alpha sigma lambda
Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society is a U.S. nonprofit, founded in 1945, that recognizes adult learners in higher education through 300+ institutional chapters nationwide. It delivers national academic recognition, a $59,500 annual scholarship program, and lifelong membership funded by chapter dues, merchandise sales, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersCharleston, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What alpha sigma lambda does
Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society (ASLHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Dr. Rollin Posey, Dean of University College at Northwestern University, to recognize the academic achievement of adult and non-traditional students returning to higher education. The organization operates a national honor society model delivered through 300+ accredited institutional chapters at colleges and universities across the United States, with active chapters including Morgan State University, Penn State Hazleton, Harvard University Extension School, Georgetown University, and Eastern Illinois University (where the central home office is co-located on the EIU campus in Charleston, IL). ASLHS holds official recognition from the Association of College Honor Societies as the credentialed honor society for adult learners, distinguishing it within the U.S. higher education market.
The society's core "product" is membership itself, conferred through invitation-only induction by local chapters at partner institutions. Members gain national-level academic recognition, eligibility for an annual scholarship program (with $59,500 in awards across 25 named scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year), and lifelong affiliation with an alumni network the organization states exceeds 100,000 members. Supporting products include a biannual newsletter (Midnight Oil), the William C. Hine Distinguished Service Award for chapter councilors, a chapter directory, and a merchandise catalog of official regalia — honor cords, lapel pins, mortar board tassels, stationery, and gift items — priced between $5 and $130. The organization does not disclose a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a WordPress website, a Councilor forum, and standard social media channels.
Alpha Sigma Lambda generates revenue through three streams: annual institutional chapter dues of $200 (renewal) to $400 (new chapter activation), one-time merchandise and regalia sales through an online storefront (with 15% of store proceeds allocated to scholarships since 2017), and donations ranging from $5 to $500. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors led by Society President Shelley Hintz, with operational management by Executive Director Robin Rennels (appointed 2022). It has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds; the society is registered as a U.S. nonprofit (Tax ID 23-7097804).
alpha sigma lambda firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- alpha sigma lambda
- Legal name
- Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society
- Website
- https://alsiglam.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society is a U.S. nonprofit, founded in 1945, that recognizes adult learners in higher education through 300+ institutional chapters nationwide. It delivers national academic recognition, a $59,500 annual scholarship program, and lifelong membership funded by chapter dues, merchandise sales, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
alpha sigma lambda industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Honor Society and Academic Recognition Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD), Alumni Benefits, Membership & Affinity Programs (EDALAOAM), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where alpha sigma lambda is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charleston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
alpha sigma lambda business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Institutional Chapter Dues: Annual chapter dues paid by colleges and universities for institutional membership. Invoiced in November for the following year, effective January through December.
- Merchandise and Regalia Sales: Sale of honor cords, pins, tassels, stationery, and other official merchandise through the online store. Prices range from $5 to $130.
- Scholarship Donations: Accepts donations to support scholarships for adult learners. Donation amounts range from $5 to $500.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Chapter Membership Dues |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Honor Cords |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Crest Lapel Pins |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Chapter Supplies |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Scholarship Donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
alpha sigma lambda product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alpha Sigma Lambda operates a national honor society recognizing academic excellence among adult and non-traditional students at U.S. colleges and universities. The society delivers its mission through institutional chapters that invite eligible students, awards annual scholarships, sells official regalia and merchandise, and publishes the Midnight Oil newsletter. Operations are supported by annual institutional chapter dues, merchandise sales (with 15% allocated to scholarships), and donations.
Product overview
Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society operates as an honor society with associated merchandise products and member services. The core offerings include institutional chapter membership (annual dues of $200-$400), a national scholarship program ($3000, $2500, $2000, and $1500 awards), and official merchandise including honor cords, lapel pins, mortar board tassels, stationery, and gift items. The society also provides the Midnight Oil Newsletter (biannual publication), the William C. Hine Distinguished Service Award for chapter councilors, and a chapter directory for institutional contacts. Store purchases support scholarships for adult learners, with 15% of store sales allocated to scholarship funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Institutional Chapter Annual Membership Dues Annual institutional chapter membership for colleges and universities (and their adult learner students). Covers the calendar year, invoiced in November and due January 1. New chapters pay $400 (includes first-year dues of $200, podium banner, and start-up materials); renewals are $200.
- National Scholarship Program for Adult Learners National scholarship program awarding funds to adult learners. For the 2026-27 academic year: six named scholarships of $3,000, fourteen scholarships of $2,500, four scholarships of $2,000, and one master's level scholarship of $1,500 — totaling $59,500 annually.
- Honor Cords Official burgundy and gold honor cords for members to wear at graduation and ceremonies; $23.00–$26.00 depending on style. 80th Anniversary cords priced at $26.00.
- Crest Lapel Pins Official lapel pins featuring the Alpha Sigma Lambda crest; $12.00–$15.00 standard, $17.00 for 80th Anniversary edition.
- Mortar Board Tassels Traditional mortar board tassels in official burgundy and gold for graduation ceremonies; priced at $15.00.
- Letter Opener and Pen Gift Set Elegant letter opener and pen gift set for celebrating academic achievements and milestones; priced at $16.00.
- Official Stationery and Letterhead Official letterhead and stationery items featuring Alpha Sigma Lambda branding for chapter communications and correspondence; $5.00–$10.00.
- Mini Tassel Keyring Small tassel attached to a keyring, allowing members to carry a symbolic representation of their membership; priced at $7.00.
- Chapter Podium Banner Official chapter podium banner for use at induction ceremonies, graduation events, and institutional chapter presentations; priced at $130.00.
- Midnight Oil Newsletter Official biannual eNewsletter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, issued in Spring and Fall, featuring chapter highlights, new member announcements, scholarship information, and society news.
- Chapter Directory Online searchable directory providing contact information for all Alpha Sigma Lambda chapters and chapter councilors across member institutions nationwide.
- William C. Hine Distinguished Service Award Distinguished service award recognizing chapter councilors for commitment to lifelong learning, dedication to adult learners, and leadership within Alpha Sigma Lambda; includes a $250 scholarship fund contribution, plaque, and ex-officio board status for one year.
Quantifiable outcome
- 300+ institutional chapters across the United States
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use alpha sigma lambda
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
alpha sigma lambda technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
alpha sigma lambda partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves15 records
Expansion highlights5 records
alpha sigma lambda competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society: National honor society serving two-year college students with chapters at community colleges; the most direct functional comparison to ASLHS given its similarly chapter-based, dues-funded, scholarship-issuing operating model in higher education.
- Alpha Chi Honor Society: National honor society for college juniors, seniors, and graduate students across accredited four-year institutions; comparable to ASLHS in chapter structure, dues model, recognition focus, and association with the Association of College Honor Societies.
- Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education: International honor society for education majors with chapter-based induction model, dues revenue, and scholarship programs; structurally similar to ASLHS in chapter-based delivery and ACHS-recognized status.
Broad incumbents
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society: One of the oldest and largest U.S. academic honor societies, operating across all disciplines at 300+ institutions with substantial scholarship programs; competes with ASLHS for institutional honor society slots and councilor mindshare, though it serves traditional rather than adult learners.
- Golden Key International Honour Society: Large international honor society with chapters at hundreds of universities; broader scope and global footprint than ASLHS but operates on a similar chapter dues, recognition, and scholarship model serving undergraduate and graduate students.
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS): National honor society recognizing first- and second-year undergraduate students at two- and four-year institutions; competes with ASLHS for member recognition mindshare and institutional chapters across U.S. higher education.
Regional players
- Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma Nursing): Nursing-specific honor society with chapter-based membership, dues revenue, and large scholarship programs; comparable operating model to ASLHS but specialized to nursing rather than adult learners broadly.
Others
- Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL): Nonprofit organization focused on adult learner policy, prior learning assessment, and adult higher education ecosystem; not a direct competitor but a thematically aligned peer addressing the same adult learner population from a policy and institutional-support angle.
- Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS): The certifying body that formally recognizes ASLHS as the official honor society for adult learners; an ecosystem participant and gatekeeper rather than a competitor, but a critical peer given how central ACHS recognition is to ASLHS's value proposition.
Emerging players
- Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society: Business-focused honor society with chapter-based inductions, dues, and scholarship programs at accredited institutions; structurally comparable to ASLHS but narrower in disciplinary focus (business only) and smaller in scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
alpha sigma lambda social profiles
Digital presencealpha sigma lambda financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
alpha sigma lambda leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
alpha sigma lambda funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
alpha sigma lambda M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about alpha sigma lambda
What does alpha sigma lambda do?
Alpha Sigma Lambda operates a national honor society recognizing academic excellence among adult and non-traditional students at U.S. colleges and universities. The society delivers its mission through institutional chapters that invite eligible students, awards annual scholarships, sells official regalia and merchandise, and publishes the Midnight Oil newsletter. Operations are supported by annual institutional chapter dues, merchandise sales (with 15% allocated to scholarships), and donations.
Is alpha sigma lambda a public or private company?
alpha sigma lambda is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was alpha sigma lambda founded?
alpha sigma lambda was founded in 1945.
Where is alpha sigma lambda based?
alpha sigma lambda is headquartered in Charleston, United States, in the North America region.
How does alpha sigma lambda make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Institutional Chapter Dues are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Regalia Sales and scholarship Donations.
Who are alpha sigma lambda's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Chi Honor Society and Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education. Broad incumbents are Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society and National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma Nursing) is listed as a regional player. Others are Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society is listed as an emerging player.
Does alpha sigma lambda have an API?
No public API is recorded for alpha sigma lambda.
What industry is alpha sigma lambda in?
alpha sigma lambda's product category is Honor Society and Academic Recognition Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAHAB, Student Organizations & Club Administration, with a secondary code of EDALAOAD, Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship). Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8600.