So on UVA’s website it says that being in a sorority can cost from $800-$1500 just for membership and dues. (Not to mention having the necessary clothes for each event. If 1/3 of UVA is Greek, how does everyone afford an additional cost of $3,200 to $6,000 on top of tuition, room and board, and everything else. Is being Greek worth the additional costs?
1/3 to 1/2 of UVA students receive no financial aid so that doesn’t surprise me.
It is understandable that many in-state students do not need much financial aid. It is harder to understand how many OOS families can afford sticker price.
In any case, I imagine the rich kids end up joining the expensive fraternities and sororities. Some other houses are affordable. Remember you are getting something for your money - including some food and entertainment that you would otherwise pay for if you were not in a Greek organization. Also, you may find that some fraternities and sororities offer cheaper housing than you would otherwise pay, which makes up for some of the dues.
For my son’s fraternity, a good portion of the dues has to go to the National to pay for liability insurance.
No, being Greek is not worth the cost – if you’re not wealthy, you’ll feel out of place at UVA.
So not true about the part that if you’re not wealthy, you’ll feel out of place at UVA. Honestly, people always say UVA students are “preppy” and are always dressed up everyday, but that’s simply not true! I mean yeah maybe SOME do, but not ALL. You can’t and shouldn’t judge a school like that - not just UVA, but any school. I know PLENTY of people at UVA who weren’t/aren’t in a sorority and they made just as many great friends and memories. Seriously, if you want to have a blast at college, just do what makes YOU happy! Sorry this wasn’t really part of the post, but just sayin…
DS is in a sorority at UVa - it’s about $3000 a year in dues. However, the dues include a meal plan of at least 5 meals a week, and the food is much better than the student meal plan. (Seriously - the food at UVa is pretty terrible.) There are additional costs, like tickets for certain events (Parents Formal) and extras like Big Sister Week. We are in-state, so the dues cost is not unbearable, but I agree that for OOS students the cost of Greek membership on top of OOS tuition may just be too much. However, 70% of the students are not in the Greek system, so belonging to a fraternity/sorority is a “nice to have,” not a “must have.” And in her third year, when she lives in the house, her living costs will drop dramatically - it’s much cheaper than living in a dorm or apartment.
My son’s fraternity dues are much less than 3K a year, but he does not have 5 meals a week provided. There is food provided during special events, and for a while they organized their own meal plan with deliveries from local restaurants… It is also nice to have a place to lock up your stuff over the summer. However, the most important benefits involve the support system that exists,while you are in college, and the lifetime friendships.
Also, many of the fraternities and sororities are more conveniently located than much of the other upper class housing. That saves time,on a daily basis and can avoid the need for a car vs. living in an area that is not convenient to the Corner, etc.
So @BXVIFan and @Charliesch would you say that it’s worth it?
It’s definitely been worth it for what it has provided my DS - she has made great friendships, has been exposed to students from all over the country and international students as well, gets frequent networking emails with job opportunities from chapter alum, is eating better than she would otherwise 
- but I have two other kids who have said they have no interest in being part of the Greek system, and I won’t push them toward it.
Gaga: It was up to my kids to decide if it was worth it. I contribute $500 to each of them per year for dues, and they pay the rest out of their summer earnings. I figure that $500 is an average of what I save on their food, storage and housing costs by having them in a Greek organization.
If money is really tight, parents should have a serious talk with their son or daughter about the costs of joining a fraternity or sorority before they decide to rush and fall in love with a house. My understanding is that the costs vary greatly between different houses. I believe sororities are required to be up-front in advance about costs, but I don’t know if that is true for fraternities.
Some Greek organizations do offer some limited scholarships towards dues. When I was in a fraternity, there were some financial discounts that came with being the house manager and the kitchen manager, which may make it more affordable.