COLUMN: Pay-to-play or prestige? What honor societies offer MU grads

How much weight does membership in seemingly prestigious honor societies really carry in today’s job search for university graduates? Every semester, students across campus receive invitations from groups like Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi and Mortar Board–each promising networking opportunities, esteem, and career advancement. But are these societies truly valuable? While such organizations have long been seen as markers of academic and professional excellence, their value, accessibility and relevance in today’s university and post-graduate experience continues to be debated.

Curious about these campus honor societies, I set out to explore what they actually offer students. I first needed to identify which societies had an active presence at the University of Missouri — and that turned out to be more complicated than expected.

My first stop was MU’s Center for Student Involvement. Kenna Cornelius, the associate director of student engagement, directed me to MU Engage where I found a category of recognized student organizations classified as honor societies, but several well-known groups were missing from this list, including Sigma Tau Delta, an English honor society; Kappa Tau Alpha, which recognizes excellence in journalism and mass communication; and Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-health professional honor society. That raised a key question: Why weren’t all of these long-standing groups officially recognized by the university, and did that speak to their credibility?

Corenlius directed my questions to Kobe Soriano, the CSI’s student organization coordinator. Soriano explained that student organizations that miss registration deadlines or required trainings risk losing their recognized status–not due to any illegitimacy, but because they failed to meet administrative requirements. In other words, registration through the university was less a measure of an organization’s credibility and more a test of its ability to navigate university bureaucracy. I would have to look elsewhere to determine which societies were truly legitimate.

I decided to compile my list based on a report provided by HonorSociety.org of active honor societies on the MU campus.

Honor societies have recognized scholarly excellence and outstanding leadership for centuries. This tradition took root at MU in 1898 with the establishment of secret society QEBH. This would mark the beginning of MU’s long list of storied societies. Since then, campus has become home to countless other distinguished groups that celebrate student achievements in a variety of fields and disciplines, ranging from international sociology to mechanical engineering.

Among the most prestigious are societies like Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi, and Mortar Board. Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the U.S., was founded in 1776 and aims to celebrate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Mortar Board recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service. Tau Beta Pi honors engineering students who not only excel academically but also demonstrate exemplary character.

Some fields, like engineering, are more plentiful in their choices, with multiple honor societies serving different disciplines. MU currently has five separate honor societies with an engineering focus.

In computing disciplines, the MU chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon recognizes students who meet a minimum 3.5 GPA, have completed half the coursework of a master’s program and are continuing students–not graduating that semester. Ajay Kumar, vice president of MU’s Upsilon Pi Epsilon chapter said they currently have around 250 lifetime members and 50 active members. He was also happy to describe the chapter’s meetings and activities.

“Our general body meetings are a place for tech talks, job-hunting tips and networking opportunities–and yes, there’s free food,” Kumar said.

MU also boasts its own enigmatic ensembles, secretive organizations that offer highly limited membership, with less than 10 inductees per academic year. This list includes QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV and the Rollins Society. QEBH, the university’s oldest secret honor society, was founded by Dr. Royal Hill Switzler with the aim of bringing together students dedicated to upholding the university’s traditions and spirit. Mystical Seven followed in 1907, selecting seven seniors annually based on their selfless leadership and service. LSV, established in 1908, is a women’s honor society that focuses on community service and leadership, though much of its operations remain shrouded in mystery. The Rollins Society came most recently, established in 1994 by the Graduate Professional Council, which honors students who have significantly advanced the well-being of communities beyond their academic work.

While some groups are transparent about their initiation rituals and member activities, others maintain an air of anonymity. The allure of secrecy among these societies often raises eyebrows — are they cultivating genuine prestige or just basking in age-old mystique? This secrecy can enhance the sense of honor and tradition, but it can also leave outsiders questioning the legitimacy behind the closed doors.
Honor societies at MU span a wide range of disciplines, offering students recognition for academic achievement and opportunities for engagement beyond the classroom. Academic societies like Pi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Delta honor students in political science and English, while professional groups such as Beta Gamma Sigma support business majors with career networking. Others, like Mortar Board and Tau Beta Pi, combine academic excellence with community service.
Eann Gardner, the public relations officer for Tau Beta Pi, said the engineering honor society’s largest service project is working on Interfaith Garden.

“We go restore and plant different plants in the gardens, and make sure it looks really nice,” Gardner said. “We’re working on a new [service project] right now — we’re talking about doing either a food bank, something with the humane society or a Mark Twain Trail cleanup.”

Omega Chi Epsilon takes a hands-on approach to engagement. Danielle Blankenship, chapter president, described the organization’s service projects.

“We participate in an interfaith garden volunteer event each semester. And during Engineering Week, we host a lab exhibit where local schools bring students to tour campus science displays,” Blankenship said.

Service projects seem to bring members together by fostering a sense of shared purpose and teamwork beyond the classroom. In Tau Beta Pi, these projects allow engineering students to meet students of different disciplines, Gardner said.

“I would say that a big benefit is, not only do you get to meet more people in other majors, but you get to do service activities with them,” Gardner said. “I’ve made a couple of different friends that I don’t think I would’ve ever met, just because they’re not in my major.”

Then there are the secret and historical societies like QEBH and Mystical Seven, which intertwine unique campus traditions with their exclusive memberships. As Justin Agudah, a computer science junior tapped for the Mystical Seven in 2022, told Mizzou Engineering in a blog post on MU’s website, “Being part of such a historic society is both an honor and a responsibility to uphold the values of leadership and service.”

Joining a college honor society often involves a financial commitment, with membership fees varying across organizations. For instance, Beta Phi Mu, an organization dedicated to library and information science, asks that its members pay a one-time lifetime membership fee of $100. This number varies from one group to another, but it’s common practice for initiates to pay a one-time fee. Upsilon Pi Epsilon’s fee, for example, is $65 for lifetime membership.

“It’s a modest investment considering the scholarships and networking access we offer,” Kumar said.

Omega Chi Epsilon also charges a one-time fee which covers lifetime membership and graduation cords.

“The real benefit is the resume boost and the honor of being selected,” Blankenship said.

Some societies, like HonorSociety.org, offer semi-annual dues starting at $65, with premium tiers requiring higher payment amounts and providing additional benefits. Prospective members should assess whether these fees align with the experience they hope to gain. Frankly, I’m wary of any group that offers varying benefits relative to the amount you’re willing to pay. If an honor society offers elite benefits for an extra fee, ask yourself–are you joining a prestigious organization or just unlocking the next level of a pay-to-win game? Also, consider that job recruiters are familiar with these organizations and their recruitment practices, so being a premium tier member of any honor society offering this advantage may not hold much weight in their eyes, at least not proportionally to the amount you are paying.

With that being said, the benefits of membership in certain honor societies can be substantial. Members often gain access to exclusive networking events, scholarships and leadership opportunities. Many believe such affiliations can enhance a resume, showcasing a commitment to academic excellence and extracurricular involvement. However, the tangible impact on career prospects may vary and is virtually impossible to truly measure, so ultimately it’s advisable to research each society’s reputation and the specific advantages they offer.

“We offer access to national and [Upsilon Pi Epsilon]-specific scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000,” Kumar said. “And our virtual tech talks with hiring managers have helped many members land internships and jobs.”

When asked if membership noticeably improved job prospects, Blankenship responded, “Not anything I’ve noticed, but most people in our major seem to have jobs lined up after graduation regardless.”

Some students express skepticism about the value of honor societies, viewing them as costly resume enhancers with limited real-world benefits. Discussions on platforms like Reddit and Academia reveal concerns about the return on investment, with many users questioning the prestige and utility of certain organizations. Conversely, proponents of these societies argue that the opportunities for scholarships, networking and professional development justify the fees, emphasizing that active participants often reap significant benefits.
This online discourse reflects a range of healthy skepticism and hopeful pragmatism when it comes to honor societies. One commenter emphasized that passive membership holds little value, but active involvement, especially in leadership positions, can offer meaningful connections and experiences. Others are more dismissive, viewing honor societies as little more than a recurring expense with questionable return. The thread underscores a broader ambivalence about whether these organizations genuinely support students or simply capitalize on their ambitions.
Prospective members should consider any society’s credibility, specific advantages, reputation within the field and alignment with their personal and professional goals before they make the decision to accept or refuse offered membership. Engaging with current members and alumni can provide valuable insights into the society’s impact and help determine if the investment aligns with one’s aspirations. You can research these groups on MU Engage.

If you’ve been tapped for an honor society, congratulations. You’ve clearly done something right, and that recognition is worth celebrating. Just make sure you’re not trading your hard-earned GPA for a $75 certificate and an invitation to an inactive Facebook group. College is a jungle gym of choices and, as far as I’m concerned, joining an honor society is just one more bar to swing from, not the fast-pass to your dream job. Your future won’t be defined by this line on your resume, but if the group seems to offer real connection, recognition or growth, it could be more than just a decorative cord at graduation. So take the invitation seriously, but don’t be afraid to politely decline if all you’re getting is a LinkedIn badge and a bill.

Edited by Preston Smith | [email protected]
Copyedited by Emma Harper and Ava Mohror | [email protected]
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | [email protected]