Greek Life, Academics, and Earnings

Arbeitspapier

Using records from a large public university, we examine the impact of Greek life on academic performance and salaries. To isolate the causal effect of Greek life, we exploit a university policy prohibiting students from joining a Greek organization during their first semester and a minimum GPA for subsequent eligibility. Regression discontinuity and panel methods reveal that Greek affiliation reduces student grades by 0.1-0.3 standard deviations. Greek effects are largest during the semester of pledging, semesters of increased social activities, and for males. We find no evidence of a Greek salary premium and rule out even modest positive effects.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 11841

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Higher Education; Research Institutions
• Subject: higher education ; fraternity ; sorority ; greek

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Even, William E. ; Smith, Austin C.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/185301
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET