Financial Responsibilities
Fraternity and Sorority Membership Dues & Housing
Financial responsibility is important for all college students. Every member of a fraternity or sorority agrees to be fiscally responsible as a student and as an organization member. We have provided the following information as a guide while making your joining decision and as a resource allowing you to be fully informed on all aspects of financial responsibility.
The fraternity and sorority experience is an investment in your future. Fraternal organizations' fees go to programs and services that will positively impact you throughout your time as a member. To assist members, chapters may offer various scholarships, grants, and payment plans. We encourage you to ask questions related to finances during the recruitment process. We also encourage families to be "hands-on" in this decision if you have any questions about the financial obligations. Costs will vary if the organization does or does not have a chapter structure.
Membership dues/fees may include local and national membership dues, room and board (if the organization has a structure), meals, and other one-time fees such as initiation or new member fees. The charts below provide you with the 2024-2025 financial averages for each council. They include the high, low, and average costs within that council.
*For 2024-2025, the average cost of living in a university-owned residence hall per academic year for a double room and unlimited meals is $12,616.00.
Council Breakdown
National Pan-Hellenic Council:
| LOW | AVERAGE | HIGH |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $700 | $2,100 |
Multicultural Greek Council:
| LOW | AVERAGE | HIGH |
|---|---|---|
| $165 | $450 | $900 |
Panhellenic Council:
| LOW | AVERAGE | HIGH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housed | $7,500 | $9,850 | $12,100 |
| Un-Housed | $1,000 | $2,400 | $3,500 |
Interfraternity Council:
| LOW | AVERAGE | HIGH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housed | $3,500 | $8,800 | $13,600 |
| Un-Housed | $600 | $1,600 | $2,600 |
Council Dues
Every semester, each of our governing councils assesses membership dues to all of the organizations that fall within their respective council. These dues are collected to ensure continued council operations, programming, education, and support for member chapters. Dues are determined based on the total number of members on the organization's roster with Fraternity and Sorority Life. Each council's semester dues amount is listed below:
- National Pan-Hellenic Council: $15 per member
- Multicultural Greek Council: $20 per member
- Panhellenic Council: $17 per member
- Interfraternity Council: $25 per new member, $17 per active member
FSL Programming Fee
Understanding the FSL Programming Fee
Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) at the University of Iowa assesses a Programming Fee to individual members of all officially recognized Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations on campus regardless of council affiliation. This fee will be charged to individual students’ UBill accounts based on sorority and fraternity membership.
The fee will supplement the funds that the University of Iowa already dedicates towards the members of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The funds are used for the following:
- Educational programs
- Leadership development opportunities
- Prevention and wellness programming
- Staff support from Fraternity and Sorority Life
During the fall semester, the FSL Programming Fee will be billed to returning members on September 1st, and to fall new members on November 15th. During the spring semester, the FSL Programming Fee will be billed to returning members on February 1st, and to spring new members on April 15th.
Fee Requirement Understanding:
University of Iowa Fraternity and Sorority Life, Programming Fee Student Agreement:
By joining a fraternity or sorority, you are acknowledging your understanding of and agreement to the following Terms and Conditions. Please read carefully.
Participation in a fraternity or sorority is optional and remains a choice of the student. As such, by agreeing to become or remain a member of a fraternity or sorority advised by Fraternity and Sorority Life, you agree to pay the programming fee assessed to all students with the amount dependent upon the council of which you are a member. The programming fee is assessed each semester and applied to your U-Bill. Please review the Billing Policies and Procedures from the University Billing Office to understand financial responsibilities and processes.
Fraternity and Sorority Life, Programming Fee
Fee Amounts
The programming fee for each member is dependent on which governing council the organization is a part of.
- Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council Members: $50.00/semester.
- Multicultural Greek Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council Members: $25.00/semester.
This fee is an expectation for all members since their organizations receive additional benefits and support from the university beyond other self-governing student organizations that have selective membership processes.
In the case where a student is incorrectly billed due to the fraternity or sorority organization failing to update its roster by the stated dates, the student will be refunded and the organization will be charged (IFC/PHC- $50 per student; NPHC/MGC- $25 per student).
Frequently Asked Questions:
- During the fall semester, the FSL Programming Fee will be billed to returning members on September 1st, and to fall new members on November 15th.
- During the spring semester, the FSL Programming Fee will be billed to returning members on February 1st, and to spring new members on April 15th.
In years prior, Fraternity and Sorority Life issued invoices to chapters and was reliant on timely payment of those dues to pay for advising support and assistance, as well as payment for leadership development programs, conferences, and the annual FSL awards programming. By directly administering funds from Fraternity and Sorority Life to the U-Bill, we can ensure more timely payment of fees, and remove the need for FSL staff to create and manage payment of invoices. By directly paying for fees and administering funds from Fraternity and Sorority, the University will have much more oversight of these funds and where the money is spent. This will help ensure that funds are not abused. We are committed to being transparent by tracking the use of these funds internally and sharing how these funds are spent annually with the campus and community stakeholders.
- We understand that there are situations where members are facing financial hardship or have other specific, extenuating circumstances or needs that may impact their ability to pay the fee. In these instances, members of the FSL community may submit a request for an FSL Programming Fee Waiver.
- What happens if I do not pay my U-Bill? Click Here.
Programming Fee Waiver requests must be submitted by the following deadlines in order to be considered:
- October 1st – Fall Returning Members
- December 15th – Fall New Members
- March 1st – Spring Returning Members
- May 15th – Spring New Members
Fee waiver applicants will be notified via email after their application has been reviewed and a final decision has been made. Please note that all fee waiver requests may not be granted.
Fall Semester:
At the end of the day on August 31st and November 14th (respectively), chapter rosters will be pulled from the roster management system. This is the date when chapter roster adjustments/changes are due. Prior to the dates above, chapter leadership will need to send their council advisor a list of all members who are currently:
- Studying abroad
- On Co-op or internship
Spring Semester:
At the end of the day on January 31st and April 14th (respectively), chapter rosters will be pulled from the roster management system. This is the date when chapter roster adjustments/changes are due. Prior to the dates above, chapter leadership will need to send their council advisor a list of all members who are currently:
- Studying abroad
- On Co-op or internship
Next:
- On the mornings of September 1st & November 15th (fall) and February 1st & April 15th (spring), rosters will be sent to the billing office where students' UBills will be charged.
- Students should expect to see the charge on their account after the roster submission deadline
- Students will have 30 days after the billing date to submit a fee waiver for the semester's charges.
- Reasons fee waiver would be approved:
- Student is studying abroad and the chapter did not note that on their roster
- Student is on co-op or internship and the chapter did not note that on their roster
- Fee creates a financial hardship for the student
- The student will need to show proof that are unable to pay organization dues for the semester
- The student will also need to show proof they have not received a refund from the financial aid/billing office
- Student is no longer a member of the organization
- In a case where the chapter did not update its roster prior to the programming fee being assessed, the organization will be responsible for paying the fee to FSL.
- If a student withdraws after being charged the programming fee, the student is still responsible for that fee.
- FSL will receive fee disbursement from the University Billing Office.