Ibrahim Gardner
The University of Alabama has a large Greek system, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. In 2023, 44% of female undergraduates were in university-sanctioned sororities. The exact number of sororities at the university is unclear, with different sources citing 18, 19, 22, 24, or 26. The Alabama Panhellenic Association is made up of over 7,900 women across 18 National Panhellenic Conference chapters and 1 affiliate chapter. In 2016, there were 2,261 women who pledged Panhellenic sororities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sororities at the University of Alabama | 22 (in 2016) |
| 24 (in 2025) | |
| Number of students in sororities | 12,000 (in 2023) |
| 44% of female undergraduates (in 2023) | |
| Number of students in Panhellenic sororities | 2,261 (in 2016) |
| Number of students in National Panhellenic Conference sororities | 2,307 (in 2021) |
| Number of National Panhellenic Conference sororities | 18 |
| Number of National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
The University of Alabama has 22 sororities
The University of Alabama is home to a large Greek system, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. The university has 22 active sororities on campus, which are made up of over 7,900 women. The Alabama Panhellenic Association has 18 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) chapters and 1 affiliate chapter. The University of Alabama's sorority system has a long history, with the Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta sorority founded in 1903, followed by Alpha Delta Pi.
In recent years, there has been a focus on increasing diversity within the sorority system, which has historically been segregated. In 2000, the first non-white student was initiated into a historically white Greek organization. However, in 2013, a black student was prevented from joining an all-white sorority by alumnae of Greek organizations. This led to the Alabama Panhellenic Association allowing continuous open bidding for recruitment. The University of Alabama's Panhellenic community is now the largest in the nation, and in 2021, 97% of African American PNMs who completed the recruitment process received bids, a higher rate than any other racial group.
The University of Alabama's sororities have a significant presence on campus, with around 44% of female undergraduates involved in university-sanctioned sororities. Each sorority has its own unique traditions and values, with their own founding year, colours, symbols, and philanthropy projects. For example, the Eta Chapter of one sorority was founded in 1851 and has the colours azure blue and white, while another sorority has the rose and green as its colours. The sororities also have their own mottos, such as "We Live For Each Other" and "May the flame endure."
The University of Alabama's 22 sororities provide a sense of sisterhood and community for their members, offering opportunities for academic, social, and philanthropic engagement.
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18 are National Panhellenic Conference sororities
The University of Alabama has a large Greek system, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. In 2023, 44% of female undergraduates were in university-sanctioned sororities. The university has 24 sororities that are registered with the Office of Student Involvement.
In 2016, the University of Alabama had 22 active sororities on campus, 18 of which were National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities. The Alabama Panhellenic Association has 18 National Panhellenic Conference chapters and one affiliate chapter, comprising over 7,900 women. The University of Alabama's Panhellenic community is the largest in the nation.
In 2016, interested students could participate in recruitment activities for the 18 active National Panhellenic Conference sororities, as well as four active National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities. The Alabama Panhellenic Association’s fall primary recruitment ended with 2,307 women accepting bids to join one of 17 Panhellenic sororities on campus.
The University of Alabama's sorority system has been the subject of controversy regarding segregation within the Greek system. In 2013, a story in the campus paper, The Crimson White, revealed that alumnae of Greek organizations had prevented a Black student from being accepted into an all-white sorority. As a result, the Alabama Panhellenic Association allowed recruitment to continue through continuous open bidding, and a deal was announced to allow Black students to join historically white sororities. Despite this, notable segregation within the Greek system has continued to be a debated issue.
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Four are National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities
The University of Alabama has a large Greek system, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. In 2023, 44% of female undergraduates were in university-sanctioned sororities. The University of Alabama's website lists 24 sororities registered with the Office of Student Involvement. However, in 2016, there were 22 active sororities on campus, 18 of which were National Panhellenic Conference sororities, and four were National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities. These four sororities are part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as the Divine Nine, which has a different rush process.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) promotes interaction and cooperation between its nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, also known as the "Divine Nine." The NPHC provides a collaborative and unified voice through advocacy, leadership, and guidance, and its members are committed to social action, community service, and education. The NPHC's sororities are:
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA): Founded in 1908 at Howard University, AKA is the first historically African American Greek-lettered sorority. The sorority's purpose is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity and friendship among college women, and be of service to all mankind.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (DST): Founded in 1913 by 22 women at Howard University, DST is a public service sorority dedicated to the constructive development of its members and the advancement of humanity. DST has over 1,000 chapters and has initiated over 300,000 members.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated (SGR): Founded in 1922 at Butler University, SGR is a non-profit, international, social action sorority. The sorority's mission is to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the US and globally through community service, social action, and programming for youth, and its members are known for their "Greater Service, Greater Progress" motto.
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (ZPB): Founded in 1920 at Howard University, ZPB is an international sorority with the purpose of fostering the ideas of service, scholarship, sisterly love, and finer womanhood. ZPB has over 800 chapters worldwide and is the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa.
The University of Alabama's NPHC sororities are part of a rich history of traditionally African American Greek-letter organizations that promote service, scholarship, and sisterhood.
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UA has one of the largest Greek systems in the US
The University of Alabama (UA) has one of the largest Greek systems in the US, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. In 2023, 29% of male undergraduates were in university-sanctioned fraternities, while 44% of female undergraduates were in university-sanctioned sororities. The Alabama Panhellenic Association is the largest Panhellenic community in the nation, with nearly 8,000 women spread across 18 National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) chapters and one affiliate chapter.
UA has a long history of Greek life, with the first sorority, the Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta, founded in 1903, and Alpha Delta Pi soon after. As of 2016, there were 22 active sororities on campus, with 18 being National Panhellenic Conference sororities and four being National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities. The number of sororities at UA has continued to grow, with 24 registered with the Office of Student Involvement as of 2025.
The influence of Greek life at UA has been a controversial topic, with reports of harassment, intimidation, and criminal activities aimed at opposition candidates. In the past, "Machine" fraternities and sororities have traditionally only accepted white pledges, with notable segregation within the Greek system. However, in 2013, a deal was announced to allow Black students to join historically white sororities, marking a step towards ending systematic segregation in UA's sorority system.
Despite the controversies, Greek life at UA remains a significant aspect of student life, with a large number of students participating in recruitment activities and joining sororities and fraternities each year.
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Sorority membership is high at 44% of female students
Sorority life is a prominent aspect of student life at the University of Alabama, with a sorority membership rate of 44% among female undergraduates. The university's Greek system is one of the largest in the nation, with over 12,000 active students involved in fraternities and sororities. The Alabama Panhellenic Association, which consists of 18 National Panhellenic Conference chapters and one affiliate chapter, is the largest Panhellenic community in the country, comprising over 7,900 women.
The University of Alabama currently has 24 sororities registered with the Office of Student Involvement. In 2016, there were 22 active sororities on campus, including 18 National Panhellenic Conference sororities and four National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities. The number of sororities at the university has varied over time, with some sources citing 19 or 26 sororities. The university's sorority system has a long history, with the Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta sorority founded in 1903, followed by Alpha Delta Pi.
The sorority recruitment process at the University of Alabama has been the subject of controversy due to notable segregation within the Greek system. In 2013, a campus newspaper article revealed that alumnae of Greek organizations had prevented a Black student from being accepted into an all-white sorority. As a result, the Alabama Panhellenic Association allowed continuous open bidding to promote diversity. Despite these efforts, the university's sorority system has been criticized for its traditionally low acceptance rate of African American students, with only one documented case of an African American student being offered entry to a sorority in 2003.
The sorority recruitment process at the University of Alabama is highly competitive, with a large number of students participating in open house events. In one instance, 2,500 potential new members participated in the first round of Panhellenic recruitment, with 92% of these students accepting bids to join one of the sororities. The racial breakdown of sorority recruitment has also been a topic of discussion, with efforts made to increase diversity. In spring 2021, 6% of potential new members who self-reported their race identified as Hispanic or Latino, while about 1.3% identified as African American.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Alabama has 24 sororities that are registered with the Office of Student Involvement. However, some sources state there are 22, while others state there are 19 or 18.
This information is not publicly available. However, it is known that 2,307 women accepted bids to join one of 17 Panhellenic sororities on campus. In total, 44% of female undergraduates were in university-sanctioned sororities in 2023.
The Alabama Panhellenic Association is the largest Panhellenic community in the nation, with over 7,900 women spread across 18 National Panhellenic Conference chapters and 1 affiliate chapter.
Some sororities at the University of Alabama include the Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, and Alpha Upsilon.
