Colleges with Phi Beta Kappa Chapters

Explore Colleges with Prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Chapters

For students with a passion for the liberal arts and sciences, joining an honor society like Phi Beta Kappa can be a significant achievement and a mark of academic distinction. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, celebrating intellectual excellence, freedom of inquiry, and lifelong learning. A chapter is a signal that an institution is committed to a rigorous and broad-based education in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Only about 10% of colleges and universities in the United States have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and membership is highly selective, with only a small percentage of students invited to join each year.

Earning membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a testament to a student’s well-rounded academic record and a commitment to a liberal arts education. It’s an honor recognized by graduate and professional schools, as well as by future employers, and it provides a valuable network of high-achieving alumni. Being part of a campus with a chapter means you're attending a school that values high standards of scholarship and provides opportunities to engage with a community of intellectuals and leaders.

This comprehensive list features many of the country's leading institutions with active Phi Beta Kappa chapters, including Ivy League schools like Harvard University and Dartmouth College, as well as other top-tier universities like Brown University and Duke University. You will also find an array of excellent public and private universities that value this distinction, from larger schools like Arizona State University and the University of Iowa, to smaller liberal arts colleges such as Amherst College and Agnes Scott College. For a student dedicated to academic excellence, choosing a college with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter is an excellent way to ensure your education is of the highest quality and your achievements are recognized at the national level.