The Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has founded a total of 232 chapters in 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.^[1] As of May 3, 2013, there are 178 active chapters (162 chartered, plus 16 associate chapters, or colonies), and 93 alumni organizations.^[1]

Soon after its inception at The College of Charleston in 1904 (the Alpha chapter), the fraternity began spreading to other campuses, granting charters to student groups at Presbyterian College (Beta, 1907), Berkeley (Gamma, 1909), and Furman University (Delta, 1909). Gamma was the first long-distance chapter, establishing Pi Kappa Phi as a national fraternity.

In some instances during those early days, the creation of a chapter was by necessity a clandestine affair, as was the case with the Delta chapter at Furman University. At the time, South Carolina had a state law that banned fraternities at state-supported schools, so as a result, Presbyterian College and the College of Charleston were the only two South Carolina schools in which fraternities were allowed. Delta therefore operated sub rosa, until state laws were later changed to allow fraternal organizations.

The next two decades saw the addition of 36 new chapters in the Midwest, South, and West Coast.^[2] By 1930, Pi Kappa Phi had established a national presence, however, its growth slowed during the 1930s and 1940s because of the Great Depression and World War II. During the 1950s and 1960s, the fraternity began to grow more rapidly, establishing chapters across the South, and strengthening its position as a Southern fraternity. The fraternity experienced unprecedented growth from 1970 to 1999, founding over 100 new chapters and establishing a more prevalent West Coast presence while further strengthening its position in the South.^[3]

As part of The Second Century Vision campaign, the national fraternity's efforts are focused on increasing the number of active chapters.^[4] This expansion process consists of two main components: the acquisition of new chapters on previously unchartered campuses and the rechartering of inactive chapters. As of May 3, 2013, ten of the sixteen colonies are on campuses that have once hosted active collegiate chapters, and six are expansion chapters.^[1] To manage this task, the fraternity has an appointed Director of Expansion who oversees the expansion process on a national level.^[5]

Re-chartering associate chapters are new chapters that are "recolonizing" at schools in which a chapter of Pi Kappa Phi previously existed which had since gone inactive. Activation of one of these chapters means the return of the charter to campus – thereby increasing the count of active chapters, but not the count of total chapters.

New chapters that are formed at schools in which there had never been a previous chapter of Pi Kappa Phi are termed expansion chapters, otherwise known as colonies. As the name implies, they represent growth into "new territory". Accordingly, activation of one of these chapters increases the count of both active chapters and total chapters.

Following is a list of Pi Kappa Phi chapters.^[6][7] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.