Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are both well-known South Carolina universities. Both schools take pride in the student experience they deliver, and one aspect of this student experience is Greek life.

However, each school has its own unique components regarding the offerings of Greek life. There are several key differences between Clemson and South Carolina, most notably chapter numbers and housing.

Chapter offerings

For Greek life at Clemson, there are four different associations under which the different Greek organizations fall. These include the College Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, according to the Clemson University website.

South Carolina also has four associations that its Greek organizations fall under: the College Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, the Cultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, per the University of South Carolina’s website.

The CPA has 14 chapters at Clemson, which includes the recent addition Alpha Omicron Pi this past fall. South Carolina also has 14 chapters under the CPA. However, each respective school has chapters that the other school does not have. For example, South Carolina has chapters for the Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta and Phi Mu sororities, while Clemson does not have those chapters.

On the other hand, Clemson offers chapters that South Carolina doesn’t, such as Sigma Kappa, Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Gamma and Alpha Phi.

Clemson’s IFC has 24 active chapters, according to the Clemson Fraternity and Sorority Life guide. South Carolina has 25 active chapters with the IFC, its Fraternity and Sorority Life guide reports.

South Carolina offers eight chapters that Clemson does not have, including Alpha Epsilon Pi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Upsilon, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, per South Carolina’s FSL guide.

Clemson, however, offers seven fraternities that South Carolina does not have, including Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Upsilon Chi, Chi Phi, Kappa Delta Rho, Psi Upsilon, Triangle and Zeta Psi.

Clemson’s MGC has seven chapters. MGC is a council that governs organizations that are “historically multicultural and multiethnic fraternities and sororities,” according to Clemson’s FSL guide.

Clemson has five MGC member sororities and fraternities: Delta Epsilon Psi fraternity, Delta Phi Lambda sorority, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha sorority, Phi Iota Alpha fraternity and Sigma Lambda Gamma national sorority.

The South Carolina CGC has six chapters: Delta Epsilon Psi fraternity, Phi Iota Alpha fraternity, Omega Delta Phi fraternity, Alpha Sigma Rho sorority, Delta Phi Omega sorority and Kappa Delta Chi sorority. Similar to Clemson’s MGC, the CGC governs fraternities and sororities that “prioritize cultural awareness and advancement,” according to South Carolina’s website.

Finally, each school also has a National Pan-Hellenic Council. The NPHC is the “governing council for nine historically African American fraternities and sororities,” according to Clemson’s NPHC homepage. There are nine NPHC member fraternities and sororities at Clemson, and eight at Carolina.

South Carolina and Clemson share eight chapters: Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho. The additional chapter that South Carolina does not have is the Iota Phi Theta fraternity, which will join Clemson’s NPHC in the 2025-2026 school year, according to Clemson’s FSL guide.

Housing options

Housing options vary for both schools. For CPA organizations at Clemson, students can live in Smith Hall, Barnett Hall or on the Quad. Those involved in an IFC organization can live on the Quad or an off-campus chapter house, which are independent of the University and managed by the respective chapters, according to Clemson’s website. NPHC and MGC do not occupy any on-campus spaces.

On the other hand, South Carolina has an area called Greek Village that features 20 facilities able to house around 700 students. If a student’s respective sorority or fraternity has a facility in Greek Village, they’re able to access it for meals and other amenities. The village is located within walking distance of campus.

Dues and pricing

For each school, dues vary. For Clemson CPA, the average dues are around $810 for new members and $510 for returning members, according to Clemson’s FSL guide. For Clemson IFC, dues average $952 for new members and $858 for returning members. For Clemson MGC, the new member dues average $650, while dues for returning members are approximately $215. Finally, NPHC dues average at $1,700 for new members, while initiated member dues average at $190.

At South Carolina, dues for new members vary between $345 and $1,329, and $460 to $1,218 for returning members, according to the FSL guide. South Carolina also adds housing fees for members living at Greek Village, who also require a meal plan.

For a single room at a fraternity or sorority house, members pay rent anywhere from $4,047 to $7,985 a semester. A double room will cost between $2,700 and $5,000 a semester. Meal plans also vary. While living in a house, members pay between $1,675 and $2,600 a semester. For a meal plan while living off-campus, the cost ranges between $1,025 and $2,395 per semester.

Similar to Clemson, the University of South Carolina does not have housing for its CGC and NPHC groups. For CGC groups, dues vary between $0 and $500 for new members and $150 and $350 per semester for returning members. For NPHC groups, dues vary between $50 and $2,700 a semester for new members, while returning members pay anywhere from $0 to $350, according to the FSL guide.

Additionally, each school includes a general fee for involvement in fraternity and sorority life. Clemson’s fee is $70 a semester, while South Carolina’s is $125.

Student experience

The Tiger had the opportunity to speak with students at both South Carolina and Clemson.

Charlotte Bozarth, a freshman biology major and member of Phi Mu at South Carolina, talked about her experience in Greek life and living in her sorority’s Greek Village house.

“What I love about USC Greek life is definitely the ability to meet so many new people. I have met so many people from so many different places. I also really love that we have a house in Greek village. I have the ability to go there for meals whenever I want,” Bozarth told The Tiger.

Bozarth elaborated, “What’s even nicer is that I have the option to live in the house, which is walking distance from campus, and we have lots of fun gatherings in the Greek village. Like Halloween trick or treating for the kids around Columbia and other holiday events.”

Nicole Kanowsky, a senior art major and member of Clemson’s Pi Beta Phi chapter, also spoke about her experience regarding Greek life.

“Being in a sorority is not make or break in having a successful social life at Clemson, you can definitely find a good friend group without being in one. However, joining a sorority freshman year is what helped me find mine. After moving over 2,000 miles away from home for school, I initially felt very isolated, but joining Pi Beta Phi helped me to find my friend group,” Kanowsky told The Tiger.

Kanowsky added that she enjoys the collective benefits of being in a sorority, specifically how her sorority has a diverse mix of people from all parts of the country.

“Joining a sorority is different from just joining a club because it allows you to meet people with different interests, desires, and life careers,” Kanowsky continued. “That is also what makes Clemson Greek life so special, because people are joining their respective communities to be a part of a broader community.”

“Greek life here is such a positive community because it creates a group of people who are there because they genuinely want to be there,” Kanowsky told The Tiger.