In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America. Chiefly, the term refers to scholastic honor societies, those that recognize students who excel academically or as leaders among their peers, often within a specific academic discipline.
Many honor societies invite students to become members based on the scholastic rank (the top x% of a class) and/or grade point averages, either overall or for classes taken within the discipline for which the honor society provides recognition. In cases where academic achievement would not be an appropriate criterion for membership, other standards are usually required for membership (such as completion of a particular ceremony or training program). Scholastic honor societies commonly add a criterion relating to the student's character. Most honor societies are invitation-only, and membership in an honor society might be considered exclusive, i.e., a member of such an organization cannot join other honor societies representing the same field.
Academic robes and regalia identifying by color the degree, school, and other distinctions, are controlled under rules of a voluntary Intercollegiate Code. In addition, various colored devices such as stoles, scarves, cords, tassels, and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society. Of these, cords and mortarboard tassels are most often used to indicate membership. Most institutions allow honor cords, tassels and/or medallions for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are available for a few honor societies. Virtually all, if not all honor societies have chosen such colors and may sell these items of accessory regalia as a service or fundraiser.
Many honor societies are referred to by their membership or by non-members as fraternities and sororities. Honor societies exist at the high school, collegiate/university, and postgraduate levels, although university honor societies are by far the most prevalent. In America, the oldest academic society, Phi Beta Kappa, was founded as a social and literary fraternity in 1776 at the College of William and Mary and later organized as an honor society in 1898, following the establishment of the honor societies Tau Beta Pi for Engineering (1885), Sigma Xi for Scientific Research (1886), and Phi Kappa Phi for all disciplines (1897). Mortar Board was established in 1918, as the first national honor society for senior women, with chapters at four institutions: Cornell University, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and Swarthmore College. Later, the society became coeducational.
The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a predominantly American, voluntary association of national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. ACHS was formed in 1925 to establish and maintain desirable standards for honor societies. While ACHS membership is a certification that the member societies meet these standards, not all legitimate honor societies apply for membership in ACHS.
Scholastic honor societies
Notable national and international honor societies based in or at schools include the following:
General collegiate scholastic honor societies
These societies are open to all academic disciplines, though they may have other affinity requirements.
Alpha Chi, (all academic fields), colors: Emerald green and Sapphire blue
Alpha Kappa Mu, (all academic fields) Alpha Lambda Delta, (freshman scholarship) Alpha Sigma Lambda, (non-traditional students), colors: Burgundy and Gold Alpha Sigma Nu, (Scholarship, Loyalty and Service at Jesuit institutions of higher education), colors: Maroon and Gold Chi Alpha Sigma, (college student-athletes) Delta Alpha Pi, (students with disabilities) Delta Epsilon Sigma, (all academic fields at traditionally Catholic colleges and universities) Delta Epsilon Tau, (Distance Education Accrediting Commission institutions) Epsilon Tau Pi, (General scholarship, Eagle Scouts) Golden Key International Honour Society (academics) Mortar Board (Scholars chosen for Leadership united to Serve) National Society of Collegiate Scholars, (scholarship/leadership/service), colors: Purple and Gold Phi Eta Sigma, (freshman scholarship) Phi Kappa Phi, (all academic fields) Phi Sigma Pi, (all academic fields), colors: Purple and Gold Phi Tau Phi, (all academic fields) Tau Sigma, (transfer students) Lambda Sigma, (student leadership, scholarship, and service) Order of Omega (fraternities and sororities) Sigma Alpha Lambda, (all academic fields)