Membership Stipulations

           

An invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa recognizes and honors exceptional academic achievement in the arts and sciences.


Membership to Phi Beta Kappa is by chapter invitation only. As of 2026, 290+ institutions of higher education currently shelter a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Chapters use one set of national stipulations as a starting point for determining their own processes of selecting and inviting potential new members for induction. These stipulations serve as minimum requirements for membership eligibility – many of our chapters have additional more stringent eligibility requirements that are outlined by their governing documents and have been approved by their members-in-course.

Using shared national stipulations as a starting point, chapters enact their own constitutions and by-laws according to their specific institutional context. Each chapter identifies a set of eligible students using quantifiable academic measurements and then votes to elect members based on a holistic understanding of their chapter’s eligibility requirements.

There is no way to definitively answer the questions “How do I receive an invitation from my chapter?” or “Do I qualify for Phi Beta Kappa membership?” as each chapter has its own processes for adapting the national stipulations for membership to their own institutional context.

Stipulation 1: BREADTH OF STUDY  

Eligible students shall be candidates for a bachelor’s degree... coursework in the liberal arts and sciences... excluding pre-professional or skills-based courses.  

 

Stipulation 2: LANGUAGE STUDY   

Candidates shall demonstrate knowledge of a second or non-native language at a college level.

 

Stipulation 3: DEPTH OF STUDY  

\Weight shall be given to the breadth and depth of study in the liberal arts and sciences... beyond the major, including advanced electives.

 

Stipulation 4: QUANTITATIVE THINKING 

Candidates shall take at least one course in mathematics, logic, or statistics with appropriate liberal arts content.

 

Stipulation 5: CHARACTER

An invitation to Phi Beta Kappa should be extended to persons demonstrating behaviors consistent with the highest standards and principles of the institution’s student code of conduct.

 
These stipulations were adopted as of June 18, 2025 (and emerged from the previous two Triennial Councils).

A Rare Honor

10% of U.S. colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. These chapters select only about 10 percent of their arts and sciences graduates to join.

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