During the 2023-2025 biennium, Pi Beta Phi celebrated a historic milestone—initiating our 350,000 member, making us the second National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organization to reach this achievement. But while this moment highlights Pi Phi’s lasting impact, it also invites an honest conversation about the complex realities of membership growth across the Fraternity.
Over the 2023–2025 biennium, Pi Beta Phi saw growth in our collegiate population. As of Spring 2025, the Fraternity had 19,420 active collegians—one of the largest totals in our history and a significant step back toward our 2017 peak of 20,250 members.
But beneath that high-level number is a more nuanced picture. Today, 21 chapters report 250+ members, 7 chapters exceed 350 members—including two with over 600 members, and 29 chapters have fewer than 50 members.
This widening spread means our largest chapters are growing even larger, while our smallest chapters are becoming smaller. The average chapter size remains relatively stable at around 141 members, but the gap between chapters is widening.
The driving force behind this trend? Shifting demographics and college enrollment patterns. In general, college campuses in the Southeast and Western U.S. are growing, while many campuses in the Midwest and Northeast are facing enrollment decline. And, fewer children were born in the last 18 years, which will continue to impact enrollment—and recruitment—through at least 2041, according to higher education forecasts.
This means that growth alone can no longer be our only focus. Instead, sustainability must be at the heart of how we assess and support our chapters.
To help guide strategic decisions, the Fraternity has developed a robust set of data points to assess chapter health. This includes institutional enrollment trends; housing realities; chapter size, retention, and recruitment success; member experience indicators; and, volunteer support and advisor engagement.
By combining these data points, the Fraternity can build a holistic understanding of each chapter’s current and future viability. This model has already proven remarkably accurate in identifying where support is needed most.
But it’s important to note: data is just one part of the equation. These insights do not replace our deep commitment to a values-based, fulfilling member experience. Rather, they ensure we can better support chapters in creating environments where that experience can thrive.
Looking ahead, Pi Beta Phi is evolving how we support chapters:
Consultant visits will focus more on helping chapters close the loop in recruitment—especially during primary recruitment, where most members join.
Continuous open bidding, now known as Continuous Recruitment, remains a major opportunity area—especially since 1,046 membership spots went unfilled in 2024 after primary recruitment.
Chapters are being encouraged to make small, strategic adjustments that can yield big results in recruitment and retention.
In total, more than 80,000 potential new members were introduced to Pi Phi during primary recruitment, and 80% of our new members joined through this process. That means getting primary recruitment right is key to maintaining and growing our membership base.
The Fraternity continues to explore opportunities to grow—but many of the campuses with healthy Panhellenic expansion potential already have Pi Phi chapters. While expansion remains a goal, we are increasingly focused on strengthening the chapters we have.
Through it all, one truth endures: Pi Phi’s strength lies in its people and our ability to support and sustain chapters through a changing higher education landscape will depend on the collective effort of our members, volunteers, and partners.
See the remaining top 10 updates that were shared during Pi Beta Phi's 75th Biennial Convention.