31 Top Colleges Without Greek Life
What’s Covered:
- Pros and Cons of Greek Life
- 31 Colleges Without Greek Life
- Research Universities Without Greek Life
- Liberal Arts Colleges Without Greek Life
- Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges Without Greek Life
- Colleges with Minimal Greek Life
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance
Some high school students eagerly anticipate joining Greek life in college, believing it to be an integral part of the college experience. Other students hope to avoid Greek life altogether, as they feel that fraternities and sororities create a divide on campus.
Learn some of the pros and cons of Greek life below and get a closer look at 31 of the top schools without Greek life. The list is broken down by research universities, liberal arts colleges, and women’s liberal arts colleges. It’s more common for liberal arts colleges not to have Greek life, so expect those lists to be longer.
Pros and Cons of Greek Life
There are a lot of positives of Greek Life, but fraternities and sororities aren’t without their drawbacks.
Pros
If you enjoy being part of a close-knit group and you love socializing, Greek life might be a great fit. There’s seemingly always something happening in Greek life; plan on receiving lots of invitations to events and parties. Members of fraternities and sororities are introduced to numerous people through their groups. This is not only helpful for navigating college, but can also pay dividends even after school, as it provides access to large alumni networks.
Joining a frat or sorority will also likely mean you have the opportunity to live in your pledged house in your junior or senior year—and being surrounded by your brothers or sisters can be super fun, as well as supportive.
Greek life also provides an easy avenue for students to get involved on their campus, as philanthropy is a large tenet of Greek organizations. Additionally, there are many opportunities to take on leadership roles in your fraternity or sorority that provide excellent experience.
Cons
Pledging is a deterrent to many students’ interest in Greek life and can also be a distraction for students who are getting accustomed to college life. Stereotypes are also common within Greek life, and your affiliation with a particular fraternity or sorority might lead to people making judgments about you.
Greek life has also been classified as being biased and discriminatory. In recent years, issues involving a lack of diversity have arisen in Greek life. It can also be cost-prohibitive, as you have to pay dues to remain a member of the organization. Although Greek life scholarships might be available, the thought of paying to be in a club can be off-putting for some students.
Lastly, Greek life can be socially limiting—it’s common for students to only associate with members of other Greek organizations. In many cases, it’s even more restrictive, as members of some fraternities and sororities only socialize with other select Greek organizations.
Still wondering if Greek life is important when choosing a college? If so, check out our blog Should Greek Life Matter When Choosing a College?
Students who don’t wish to participate in Greek life might want to consider attending schools without fraternities and sororities altogether, as that would eliminate any Greek life/non-Greek life divide.
31 Colleges Without Greek Life
|
School |
State |
Acceptance Rate |
Undergraduate Enrollment |
|
MA |
9% |
1,914 |
|
|
ME |
13% |
1,760 |
|
|
MA |
16% |
9,575 |
|
|
ME |
7% |
1,881 |
|
|
UT |
59% |
32,952 |
|
|
PA |
29% |
1,368 |
|
|
MN |
20% |
2,128 |
|
|
NY |
59% |
10,582 |
|
|
CO |
93% |
3,320 |
|
|
WA |
28% |
5,281 |
|
|
IA |
15% |
1,788 |
|
|
MA |
70% |
548 |
|
|
CA |
13% |
921 |
|
|
HI |
84% |
5,087 |
|
|
MI |
76% |
1,376 |
|
|
MD |
75% |
3,881 |
|
|
VT |
11% |
2,760 |
|
|
MA |
36% |
2,178 |
|
|
OH |
34% |
2,896 |
|
|
NJ |
5% |
5,813 |
|
|
OR |
25% |
1,346 |
|
|
TX |
8% |
4,789 |
|
|
CA |
38% |
1,117 |
|
|
MA |
21% |
2,549 |
|
|
PA |
7% |
1,623 |
|
|
VA |
80% |
3,660 |
|
|
IN |
11% |
8,880 |
|
|
OR |
89% |
2,986 |
|
|
NY |
19% |
2,462 |
|
|
MA |
14% |
2,407 |
|
|
MA |
8% |
2,101 |
Research Universities Without Greek Life
1. Boston College | BC
Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,575
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded by the Jesuits in 1863, BC has maintained a religious affiliation with the Catholic Church for over 150 years. Boston College follows the Jesuit tradition, fostering connections between Jesuit scholars, promoting global engagement, recruiting faculty with international backgrounds, and developing global programs.
BC participates in nearly 31 NCAA Division I varsity sports and has one of the country’s highest graduation rates for student-athletes. Its men’s hockey team is of particular note; it’s won five national championships, in 1949, 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012.
2. Brigham Young University | BYU
Location: Provo, Utah
Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,952
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Brigham Young University was founded and is supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Non-church members pay almost twice as much to attend BYU as church members.
Religion is at the center of BYU student life, and students must adhere to a strict Honor Code, which includes abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and coffee; refraining from sexual relations outside marriage; avoiding vulgarity; attending church regularly; and adhering to grooming standards.
BYU may not have fraternities or sororities, but it does have an abundance of student-run organizations and clubs. It’s worth noting that BYU is found on Campus Pride’s “Absolute Worst List,” which identifies the nation’s most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ youth.
3. Fordham University
Location: Bronx, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,582
Acceptance Rate: 58%
With campuses scattered around New York City, Fordham students live and learn in one of the world’s great cities—and the epicenter of everything from international business to entertainment. As a Jesuit university, Fordham recognizes the dignity and uniqueness of each person and bases its education on close collaboration between students, faculty, and staff. A point of pride for the university is being a top producer of Fulbright Scholars.
4. Gonzaga University
Location: Spokane, Washington
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,281
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Gonzaga is a private Jesuit university in Washington state—it was founded in 1887, two years before Washington received statehood. In recent years, the Gonzaga men’s basketball team has helped make the Bulldogs a household name, thanks to their success in March Madness. However, the team is yet to win the tournament. Lesser known is that Gonzaga’s football team hasn’t lost a game since 1941—the sport was dropped that year due to World War II and a lack of men and was never revived.
In addition to football, another thing you won’t find on campus is Greek Life.
5. Hawaii Pacific University
Location: Honolulu, HI
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,087
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Hawaii Pacific University is the largest private institution of higher education in the state. In 2022, the university was ranked the most diverse school in the U.S. A multicultural student body is at the heart of the university’s mission, and students representing 50 states and nearly 65 countries are found on campus.
Speaking of campuses, Hawaii Pacific’s three campuses—set in the city, at the foothills of the mountains, and on the coast—offer its students a variety of opportunities. One thing you won’t find at Hawaii Pacific University is Greek Life.
6. Princeton University
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,813
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Princeton University is one of the nation’s best, most prestigious, and oldest colleges. The university was founded more than two and a half centuries ago, in 1746. Two U.S. presidents are Princeton alumni—James Madison and Woodrow Wilson—and the school served as the U.S. capital for a few months in 1783 when the Continental Congress met in Princeton’s Nassau Hall.
Rather than Greek Life, eating clubs play an integral role in the social life at Princeton. The tradition began in the 1870s, sparked by the school’s opposition to fraternities and its limited dining options.
7. Rice University
Location: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,789
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Located in the heart of the nation’s fourth-largest city, Houston, Texas, Rice University offers an active environment for students both on and off campus. Combining the advantages of a liberal arts college with the resources and facilities of a world-class research university, Rice students are allowed to explore a wide range of academic interests. Rice has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best values in higher ed.
The university does not consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission and meets 100% of all admitted students’ demonstrated financial need. Even better, Rice is a loan-free institution, with financial aid packages consisting of grants and institutional aid—which don’t require repayment—and no loans.
8. University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,880
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Rather than Greek Life, Notre Dame’s 33 undergraduate residential communities are at the center of the school’s social life. As a Catholic University, faith plays an essential role in the lives of its students, as religious thought intersects with the arts, sciences, and other areas of academics and creativity.
Studying abroad also plays a significant role in the academic careers of Notre Dame students. Almost 90% of the university’s students study abroad—one of the highest participation rates in the country.
9. University of Portland
Location: Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,986
Acceptance Rate: 89%
The University of Portland (affectionately known as UP) is located just seven miles from Portland’s bustling downtown. UP offers a variety of urban opportunities while also providing easy access to outdoor destinations such as the Oregon coast, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge.
As a Catholic University, UP strives to create forward-thinking future leaders by teaching students to think critically, communicate effectively, and respond ethically. It’s also focused on developing global citizens; the university’s study-abroad programs are extremely popular with students.
Liberal Arts Colleges Without Greek Life
10. Amherst College
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,914
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Noted for its academics, Amherst College is a member of the Five College Consortium—along with Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst—that allows students to take courses at any of these colleges. Amherst also has a reputation for the affordability of its education; it is one of the few no-loan, need-blind colleges that promise to meet 100% of accepted students’ demonstrated financial need.
11. Bates College
Location: Lewiston, Maine
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,760
Acceptance Rate: 13%
The first coeducational college in New England, Bates College has a long history of inclusivity and believes in the learning potential in our differences—this is one of the reasons why you won’t find any fraternities or sororities on its campus. Learning from other people and cultures is also why more than half of Bates students participate in study abroad.
Bates uses a unique 4-4-1 academic calendar that features a five-week spring term, during which students can hone in on a single subject or participate in an off-campus program.
12. Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,881
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Bowdoin has not always been a college without Greek life—it abolished fraternities in 1997. Instead of Greek life, Bowdoin now uses a system of eight College Houses, where students live, dine, and learn from one another. Bowdoin is also home to numerous societies, such as the Peucinian Society (one of the oldest literary and intellectual societies in the country) and an outing club that offers 150 excursions a year.
Bowdoin is a need-blind school and has replaced loans with grants in their aid packages. The college will even waive application fees for first-generation college students.
13. Carleton College
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,128
Acceptance Rate: 20%
With its reputation for academic excellence, it’s a top producer of Rhodes Scholars and Fulbright award winners. You might think Carleton College is filled with stuffy scholars, but you’re wrong. The “Carls” is a fun, quirky group with over 200 student organizations, including dance groups and comedy troupes, along with intramural sports such as Quidditch and dodgeball.
While education is a priority, the school’s unique traditions help lighten the mood; for example, there’s a “Silent Dance Party,” where students don headphones and dance together in the library.
14. Fort Lewis College
Location: Durango, Colorado
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,320
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Fort Lewis College was originally an army post before becoming an educational institution for American Indians in 1911. Today, the college fosters a strong Native American presence, with 180 Tribes and Alaska Native Villages represented on campus, and students of color comprising more than half of the student body.
Fort Lewis College does not have Greek Life. It does, however, have a variety of other organizations on campus, including its renowned Fort Lewis College Cycling Team. The team has won 25 national championships—in disciplines including mountain biking, cyclocross, and road racing—and has been USA Cycling’s top Division 1 team four times.
15. Grinnell College
Location: Grinnell, Iowa
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,788
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Social responsibility, cultural awareness, and mutual respect are core values at Grinnell College, and one result of this is the school’s reputation for social activism—it ranks near the top among schools of its size for sending volunteers to the Peace Corps. Likewise, more than half of Grinnell’s undergraduates participate in a study abroad program.
Don’t let the remote location—it’s sometimes called “Little School on the Prairie”—or its lack of Greek life fool you into thinking it’s a quiet campus. The school is home to nearly 100 student organizations and hosts a wide array of activities ranging from concerts to film festivals.
16. Hampshire College
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 548
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Hampshire College is known for its unorthodox academic system, where there are no predetermined majors (all students create their own!), and students aren’t given grades, but instead “narrative evaluations.” Another thing you won’t find at Hampshire College is Greek Life.
While you won’t find fraternities or sororities on Hampshire College’s campus, the school is home to more than 50 student organizations. It’s also a member of the Five College Consortium, which allows students to take advantage of the resources—including student organizations and activities—at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
17. Harvey Mudd College | HMC
Location: Claremont, California
Undergraduate Enrollment: 921
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Small and distinguished, Harvey Mudd College is one of the nation’s best schools for students studying math, science, and engineering. Despite its small size and lack of fraternities and sororities, Harvey Mudd has an active campus with 99% of students living on it.
The college is a member of Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven highly selective schools in Claremont that share classes, dining halls, libraries, parties, sports teams, and other resources. On campus, students will find organizations such as the Gonzo Unicycle Madness Club, whose Foster’s Run—a unicycle ride to a local donut shop—is a well-known school tradition.
18. Kalamazoo College
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,376
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Kalamazoo College is best known for its K-Plan, which provides students with an individualized curriculum. The K-Plan offers a dynamic learning experience, with students participating in internships, externships, and service learning projects domestically, while gaining international and intercultural experiences through participation in one of its 50-plus study abroad programs.
While students won’t find Greek life on campus, they’ll discover fun events like Zoo After Dark (free food and games) on Saturday nights.
19. Loyola University Maryland
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,881
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Loyola University Maryland is a Jesuit liberal arts school and the first institution in the U.S. to bear the “Loyola” name. Loyola is the surname of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. Like many schools that follow the Jesuit tradition, Loyola University Maryland does not have Greek Life.
Despite the absence of fraternities and sororities, the university is home to an active and social student body—roughly 80% of undergraduates live on campus and the school is home to more than 150 clubs. In the spring, the university hosts Lollapalooza, an annual concert/carnival/gathering/festival for the entire student body. In the past, Lollapalooza has featured diverse acts like Blues Traveler, T-Pain, and The All-American Rejects.
20. Middlebury College
Location: Middlebury, Vermont
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,760
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Middlebury students with an interest in skiing are likely not to notice the absence of Greek life on campus when the snow starts to fly. Middlebury has 17 trails on the Middlebury College Snow Bowl ski area and is home to the country’s oldest winter carnival.
Middlebury uses a 4-1-4 academic calendar, which consists of two four-month-long semesters, with a month-long mini-session in between. This mini-session allows Middlebury students to explore a specific class or opportunity. Middlebury is also known for its study abroad programs and immersive summer language programs, where students must sign a pledge promising to speak only the foreign language of the program.
21. Oberlin College
Location: Oberlin, Ohio
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,896
Acceptance Rate: 34%
Oberlin is committed to inclusivity, and while students won’t find Greek Life on campus, they will have ample opportunities to connect with their peers. Students are required to live on campus, in traditional residence halls, identity- and language-based housing, and theme houses such as the Sci-Fi Hall (a science fiction and fantasy themed living community).
Small, domestic-style houses and college-owned apartments are available to seniors and some juniors, allowing them to get a taste of post-college life.
22. Reed College
Location: Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,346
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Reed College is known for its intellectual vigor and inclusivity. Reed is ranked fourth in the nation in the percentage of graduates who earn PhDs and has produced numerous notable figures—for example, Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger graduated from Reed, and Apple founder Steve Jobs attended Reed before dropping out.
Residential life is at the core of the Reed experience, and residence halls are part of neighborhoods that are divided by year: first-year students live in first-year neighborhoods, sophomores live in sophomore neighborhoods, and juniors and seniors live in upper-division neighborhoods.
All Reed students are governed by the school’s Honor Principle, a non-codified philosophy of behavior that encourages mutual respect and thoughtfulness.
23. Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,623
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Swarthmore is distinguished from other liberal arts colleges in many ways, one of which is its undergraduate engineering program—an oddity for a liberal arts school. Another is the school’s traditions; for example, the Crum Regatta, an event where students race homemade boats down Crum Creek.
Swarthmore is a member of the Tri-College Consortium, along with Bryn Mawr and Haverford College, which allows Swatties to take classes at any of the participating schools.
24. University of Mary Washington
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,660
Acceptance Rate: 80%
According to the University of Mary Washington, the school “is not affiliated with single-sex Greek social fraternities or sororities.” However, the University of Mary Washington recognizes and is affiliated with a handful of Greek academic honorary societies and coeducational service fraternities.
The university is committed to diversity and inclusion. The school is home to students from 33 states and 15 countries. More than 150 student-run organizations call campus home, ranging from a student newspaper to a Geek Alliance, which is dedicated to anime, video games, and Doctor Who.
Looking for something more active? You can play on one of the university’s roughly 20 club sports teams.
25. Vassar College
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,462
Acceptance Rate: 19%
Vassar does not have Greek life, but it does have an active and vibrant on-campus community, with approximately 96% of the student body living in the school’s residence halls and apartments. Vassar is also home to 165+ student organizations.
Vassar’s distinguishing characteristic is that it does not have a core curriculum; rather, students can declare a major by concentrating in a department, an interdepartmental program, a multidisciplinary program, or an Independent Program. This academic freedom has earned Vassar students a reputation for being free and original thinkers.
26. Williams College
Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,101
Acceptance Rate: 8%
One of the 18 schools that make up the “Little Ivies,” a group of select liberal arts schools in the Northeast, Williams College is notable for many things in addition to its world-class education. The Williams alumni society is the oldest in the world, and its graduating class of 1887 was the first to wear caps and gowns at graduation. Williams eliminated fraternities in the 1960s, but students today will find that camaraderie-building events like a schoolwide trivia contest and Mountain Day (an event where students hike nearby Mount Greylock) solidify school spirit and community.
Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges Without Greek Life
27. Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,368
Acceptance Rate: 29%
Women’s-only and sorority-free Bryn Mawr has a host of options for students looking to balance a single-sex education with coed opportunities. The school is a member of the Tri-College Consortium—with Haverford College and Swarthmore College—which allows students to take classes and attend social events at member schools. Bryn Mawr students may also take courses at the University of Pennsylvania.
The college’s Praxis program gives students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in the real world by placing them in a wide range of community organizations.
28. Mount Holyoke College
Location: South Hadley, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,178
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Almost all of Mount Holyoke’s students live on campus—creating a tight-knit community that is academically rigorous, intellectually adventurous, and socially conscious. Although the college doesn’t have Greek life, it’s rich in collaborative spirit.
Mount Holyoke is part of the Five College Consortium—along with Amherst, Hampshire, Smith, and UMass Amherst—which allows students to take courses and attend events at member schools. It’s also part of the Twelve College Exchange Program, where students can study at one of the eleven other member schools for one or two semesters.
29. Scripps College
Location: Claremont, California
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,117
Acceptance Rate: 38%
It’s easy not to notice the absence of sororities on Scripps College’s campus—it’s one of the prettiest campuses in the nation and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Scripps balances their students’ desires for a small college experience with the academic and social resources of a large institution.
As a member of the Claremont Colleges, Scripps students can take classes at any of the other consortium schools. The spirit of the collegiate community is also found outside the classroom. For example, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and Harvey Mudd field joint athletic teams that play under the name Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas.
30. Smith College
Location: Northampton, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,549
Acceptance Rate: 21%
Not only will you not find Greek life on the campus of Smith College, but you also won’t find traditional dorms. Rather, Smith students live in one of 35 separate houses. Ranging from Gothic to modern styles, Smith student housing ranges in buildings with the capacity for anywhere from 10 to 100 students.
Smith is one of the Seven Sisters Colleges, a group of seven historically all-women colleges, and a member of the Five College Consortium, which allows students to take classes at Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst.
31. Wellesley College
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,407
Acceptance Rate: 14%
While there’s no Greek life on the campus of Wellesley College, it does offer one of the most diverse college communities in the nation—students hailing from more than 65 countries are enrolled at the school. Not just culturally diverse, the school is extremely socioeconomically diverse as well, thanks to its need-blind admission policy and generous policies that eliminate loans for students with the most financial need.
Wellesley is a member of the Twelve College Exchange Program, which allows students at participating institutions to participate in a domestic study away for a semester or a year.
Colleges with Minimal Greek Life
|
School |
State |
Acceptance Rate |
Undergraduate Enrollment |
|
AZ |
90% |
65,450 |
|
|
MA |
47% |
4,355 |
|
|
Washington D.C. |
13% |
7,833 |
|
|
NY |
65% |
6,090 |
|
|
NY |
9% |
29,060 |
|
|
OH |
61% |
46,815 |
|
|
PA |
80% |
21,428 |
|
|
NY |
74% |
20,360 |
|
|
MA |
60% |
23,920 |
|
|
NV |
85% |
27,135 |
1. Arizona State University | ASU
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Undergraduate Enrollment: 65,450
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Arizona State University is the largest school in the U.S., however, the percentage of ASU students who participate in Greek Life is relatively small. According to State Press, a student-run publication covering ASU, just 6% of the university’s undergraduate population are pledged to fraternity and sorority life organizations. Of course, 6% of ASU’s student body adds up to more than 5,000 students.
2. Emerson College
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,355
Acceptance Rate: 47%
Emerson College is home to a small slice of Greek Life. According to the Berkeley Beacon, the college’s student-run newspaper, only 2% of men and 3% of women are in fraternity and sorority life groups at the school.
Although Greek Life plays a minor role at Emerson, the school hosts a variety of organizations and opportunities, including a television network, two radio stations, and one of the nation’s most prestigious literary magazines: Ploughshares.
3. Georgetown University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,833
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Like many other Jesuit schools, Georgetown University doesn’t endorse a social Greek system, believing it runs counter to the school’s values. That said, according to the Georgetown Voice, a student-run news magazine, about 10% of Georgetown students participate in Greek Life.
While Greek life isn’t prevalent on Georgetown’s campus, there’s plenty to keep students busy, from the vibrant neighborhoods and nightlife around the college to hundreds of clubs and organizations. You can even volunteer to walk Jack the Bulldog, the university’s mascot.
4. Marist College
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,090
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Fraternities and sororities have called Marist College home since 1776, the same year the U.S. issued the Declaration of Independence. Today, seven Greek organizations are found on Marist’s campus, and roughly 300 students (about 5% of the total student body) are members of its three fraternities and four sororities.
5. New York University | NYU
Location: New York, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,060
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Attending college in one of the country’s most vibrant cities provides an abundance of excellent opportunities, which is why many NYU students are interested in discovering that the school has Greek Life. NYU is home to 23 active Greek organizations, and roughly 10% of students participate. For many, Greek Life presents an opportunity to find community amongst the commotion of the U.S.’s largest city.
6. Ohio State University | OSU
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Undergraduate Enrollment: 46,815
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Ohio State is one of the largest colleges in the country, but it’s home to just a small sliver of Greek Life on its campus. About 10% of undergraduates (more than 4,000 students) are members of a Greek organization. Although the majority of OSU students aren’t members of a Greek organization, Greek Life is a long-standing tradition at the school—it’s been on campus for over 140 years.
7. Temple University
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,428
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Fraternities and sororities have been a part of the Temple experience since 1903. Today, the university is home to 34 Greek chapters with roughly 1,800 members—about 7% of students. Outside of Greek Life, there are numerous other opportunities for Temple students to connect; the university is home to hundreds of groups and hosts a variety of events, ranging from Homecoming Week to group bike rides.
8. University at Buffalo
Location: Buffalo, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,360
Acceptance Rate: 74%
CollegeVine’s top SUNY school, the University at Buffalo, is home to a small section of Greek Life. In 2019, it was estimated that about 5% of University at Buffalo students participate in fraternities and sororities. The university is home to 21 recognized Greek chapters: 8 fraternities and 13 sororities.
University of Buffalo students can’t join a fraternity or sorority until they’ve earned 12 credits and must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
9. University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,920
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Fraternities have been a fixture on UMass Amherst’s campus almost since its beginning—the school was founded in 1863, and the first frat arrived in 1868. The first sorority would arrive a little over 50 years later, in 1916.
In the 1960s, Greek participation at UMass Amherst hit an all-time high, with roughly a quarter of students participating, but the number has dropped in the intervening years. Today, only about 8.5% of undergraduates participate in fraternities and sororities.
10. University of Nevada Las Vegas | UNLV
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Undergraduate Enrollment: 27,135
Acceptance Rate: 85%
From the entertainment of the strip to the stunning scenery of Red Rock Canyon, there is no shortage of things to do in “fabulous” Las Vegas. This might account for the relatively minimal participation in Greek Life at UNLV. The school is home to 17 Greek chapters, fewer than 4% of undergraduates participate, and there are no fraternity or sorority housing facilities at UNLV.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance
Many of the schools above—both those with no Greek life and those with minimal Greek life—are very selective, and your personal chances of admission will depend on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine can help you better understand your odds at hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide. Our free chancing calculator uses metrics like your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your personal odds of getting into college.
