 31.
Ready to Go Beta?
This fall, thousands of college-aged men will become brothers of Beta Theta Pi. If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about the Beta experience, complete a referral form and a local chapter leader will be in touch.
Read the Newest Issue of The Beta Theta Pi
The spring issue features an in-depth interview with Fox News Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst, American ’16; a final farewell to former Administrative Secretary Bob Cottrell, Miami ’54; chapter reports and more.
Beta Theta Pi is Hiring
The Fraternity is hiring for a variety of staff positions, including chapter development consultants for the 2023-24 academic year. Visit the careers page for current openings and more information on the perks of working for the Administrative Office.
“The first mark of a Beta will be his Beta spirit.” – Willis O. Robb, Ohio Wesleyan 1879
Eight Benefits of Joining a Fraternity Like Beta (and Three Cons, too)
Benefit One
Lifelong Friendships
Men of all ages, especially those embarking on their college journey, need connection and a place where they can just be themselves – a family of choice. Individuals from all walks of life find that sense of belonging in Beta because of its focus on developing close, meaningful relationships.
Benefit Two
A More Fulfilling College Experience
Research shows fraternity membership results in higher levels of student engagement, collaborative learning, student-faculty interactions, and involvement in curricular and co-curricular activities. Members report being more satisfied with their college experience overall.
Benefit Three
Community Connection
Community service and philanthropy are a significant part of fraternity life and offer members the opportunity to take part in volunteerism while also spending time with friends. Beta Theta Pi doesn’t have an official philanthropic partner, so members and chapters can choose to give back to causes they are passionate about or where they may have the most significant impact locally.
Benefit Four
Leadership Opportunities
Members often hold significant leadership roles both in and out of the brotherhood. Dozens of Betas are elected as student body or interfraternity council president on their campuses each year. In contrast, many more build new skills (or strengthen existing ones), plan significant events and run the organization’s day-to-day operations.
Benefit Five
An Extensive Network
With 140,000 living alumni, the Beta brotherhood is vast. Members are instantly plugged into this network, which may assist in finding a collegiate mentor, accelerating future career and financial endeavors, or fostering community across the globe. It never hurts to be associated with a group of high achievers.
Benefit Six
Academic Assistance
Most fraternities require you to prioritize academics through a minimum GPA (that’s why you’re in college in the first place, after all). Opportunities for study groups and networking with members who share your major are a plus, too. Studies show fraternities members are 20% more likely to graduate than non-members, in fact!
Benefit Seven
Sense of Belonging
Adapting to college life is challenging as it’s nearly everyone’s first experience away from home. It is easy to feel lost or lonely in that type of situation. Fraternities provide an extra sense of comfort with their built-in social networks and focus on developing relationships.
Benefit Eight
Build Your Resume
Not only might your resume catch the eye of a prospective employer who is also a member, but the skills you build throughout your time in a fraternity – teamwork, time management, conflict resolution and event planning, to name a few – are unmatched elsewhere on a college campus.
Con One
Stigma
Some people refuse to see the value of fraternities and see them as nothing more than buying your friends. To them, the experience is about nothing more than Animal House antics. Sometimes they’re right, especially if a group abuses substances or hazes. It’s up to leading fraternities like Beta to prove them wrong.
Con Two
Time Commitment
There’s no doubt about it: Fraternities can be time-consuming. They involve weekly meetings, frequent social events, seasonal intramurals, ongoing service projects, and more. Most Beta chapters will say, “You can be as involved as you want to be.” That’s true, but even a minimum commitment can feel like a real investment to some.
Con Three
Costs
While dues vary among chapters, it’s common for annual fraternity dues to exceed $500. If this is a concern for you, talk it over with the local chapter president. Some groups, like Beta, offer need-based or merit tuition scholarships to help make the experience more affordable.
Beta Theta Pi Foundation Awards Nearly $400,000 in Scholarships
Each year, the Men of Principle Scholarship Program helps individual chapters recognize unaffiliated (non-member) male students who are devoted to the Fraternity’s core values of mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, integrity, and responsible conduct – with no obligation to join. Additionally, the Beta Foundation funds need-based relief scholarships to assist members facing financial hardship and ensure the fraternity experience is financially viable for all. Finally, roughly 100 tuition-based merit scholarships are awarded to Betas (undergraduate and graduate) or their sons and daughters each year.
Beta Theta Pi News & Press Releases
Famous Betas
John Wooden, Purdue ’32
UCLA Basketball Coaching Legend
Sam Walton, Missouri ’40
Founder and Chairman, Walmart
Richard Lugar, Denison ’54
U.S. Senator, Indiana
Stephen Sondheim, Williams ’50
Broadway Composer
John Turner, British Columbia ’49
Prime Minister of Canada
Shahid Khan, Illinois ’70
Owner, NFL Jacksonville Jaguars
Bill Bowerman, Oregon ’65
Co-founder, Nike
Bruce Nordstrom, Washington ’55
CEO, Nordstrom
Ray Mabus, Mississippi ’69
U.S. Navy Secretary; Amb. to Saudi Arabia
Bill Nelson, Florida/Yale ’65
U.S. Senator, Florida; Astronaut
Neil Everett, Oregon ’84
Broadcaster, ESPN’s Sportscenter
William “Adam West” Anderson, Whitman ’51
“Batman”
Mike Schmidt, Ohio ’71
MLB Hall of Famer
Brian White, Dartmouth ’95
“Moesha,” “Stomp the Yard,” “CSI: Miami,” “Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse”
Jimmy Yen, Yale 1918
Humanitarian and Worldwide Educator
Beta Theta Pi At-A-Glance
141
Chapter & Colonies
59
Average Chapter Size
8,277
Undergraduates
140,326
Living Alumni
219,080
Lifetime Members
