Alpha Delta Phi, Chi Psi and Delta Upsilon, all founded at Cornell in 1869, are the earliest chapters on this list of Cornell fraternities. Cornell publishes no ranking, so the order is ours, by founding year, with same-year chapters in alphabetical order.
Photo: Cornell010 at English Wikipedia / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFounded in the first years of the university.
Founded at Cornell: 1869Cornell chapter name: CornellChapter house: 777 Stewart AvenueCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Alpha Delta Phi’s Cornell chapter was founded in 1869 and its house is at 777 Stewart Avenue.
Go ifA chapter founded in Cornell’s first years
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #1 over #2: Founded in 1869, the same year as Chi Psi, it comes first alphabetically.
2
Chi Psi at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Rotograph Co. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA founding-era chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1869Cornell chapter name: PsiChapter house: 810 University AvenueCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Chi Psi’s Psi chapter was founded at Cornell in 1869, with its house at 810 University Avenue. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifA chapter founded in Cornell’s first years
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #2 over #3: Founded in 1869, the same year as Delta Upsilon, it comes first alphabetically.
3
Delta Upsilon at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Rotograph Co. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA founding-era chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1869Cornell chapter name: CornellChapter house: 6 South AvenueCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Delta Upsilon’s Cornell chapter was founded in 1869, and its house is at 6 South Avenue. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifA chapter founded in Cornell’s first years
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #3 over #4: Its 1869 founding is earlier than Phi Gamma Delta’s 1888.
4
Phi Gamma Delta at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Published for the Buffalo News Co. by the American News Co. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 1888 chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1888Cornell chapter name: CornellCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Phi Gamma Delta’s Cornell chapter was founded in 1888. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifA chapter from the 1880s
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #4 over #5: Its 1888 founding is earlier than Delta Chi’s 1890.
5
Delta Chi at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Unknown author / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe national’s Alpha chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1890Cornell chapter name: AlphaChapter house: 102 The KnollCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Delta Chi’s Alpha chapter was founded at Cornell in 1890, with its house at 102 The Knoll. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifThe Alpha chapter of its national fraternity
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #5 over #6: Founded in 1890, the same year as Sigma Chi, it comes first alphabetically.
6
Sigma Chi at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Corner Book Stores, Ithaca (publisher) / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictAn 1890 chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1890Cornell chapter name: Alpha PhiCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Sigma Chi’s Alpha Phi chapter was founded at Cornell in 1890. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifA chapter from 1890
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #6 over #7: Its 1890 founding is earlier than Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s 1891.
7
Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Cornell University
Historic postcard (not a current photo of the house). Unknown author / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 1891 chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1891Cornell chapter name: CornellCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Cornell chapter was founded in 1891. The photo shown is a historic postcard, not the house today.
Go ifA chapter from the 1890s
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1900s
Why #7 over #8: Its 1891 founding is earlier than Sigma Nu’s 1901.
8
Sigma Nu at Cornell University
Photo: Sigma Nu chapter at Cornell, sigmanucornell.org
Answrs VerdictThe 1901 chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1901Cornell chapter name: Gamma ThetaChapter house: 230 Willard WayCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Sigma Nu’s Gamma Theta chapter was founded at Cornell in 1901, and its chapter site gives its lodge as 230 Willard Way.
Go ifA chapter from the early 1900s
Skip ifYou want a chapter founded in the 1800s
Why #8 over #9: Its 1901 founding is earlier than Lambda Chi Alpha’s 1913.
9
Lambda Chi Alpha at Cornell University
Answrs VerdictThe 1913 chapter.
Founded at Cornell: 1913Cornell chapter name: OmicronChapter house: 125 Edgemoor LaneCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Lambda Chi Alpha’s Omicron chapter was founded at Cornell in 1913, and its house is at 125 Edgemoor Lane.
Go ifA chapter founded in the 1910s
Skip ifYou want one of the oldest chapters
Why #9 over #10: Its 1913 founding is earlier than Sigma Pi’s 1917.
10
Sigma Pi at Cornell University
Photo: Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi, sigmapicornell.org
Answrs VerdictThe youngest chapter on this list.
Founded at Cornell: 1917Cornell chapter name: MuChapter house: 730 University AvenueCornell recognition: Listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report
Sigma Pi’s Mu chapter was founded at Cornell in 1917, and its house is at 730 University Avenue.
Go ifA chapter founded in the 1910s
Skip ifYou want one of the oldest chapters
How we ranked these
Cornell publishes no ranking of its fraternities, so the order is ours. We included chapters listed as Interfraternity Council chapters in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report, then ordered them by the year each chapter was founded at Cornell, earliest first, with same-year chapters listed alphabetically. House addresses are shown only where Cornell’s chapter list or the chapter’s own site gives them. Six of the photos (Chi Psi, Delta Upsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Delta Chi, Sigma Chi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon) are historic postcards, not current photos of the houses. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the oldest fraternity chapter at Cornell on this list?
Alpha Delta Phi, Chi Psi and Delta Upsilon were all founded at Cornell in 1869, the earliest year on this list.
Where is the Delta Upsilon house at Cornell?
The chapter house is at 6 South Avenue.
Are these chapters recognized by Cornell?
Each chapter is listed as an Interfraternity Council chapter in Cornell’s Spring 2026 chapter report.
Are the photos current?
Alpha Delta Phi, Sigma Nu, Lambda Chi Alpha and Sigma Pi show modern photos. The photos for Chi Psi, Delta Upsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Delta Chi, Sigma Chi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon are historic postcards, not current photos of the houses.
Year the chapter was founded at Cornell at a glance
Alpha Delta Phi1,869 year
Chi Psi1,869 year
Delta Upsilon1,869 year
Phi Gamma Delta1,888 year
Delta Chi1,890 year
Sigma Chi1,890 year
Sigma Alpha Epsilon1,891 year
Sigma Nu1,901 year
Lambda Chi Alpha1,913 year
Sigma Pi1,917 year
Year the chapter was founded at Cornell, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
