Mu Alpha Theta: Requirements, Competitions, Scholarships, and What Colleges Think
By Rona Aydin
What Is Mu Alpha Theta?
It is the National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society. It was formed in 1957 at the University of Oklahoma, and its founder was Dr. Richard V. Andree. The name is built from the Greek letters for the sounds m, a, and th.
The society describes its purpose as inspiring keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics. It reports more than 100,000 student members in the United States and in 23 other countries.
What Are the Mu Alpha Theta Requirements?
The national requirements are the same for every high school chapter.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grade | 9 through 12 |
| Completed coursework | The equivalent of two years of college preparatory mathematics, including algebra, geometry, or both |
| Current coursework | A third year of college preparatory mathematics, completed or in progress |
| Math GPA | At least 3.0 on a 4-point scale |
| School | Registered with the society at the school that holds the student’s permanent records |
Oriel Admissions reads the rule this way: most students become eligible in 10th grade, when they are in their third year of the sequence. A student who took Algebra 1 in 8th grade can qualify a year earlier. Our guide to high school math classes shows the sequence by grade.
How Does a Student Join, and What Does It Cost?
A student joins through the chapter at school. The society states that it cannot accept applications submitted by students, and that the chapter sponsor, who is a teacher, must submit them.
The cost is low. Beginning August 1, 2026, one-time dues are $12 for each new member, and $6 at Title I schools. The dues are paid once.
What Competitions Does Mu Alpha Theta Run?
The main event is the national convention, held each summer. The 2027 convention takes place from July 18 to July 23 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and registration opens on March 1, 2027. Later conventions are planned for Las Vegas in 2028, Orlando in 2029, and Frisco in 2030.
Chapters register for the convention with their chapter number, so a student attends as part of a school team. The society publishes practice material for three test formats used at the convention, which it calls Hustle, Relay, and Individual. Its website also lists contests, grants, and awards that chapters and members can enter during the school year.
What Scholarships Are Available?
The society and its Educational Foundation award scholarships to members each year.
| Scholarship | Amount | Who is eligible |
|---|---|---|
| Annual member scholarships | $4,000 each | Graduating seniors who are active members of a current chapter |
| Mary Rhein Memorial, Paul R. Goodey, and Kay Weiss Scholarships | $5,000 each | The top scholarship candidates |
Applications for the 2026-27 school year opened on September 1, 2026 and are due by February 1, 2027. Recipients will be posted by April 1, 2027. Each chapter may submit applications for up to two members, at the sponsor’s discretion, so a senior should tell the sponsor early in the fall that the student intends to apply.
Do Colleges Care About Mu Alpha Theta?
Membership by itself adds little. The requirement is a 3.0 average in mathematics, and admissions readers at selective colleges see a far more detailed picture of a student’s mathematics on the transcript. For Ivy League admission, a student needs nearly all As in the hardest classes the school offers.
What a student does in the chapter can count for more. Oriel Admissions counts three things that add weight: results at a state or national convention, a chapter office with real duties such as running a tutoring program, and one of the national scholarships. Each of these shows something the transcript does not.
For a student whose main strength is mathematics, the society sits beside the national contests and not above them. Our guides to the AMC 10, the AMC 12, and academic competitions explain the results that readers recognize most readily.
What If a School Has No Chapter?
A student cannot join alone, but a school can start a chapter. Only a teacher can file the petition. The school must have at least five initial members, and the head of the school must approve the charter.
A student who wants a chapter should bring the idea to a mathematics teacher with the names of four other eligible students. Founding a chapter and serving as its first president is a stronger entry on an application than membership in an existing one, provided the chapter goes on to do something.
How Should a Strong Math Student Use It?
Oriel Admissions advises joining when the school has a chapter, because the cost is small and the convention and scholarships are open only to members. The student should then choose one way to contribute and pursue it for two or three years.
On the application, membership belongs in the honors section only if space allows. A convention result or a scholarship belongs there first, as does selection for the National Honor Society or a junior year election to the Cum Laude Society. Our guide to the Common App honors section explains how to order them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mu Alpha Theta
It is the national mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges, formed in 1957 at the University of Oklahoma.
Members must have at least a 3.0 math grade point average on a 4-point scale.
Members must be in grades 9 through 12 and must have completed two years of college preparatory mathematics, with a third year completed or in progress.
Beginning August 1, 2026, one-time dues are $12 for each new member, and $6 at Title I schools.
No. The society does not accept applications from students. A teacher must sponsor a chapter and register its members.
Yes. It awards $4,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who are active members, and three $5,000 scholarships to top candidates. The deadline is February 1, 2027.
The 2027 convention runs from July 18 to July 23 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Oriel Admissions advises that membership alone adds little. Competition results, a chapter office, or a scholarship add more.
Sources: Society website: About Us, Society website: How to Join, Society website: Scholarships, Society website: National Convention
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