The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) regularly invites college students to join based on academic standing, with the promise of leadership development, networking, and a credential to add to a resume. The question many students and parents ask before paying the membership fee is: Is the NSLS actually worth joining, or is it a pay-to-join credential mill?
What Is the NSLS?
The NSLS is a for-profit honour society organisation with chapters at colleges and universities across the United States. It invites students (typically those meeting a GPA threshold) to join and provides leadership programming, speaker events, networking opportunities, and a certificate of membership in exchange for a one-time membership fee.
Is the NSLS Legitimate?
The NSLS is a real, operating organisation — not a scam. It has real chapters, real events, and real members. The membership fee is disclosed, and students who join do receive the stated programming. It is not fraudulent.
The more relevant question is whether it is worth the money.
NSLS Membership Cost
NSLS membership fees are typically around $95–$115 as a one-time payment. This is the core value-for-money question for prospective members.
Is NSLS Recognised by Employers?
This is where honest assessment diverges from marketing. NSLS membership has limited recognition among employers compared to well-established honour societies like Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, or discipline-specific national honour societies with long histories. In most hiring contexts, NSLS membership is not a meaningful differentiator.
For students who actively engage with NSLS programming — attending events, building networking relationships, taking leadership roles within the chapter — the experience itself may have development value. For students who pay the fee and list the membership on a resume without engagement, the value is minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth joining NSLS for a resume?
For most employers, NSLS adds minimal resume value. For students who are highly engaged with the programming and networking, the personal development experience may be worth more than the credential itself.
Is NSLS accredited?
NSLS is not an academically accredited organisation — it is a private organisation that offers a membership programme to college students.
Our Verdict
NSLS is a legitimate organisation with limited return on investment for most members. It is not a scam, but the membership fee buys more recognition value on paper than it delivers in practice with most employers. Students who will actively engage with the programming may find personal value; those expecting a significant resume credential from the name alone will likely be disappointed.
