Senior societies are a type of collegiate student organization that recruits juniors and seniors.[{{Cite web |last=Glatsky |first=Genevieve |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Inside Senior Societies |url=https://www.34st.com/article/2016/09/senior-societies |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=34th Street |language=en-US}}] Senior societies are associated with Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.[{{Cite web |last=Wuu |first=Sydney |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Senior societies navigate challenges as winter tapping proceeds virtually |url=https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2021/01/senior-societies-navigate-challenges-as-winter-tapping-proceeds-virtually |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Dartmouth |language=en-US}}] These societies can be activity-based, identity-based, school-based (departmental or academic field), or traditional. Senior societies may be "landed", owning a building or tomb, or "non-landed".[{{Cite web |last=Gittler |first=Gittler |last2=Hart |first2=Chrissy |date=2017-02-24 |title=The choice is yours |url=https://features.yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/02/24/the-choice-is-yours/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |last=Pohly |first=Kaitlyn |date=2024-02-28 |title=Behind tomb doors: Yale’s society tap process |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2024/02/28/behind-tomb-doors-yales-society-tap-process/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Mark Alden |date=July 2014 |title=Open secrets |url=https://yalealumnimagazine.org/articles/3909-open-secrets |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Alumni Magazine |language=en}}]
Following is an incomplete list of collegiate senior societies.
class="wikitable sortable"
!Society
!Charter date and range
!Institution
!Type
!References |
Abaris
|1996
|Dartmouth College
|Activity-based
|[{{Cite web |date=2016-11-22 |title=Senior Societies {{!}} Greek Life and Societies |url=https://students.dartmouth.edu/greek-life/organizations/senior-societies |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dartmouth College |language=en}}] |
Agaia
|
|Yale University
|
|[{{Cite journal |date=May 2016 |title=Senior Societies |url=https://yalerumpusblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/society-issue.pdf |journal=The Rumpus |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=3-5 |via=Yale University}}] |
Agora
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Andromeda
|2013
|Dartmouth College
|Identity-based
| |
The Apostles
|
|Yale University
|
|[{{Cite web |date=July 2014 |title=List: 41 secret societies at Yale |url=https://yalealumnimagazine.org/articles/3910-list-41-secret-societies-at-yale |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Alumni Magazine |language=en}}] |
Atlas
|
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Aurelian Honor Society
|1910
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
B&C
|
|Yale University
|
| |
BaR
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Bell Senior Society
|2014
|University of Pennsylvania
|Activity-based
|[{{Cite web |title=Bell Senior Society |url=https://bellsociety.com/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=bellsociety.com |language=en}}] |
Belmonte
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Berzelius (secret society)
|1848
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Beta Omega
|1841–xxxx ?
|Kenyon College
|Traditional
|[{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=William Raimond |year=1879 |title=Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Baird's_Manual_of_American_College_Fraternities_(1879)/Class_fraternities/Senior_societies |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=en.wikisource.org |language=en}}] |
Book and Snake
|1863
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
C&D
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Cage and Feather
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Cane Club
|1921– xxxx ?
|Johns Hopkins University
|Traditional
| |
Carriage Senior Society
|2013
|University of Pennsylvania
|Identity-based
|[{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Chloe |date=April 14, 2016 |title=Carriage senior society brings together LGBTQ students and allies |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2016/04/carriage-senior-society |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Daily Pennsylvanian |language=en-us}}] |
Casque and Gauntlet
|1886
|Dartmouth College
|Activity-based
| |
Ceres Athena
|
|Yale University
|
|{{Efn|Created when women were first admitted to Yale University.}} |
C.C.C.
|1876–xxxx ?
|University of California, Berkely
|
| |
Chimera
|1914
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Cipactli Latinx Honor Society
|2001
|University of Pennsylvania
|Identity-based
|[{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.cipactlilhs.org/about.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Cipactli Lantinx Honor Society |language=en}}] |
Cloak and Dagger
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Cobra
|1978
|Dartmouth College
|Identity-based
| |
Cong
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Cup and Crown
|
|Yale University
|
| |
De Gang
|1891–1910s
|Johns Hopkins University
|Traditional
| |
Delta Kappa Delta (local)
|18xx ?–xxxx ?
|Marietta College
|Traditional
| |
Deru
|1896
|Northwestern University
|Activity-based
|[{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Sean Collins |date=2011-02-15 |title=In Focus: Inside Deru |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2011/02/15/campus/academic/in-focus-inside-deru/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Daily Northwestern}}] |
Desmos
|1950–1967, 2010
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
|[{{Cite web |last=Yiin |first=Wesley |date=2014-04-15 |title=Society lands on Chapel Street |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2014/04/15/society-lands-on-chapel-street/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}]{{Efn|Reformed from Key and Stone (local).}} |
Double Cuffs
|2010
|Yale University
|
| |
Dragon Society
|1898
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional, secret
| |
DSG
|1989
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
|{{Efn|Rumpus reported that DSG stands for "Drunk Senior Girls" but this is disputed by the organization's members.}} |
Elephant and Coffin
|18xx ?–xxxx ?
|City College of New York
|Traditional
| |
Elihu Club
|1903
|Yale University
|Traditional
| |
Fire and Skoal
|1975
|Dartmouth College
|Identity-based
| |
Fork & Knife
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Friars Senior Society
|1899
|University of Pennsylvania
|Traditional
|[{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://friarsseniorsociety.com/about/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Friars Senior Society}}] |
Griffin
|1995
|Dartmouth College
|Activity-based
| |
Gryphon
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Gryphon Senior Society
|2020
|University of Pennsylvania
|School-based
|[{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Andres |date=February 24, 2021 |title=Two students form senior society open only to College students |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2021/02/college-senior-society-gryphon-penn |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Daily Pennsylvanian |language=en-us}}][{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Andres |date=February 24, 2021 |title=Two students form senior society open only to College students |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2021/02/college-senior-society-gryphon-penn |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=The Daily Pennsylvanian |language=en-us}}] |
Helios Society
|2015
|Yale University
|
|[{{Cite web |last=O'Daly |first=Britton |date=2017-04-18 |title=Two societies added to Society Initiative |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/04/18/two-societies-added-to-society-initiative/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}] |
Hexagon
|1910
|University of Pennsylvania
|School-based
| |
Ink and Needle
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Innominatum
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Iris
|
|Yale University
|
| |
ISO
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Kinoki Senior Society
|2014
|University of Pennsylvania
|Activity-based
|[{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Greg |date=March 23, 2017 |title=Film society preps Penn seniors for careers in entertainment |url=https://penntoday.upenn.edu/features/film-society-preps-penn-seniors-for-careers-in-entertainment |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Penn Today |publisher=University of Pennsylvania}}] |
Lantern Society
|1993
|University of Pennsylvania
|School-based
| |
LC
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Leviathan
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Lincoln
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Linonian Society
|1753–xxxx ?, 19xx ?
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
|{{Efn|Originally formed as a literary society, Linonia was revived as a secret senior society in the 20th century.}} |
Lion's Paw Senior Society
|1908
|Pennsylvania State University
|Activity-based
|[{{Cite web |title=The Lion's Paw Senior Society |url=http://www.lionspaw.org/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=The Lion's Paw Senior Society |language=en}}] |
Looking Glass
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Mace and Chain
|1956
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Manuscript Society
|1951
|Yale University
|Traditional
| |
Mortar Board
|1918
|National
|Traditional
| |
Myth and Sword
|1875–1965, 199x ?
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Nacoms
|1898
|Columbia University
|Activity-based
| |
Nathan Hale
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Nightingales
|2011
|University of Pennsylvania
|School-based
| |
Octa
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Olympus
|2014
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Onyx Senior Society
|1974
|University of Pennsylvania
|Identity-based
|[{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.onyxseniorhonorsociety.com/history |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=onyx |language=en}}] |
Oracle Senior Society
|2003
|University of Pennsylvania
|Identity-based
|[[http://www.oracleseniorsociety.org/about About Oracle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728115910/http://www.oracleseniorsociety.org/about|date=2012-07-28}} Oracle Senior Honor Society] |
Order of the Sirens
|2007
|Dartmouth College
|Indentity-based
| |
Osiris
|2016
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Osiris Senior Society
|2013
|University of Pennsylvania
|Activity-based
|[[http://www.osirisseniorsociety.com Osiris Senior Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407092910/http://www.osirisseniorsociety.com/|date=April 7, 2014}}] |
Osiris Society
|1903
|Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|Traditional
|[{{Cite web |last=Garfinkel |first=Simson |date=December 23, 2024 |title=MIT’s (mostly) secret society |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/12/23/1107304/mits-mostly-secret-society/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}] |
Owl and Key
|1909
| University of Utah
|Traditional
| |
Owl and Serpent
|18xx ?–xxxx ?
|Wesleyan University
|Traditional
| |
Owl and Wand
|1868–1960s
|Wesleyan University
|Traditional
| |
OX
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Palaeopitus Senior Society
|1899
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
|[{{Cite web |title=History – Palaeopitus Senior Society |url=https://sites.dartmouth.edu/palaeopitus/history/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Dartmouth College}}] |
Pew
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Phi Chi
|18xx ?–xxxx ?
|Bowdoin College
|Traditional
| |
Phoenix
|1984
|Dartmouth College
|Identity-based
| |
The Pithotomy Club
|1893–1992
|Johns Hopkins University
|School-based
| |
Phrygian
|2005
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Praetorian
|
|Yale University
|
|[{{Cite web |date=June 2015 |title=Secret Societies 2015 |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/268029539/Secret-Societies-2015 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Rumpus |language=en |via=Scribd}}] |
Prince
|
|Yale University
|
| |
The Pundits
|1884
|Yale University
|Activity-based
| |
Pyxis
|2014
|Dartmouth College
|Identity-based
| |
Quill and Dagger
|1883
|Cornell University
|Traditional
| |
Red Dragon Society
|1898
|New York University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Red Mask
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Ring and Candle
|xxxx ?–c. 1975, 2015
|Yale University
|
|[{{Cite web |last=Victor |first=Jon |date=2015-10-08 |title=Seven new senior societies established |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2015/10/08/seven-new-senior-societies-established/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}] |
Sachems
|1915
|Columbia University
|Activity-based
| |
Sage and Chalice
|
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
St. Elmo Society
|1963
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Scarabbean Senior Society
|1915
|University of Tennessee
|Activity-based, secret
| |
Scroll and Key
|1842
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
The Senior Society
|1892
|Johns Hopkins University
|Traditional
| |
Shamash Senior Society
|2018
|University of Pennsylvania
|Identity-based
|[{{Cite web |last=Wu |first=Allison |date=October 22, 2018 |title=Penn has a new senior society for Jewish students: Shamash |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2018/10/upenn-shamash-jewish-senior-society-ivy-league |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=The Daily Pennsylvanian |language=en-us}}][{{Cite web |title=Shamash Senior Society |url=http://shamashseniorsociety.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114808/https://shamashseniorsociety.org/ |archive-date=2018-09-21 |access-date=2018-09-21 |website=Shamash Senior Society |language=en-US}}] |
Sigma Society
|1880
|Washington and Lee University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Skull and Bones
|1832
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Skull & Keys
|1882–c. 1980
|University of California, Berkeley
|Traditional, secret
| |
Snakes Society
|1993
|University of Pennsylvania
|School-based
| |
Society of Fox and Chariot
|2015
|Yale University
|
| |
Spade and Grave
|1864
|Yale University
|Traditional, secret
| |
Sphinx
|1885
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional, secret
| |
Sphinx Head
|1890
|Cornell University
|Activity-based
| |
Sphinx Senior Society
|1900
|University of Pennsylvania
|Traditional
| |
Society of Saint Thomas Aquinas (aka Aquinas)
|2010
|Yale University
|Traditional
| |
Society of Social Friends
|1783–xxxx ?
|Dartmouth College
|Traditional
| |
Tau Club
|1891–1911
|Johns Hopkins University
|Traditional
| |
TDC
|
|Yale University
|
| |
Torch Honor Society
|1916–196x ?, 1995
|Yale University
|Traditional
|[{{Cite web |title=Collection: Torch Honor Society, Yale University, records |url=https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/12/resources/2383 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Archives at Yale}}] |
Trident and Shell
|18xx ?–xxxx ?
|University of Michigan
|Traditional
| |
Tyger
|1892
|Dartmouth College
|Senior Men
| |
Whiskey and Coke
|
|Yale University
|
| |
WIPS (Women in Power Society)
|
|Yale University
|Identity-based
|[{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2013 |title=Secret societies get social: WIPS’ Pinterest |url=https://www.uwire.com/2013/04/11/secret-societies-get-social-wips-pinterest/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=The Yale Herald |via=UWire}}] |
Wolf's Head Society
|1883
|Yale University
|Traditional
| |
XV
|
|Yale University
|
| |