A common misunderstanding is that fraternity involvement negatively impacts student success. The opposite is true. Fraternity members consistently outperform their non-affiliated peers academically. Such triumphs are particularly pronounced among first-generation students and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This is a result of chapter standards that hold young men accountable in the classroom. Fraternities provide structure and accountability at a time many young men have none.

Fraternity members are more likely to be retained and 20% more likely to graduate than non-affiliated classmates. They’re more likely to be engaged inside and outside the classroom: fraternity men are more likely to have student-faculty interactions and 50% hold campus leadership positions. A 2021 study conducted by Gallup found that Greek students are more likely than non-Greek students to report they are thriving at their institution.

This academic success is enhanced by the diverse perspectives and experiences fraternity men encounter through their chapters. Affiliated collegians are more likely to engage in discussions with people of different races, ethnicities, economic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and political views. A survey conducted by RealClearEducation found 59% of fraternity and sorority students are “very” or “somewhat” comfortable discussing controversial topics with peers, as compared to 48% of non-Greek students. The same survey found 43% of fraternity student respondents were “very” or “somewhat” comfortable publicly disagreeing with a professor on a controversial topic, compared to just 36% of non-Greek students.