Fraternities are more relevant than ever before.
Over the past four years, from the team at Gallup – the leader in research and analysis – to university faculty members, researchers have worked with the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), in partnership with the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE), to conduct and widely share the results of more than 20 studies to guide advocacy efforts and the work of fraternities.
Studies Show:
Fraternities are an accelerator for success in college and beyond.
Fraternities capitalize on students’ time outside of the classroom by preparing men for success in college and in their futures far beyond what their peers experience. Because of higher expectations and the support and network fraternities provide, members experience greater gains in learning and graduate at higher rates than their peers. 83% of members say their confidence in their leadership skills increased because of their membership.
Fraternities create lifelong connections to the campus, community, and friends.
Fraternities empower students to create a strong support system. Members are more engaged inside and outside of the classroom than their peers—they report feeling more supported by their faculty, and nearly half serve in leadership roles across campus. They’re also more connected to their local communities, with research showing they spend significantly more time volunteering than non-affiliated students.
Fraternity members experience stronger mental health.
Research shows fraternity membership connects men to the university in a way nonmembers simply don’t experience. They’re more satisfied as students and alumni and are more likely to recommend and give back to their alma maters. Research shows that this connection can create a strong sense of belonging, leading members to have more positive mental health and less anxiety and depression than other students.
Fraternity men are socially conscious and believe in promoting safety and inclusion.
Considering high-risk behaviors, including sex, alcohol, and hazing, fraternity men believe in and promote safer and more inclusive environments than nonmembers. They understand the definition of sexual assault, report drinking less and with moderation, and choose not to participate in hazing because they do not want to cause emotional harm, it goes against their values, and wanting to be respected by others.
Fraternity members hold their peers accountable.
Research shows that fraternity men are more likely to intervene in higher-risk situations than those not affiliated and that they are more comfortable in providing accountability in the areas of academics, sexual relationships, professional/career goals, personal goals, and hazing. Additionally, they cite a greater responsibility to support the personal and professional growth of their friends/peers — a proof point that affirms the meaning of true brotherhood.
Fraternity men are...
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- 3x more likely to obtain an internship while in college
- Almost 2x as likely to have a job waiting for them when they graduate
- 2x as likely to encourage others to attend their alma mater
- 5x as likely to give back financially to their alma mater
- Almost 5x as likely to be satisfied with their lives as alums
- More likely to intervene when a friend/peer is behaving in an unsafe manner
Citations
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- Peer Accountability, Plaid, 2022
- Fostering a More Safe and Inclusive Environment for all Members, VectorSolutions, 2022
- Fraternities & Values of Single Sex Experience, UT-PERC, 2021
- The Greek Experience Revisited, Pike, 2020
- Perspectives on Fraternity and Sorority Life; Positive Youth Development, Everfi, 2021
- Fraternities and Sororities: Experiences and Outcomes in College, Work and Life, Gallup, 2021
- Mental Health and Wellness for Fraternity and Sorority Members; Biddix, Assalone and Grace, 2020
- Greek values and attitudes: A comparison with independents; Baier and Whipple, 2020