Eligibility

The mission of USC Student Life is to strengthen a culture driven by student well-being.

From this commitment came the opportunity to provide incoming freshman students time to acclimate to college life and the community. Students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority must have completed a minimum of 12 academic units at USC and earn a minimum USC grade point average of 2.50. Transfer students are eligible after completing one academic year of college coursework, post high school graduation.

This requirement allows first-year students time to acclimate to college socially and academically prior to engaging in a lengthy recruitment. Research has also shown that with with eligibility requirements in place, students engage in fewer risky behaviors and are more successful academically and socially. The policy was upheld by the California Court of Appeal in 2022 (Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority v. Univ. of S. Cal., No. B309916 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 25, 2022)) and similar policies are in place at several peer institutions.

Verification of eligibility is through students accessing an online portal and submitting their USC ID. Status is determined based on the information available in the university records.

This webpage serves as an access point for information regarding the policy, implementation, and future recruitment and intake dates.

Recruitment & Eligibility Updates

Check your eligibility

The online verification process accesses the university advising database to identify the student status, units, and GPA. After clicking submit, you will receive an onscreen message and automated email to your USC email address regarding your eligibility. If you are eligible, you scroll on the on-screen results to click the link of the council you are interested and follow that council’s recruitment and intake process instructions.

View active chapters and council information, chapter judicial information and recruitment and intake dates.

If eligible, IFC and Panhellenic online registration link is provided in on-screen results.

Please note: The Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Development team is unable to update student academic records, including GPA or units.

Check Eligibility

*Login with USC NetID required

Additional Information

Updates and information will be added on a continuous basis. The Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Development team can be reached at USCFSLD@usc.edu (213) 821-1639.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The Office of Fraternity and Student Life operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex*, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

*In accordance with federal law, the membership practices of a social fraternity or sorority recognized by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life are not subject to the University’s prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex.

Based on university classification, spring admits are considered freshmen. Therefore, spring admits are eligible to join after completing 12 units at USC and earning a 2.50 GPA at USC. For example, a spring 2021 admit can join a fraternity or sorority beginning fall 2021.

Courses or activities in the summer or fall term prior to beginning classes at USC in the spring semester are not part of the required units or GPA, including college credits earned in high school.

One community change to highlight is the Panhellenic Council. Beginning 2019-2020, Panhellenic Council will hold formal recruitment with all chapters in spring semester only (which used to be held in fall semester). In fall 2019, chapters eligible based on community membership total will participate in informal recruitment, which is determined when classes start in fall 2019. This means not all Panhellenic chapters will be eligible to extend membership invitations in fall 2019.

Transfer students are eligible after completing one academic year of college coursework, post high school graduation. Based on university transfer processes, if a student is admitted as a transfer student and has a transfer student classification, the student is eligible to join a fraternity or sorority the first semester they begin coursework at USC. For example, if a student is admitted as a transfer student in fall 2019, the student is eligible to join a fraternity or sorority beginning fall 2019.

Each semester there are council information sessions for students to learn more about recruitment and intake processes, dates, and membership expectations. Students currently enrolled at USC who are or not yet eligible are welcome to join the information sessions.