Beta Firsts
- First college fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains (August 8, 1839)
- First and oldest continuously published college fraternity magazine (1872)
- First college fraternity to publish an open constitution for public distribution (1879)
- First fraternity in 13 states – more than any other fraternity.
- First fraternity established on more than 35 campuses – more than any other fraternity
- First fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Mississippi River (1866)
- First fraternity to adopt an expansion view
- First to break into districts for administrative purposes (1873)
- First fraternity to have general officers (1872)
- First fraternity to create alumni chapters (1867)
- First fraternity to have a General Convention and one of few to have annual Conventions
- First to host an interfraternity event and meeting
- First to require chapters to keep informed about each other
- First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for a chapter (1984)
- First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for each member (1997)
Other Facts
- Founded: August 8, 1839
- Initiated Betas: 183,769
- Living Betas: 125,946
- Undergraduate membership with pledges: 5,911
- Chapters/Colonies: 122 in the U.S. and Canada
- Last year there were more than 900 collegiate Betas involved in the Beta Foundation’s experiential learning programs
- Beta ranks No.2 in annual investment in undergraduate leadership and educational programming (of the 68 international fraternities)
- Some 550 parents financially supported Beta Theta Pi’s leadership opportunities
- The Men of Principle initiative has been internationally recognized for exemplary fraternity educational programming
- A leader among college fraternities with members listed in Who’s Who in America and Canadian Who’s Who – more than any other fraternity
- More than 80 Rhodes Scholars – more than any other fraternity
- More than 197 have been members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives – more than any other fraternity
- Twenty-three states have had a Beta as Governor
- Six Betas have won the Medal of Honor
- 100 alumni associations in cities throughout the United States and Canada
