Celebrating Exemplary College Students

Alpha Chi's Mission Since 1922

Learn More
102

Years of Scholarship

535,910

Members Worldwide Since 1922

297

Chapters Nationwide

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society was founded in 1922 and is certified and recognized by the Association of College Honor SocietiesOur collegiate chapters may invite juniors, seniors, and graduate students who are ranked academically in the top 10%. 

Alpha Chi members receive recognition as distinguished students and members of one of the largest and most prestigious college honor societies in the world. 

Our mission is to recognize and promote academic excellence among college and university students and, by encouraging a spirit of service and leadership, to nurture those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good.

Read More

“Alpha Chi has had a profound impact on my undergraduate experience…I was able to not only gain the experience of carrying out undergraduate research but also to see those efforts be recognized and acknowledged.”

—Becca Smith-Grantham,
Missouri Western State University

Alpha Chi has given me the confidence to know that I can indeed survive the academic path I hope to travel. Those who attend the convention care so deeply about college students, and this inspires me. I know my story would read vastly different if not for Alpha Chi.”

Sarah Geil,
Shorter University

Alpha Chi is an academic community that is intent on making you a better student, and not only a better student, but a better student with a purpose. It’s really like no place else.”

Joshua Blagaila,
Fresno Pacific University

Hear more stories from Alpha Chi members and how accepting their Alpha Chi invitation changed their lives! 

Alpha Chi Values

Emerging Scholars
Recognizing and supporting emerging scholars excelling in their academic journeys

Interdisciplinary Innovation
Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation

Integrity and Diversity
Encouraging integrity and celebrating diversity in academic disciplines and personal worldviews

Service to Others
Fostering service to the global community; making scholarship effective for good 

A Lifelong Growth Mindset
Facilitating opportunities for academic, professional, and personal growth for a lifetime 

Membership Benefits

COLLABORATE ACROSS DISCIPLINES

Alpha Chi is an interdisciplinary honor society, so members more easily collaborate and build friendships with other top students across a variety of academic majors. One of our most prestigious competitions annually is built specifically to encourage academic collaboration.

PRESENT WORK ON A NATIONAL STAGE

Enjoy a rare platform to present original research and creative work at our annual national convention, publish your work in our online, peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal, Aletheia, or submit work to Kalo, our annual member community magazine.

GROW YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Alpha Chi provides opportunities to lead — from chapter officer all the way to an elected student member of our National Council. More such opportunities as chapter workshop leaders and campus event leaders can be found in our organization.

A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS

Alpha Chi invites only the top 10% of eligible upper-division students across all academic disciplines. However, Alpha Chi encourages academic success without the elitism common to academia. We hope you will join our community of dedicated scholars striving to make their scholarship effective for good!

BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO

Signal your dedication to success to future employers with Alpha Chi membership. Since 1955, Alpha Chi has met the criteria for certification by the Association of College Honor Societies—the nation's only certification association for academic honor societies. Being a member is a mark of distinction.

COMPETE FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIPS

Available only to members, Alpha Chi offers $200,000 annually in grants, scholarships, fellowships, and awards to support undergraduate and graduate student scholarship. Our regions and many collegiate chapters also have scholarship programs of their own. 

Invited to Join Alpha Chi?

Alpha Chi has much to offer smart, curious students. Whether you’re aiming for a baccalaureate degree, planning to attend graduate school, or intending to move immediately into a career, your membership in Alpha Chi will prove invaluable. 

Learn more about us!

If there's an active chapter at your college and you think you qualify but haven’t received an invitation, please contact your college’s Alpha Chi chapter advisor to learn more. If you can't find that advisor, contact the National Office for assistance.