Rush FAQ

Q: Why should I join a fraternity?

A: Fraternities at MIT provide the undergraduate student body with a community and residential experience, but also an opportunity for growth and personal development. We are a very inclusive community consisting of 25 chapters annually recruiting men and women into the IFC. With houses spread out across Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline, the fraternity community thrives with a strong alumni presence, and every year, our chapters open our doors to the new first-year class.

Q: How much does it cost to join a fraternity?

A: Every chapter has a different cost associated with being a member, and we encourage you to talk with the members of a organization to have a discussion if you are concerned about your financial situation. If you join a fraternity, you are allowed to move into your fraternity house after your first-year, where the cost of living is typically cheaper than living on campus, and you can use your financial aid award to pay for your housing and dues. 

Each IFC Organization has different fees associated with membership and living in the house (if they have one). We encourage you to request information about the financial responsibility of members of organizations you are considering joining.

Many organizations do not require new members from Fall Rush to pay anything in the Fall semester and some extend this through the Spring as well. It is also common for members who live in the house to have different financial responsibilities than those who do not live in the house.

Out of the organizations that will require you to pay something this fall (some won’t expect you to pay anything) if you join, the average is $505 for the semester.

In Spring 2023, the average of fees for organizations that will have them is $579 for the semester.

If you decide to live in the house of an IFC organization after initiation, the average you will pay is $5974 to the organization for the semester. This will cover your rent and other costs such as national dues, social fees, insurance, house utilities, laundry, and meal plans depending on the organization. We remind you that, as per the MIT Housing Policy, first-years are not allowed to live in fraternities, sororities, or independent living groups.

Members of IFC organizations who live outside of the house after initiation are usually also expected to pay for things such as national dues, social fees, insurance and meal plans. This also depends on the organization, and the average cost for organizations that charge out-of-house fees is $1018.

Q: Do I have to be male-identifying to join an IFC fraternity?

A: No. IFC celebrates having co-ed fraternities/female sororities in our membership, and we welcome all unaffiliated students to join an IFC member organization.

Q: How do I get started?

A: Stop by Kresge Kickoff @ 12 PM ET on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 or check out the full rush event schedule.