Nationally Recognized Honor Societies

November 02, 2022

Ogden Honors College students are frequently invited to join various honor societies in recognition of their outstanding academic, leadership, and service records.  Membership in honor societies often provides access to scholarships, conference and other co-curricular opportunities, and advantages in the marketplace.  LSU recognizes the value of honor societies and has provided this list of those with LSU chapters.

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Founded in 1776, its mission is “to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, to recognize academic excellence, and to foster freedom of thought and expression.” LSU’s chapter, installed in 1977, inducts between thirty and seventy upperclassmen each year who are distinguished by the breadth and the excellence of their academic records.

Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest, largest, most selective collegiate honors society for all academic disciplines. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi "recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engages the community of scholars in service to others." Click here for more information on LSU's chapter.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization for high-achieving first and second year students. NSCS provides career and graduate school connections, leadership and service opportunities and gives out a million dollars in scholarships annually. NSCS members are deeply committed to scholarship, leadership and service and as a result, are impacting their campus and local communities every day. LSU's chapter was founded in 2000. Email them at nscslsu@gmail.com.

Golden Key

Golden Key is the world’s largest honor society, and the only one to be based on a foundation of Academics, Leadership and Service.

Golden Key was founded in 1977 at Georgia State University. LSU's chapter was founded in 1992.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national society that recognizes academic excellence during a student's first year at college. Founded in 1924 at the University of Illinois, Alpha Lambda Delta has over 270 chapters across the United States and has initiated over 900,000 students.

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa is the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition for leadership. Since its founding, over 300,000 individuals from over 300 colleges and university campuses have been recognized for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities.

More Information

The Association of College Honor Societies provides an alert page about questionable organizations as well as advice about "How to Judge the Credibility of an Honor Society."