A high degree of excellence in certain fields will bring the student the distinction of invitational membership into one or more of the honorary fraternities with chapters on campus. Among these groups are the following:
Alpha Chi National college scholarship society dedicated to the stimulation of sound scholarship and devotion to truth. Eligible members are selected from the top 5 percent of the junior class and the top 10 percent of the senior class. Juniors must have at least a 3.8 cumulative grade point average, and seniors must have at least 3.5. Students must also have earned at least eight units at Roanoke College and possess exemplary character.
Alpha Epsilon Delta National honorary society recognizing outstanding academic achievement among students aspiring to a career in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary and other health professions.
Alpha Kappa Delta National honorary society recognizing superior achievement in sociology.
Alpha Kappa Psi National business professional fraternity is open to all Business Administration and Economics majors in good academic standing.
Alpha Lambda Delta National honorary fraternity for freshmen whose grade point averages are 3.5 or higher after the first term.
Alpha Phi Sigma National honorary society recognizing academic excellence for criminal justice majors.
Alpha Psi Omega National honorary dramatics fraternity recognizing excellence in stagecraft.
Beta Beta Beta National honorary biological society for students with a superior academic record.
Delta Mu Delta National honorary society recognizing superior academic achievements of majors in business administration.
Kappa Delta Pi International honor society in education.
Lambda Pi Eta National honorary society recognizing academic excellence for communications majors.
Omicron Delta Epsilon National honorary Economics society is open to Economics majors with excellent academic standing. The student must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 and at least a 3.0 grade point average in four or more Economics courses.
Omicron Delta Kappa National leadership honor society for college students recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character.
Phi Alpha Theta National honor society for history majors with superior records.
Phi Beta Kappa The oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States. The keyholders among the faculty and staff of Roanoke College maintain a Phi Beta Kappa chapter (Nu of Virginia) on campus. Student members are elected at the discretion of the keyholders on the basis of a high grade point average in liberal art courses, breadth and depth of studies in the liberal arts, and good character. Students with very high grade point averages become eligible at the end of their fifth semester; the majority of members are inducted in their senior year. There is no set formula for election; however, the national society requires students to have the equivalent of at least two years of algebra and two years of college-level modern language instruction (through the intermediate level).
Pi Delta Phi National honor society for students with a superior record in French.
Pi Gamma Mu International honor society recognizing superior achievement in social sciences.
Pi Mu Epsilon National honor fraternity for excellence in mathematics.
Pi Sigma Alpha National honorary society recognizing academic excellence for Political Science majors.
Psi Chi National honor society recognizing superior achievement in psychology.
Sigma Delta Pi National honor society for students with a superior record in Spanish.
Sigma Iota Rho National honorary society recognizing academic excellence for International Relations majors.
Sigma Tau Delta National honor society recognizing superior achievement in English language and literature.
Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma National organization which promotes educational activities for all students interested in physics.
Student Affiliate Chapter of the American Chemical Society Honorary society for chemistry majors designed primarily to promote interest in and appreciation for the science of chemistry and related fields.
Theta Alpha Kappa National honor society for theology and religious studies.
Xi Theta Chi Honorary fraternity for students showing proficiency in modern languages.