Join a Community
Develop your inner circle and be in the company of ambition. Forge lifelong friendships with like-minded students on your campus and across our global membership.
Prepare for Your Career
Stand out when starting your career by participating in professional development activities, practicing leadership skills and networking with business professionals.
BEGIN YOUR MEMBERSHIP JOURNEY TODAY
JOIN YOUR CHAPTER ON CAMPUS
If your campus already has an established Collegiate DECA chapter, reach out to its key contact to find out how to join.
JOIN AS AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER
If your campus doesn’t have a chapter, join as an independent member so you can immediately experience the benefits of Collegiate DECA.
START A CHAPTER ON YOUR CAMPUS
Once you have an established following on your campus, start a chapter to make your chapter official.
COMPETE WITH THE BEST-OF-THE-BEST AND EARN RECOGNITION
Put your knowledge, experience and skills to the test while representing your college or university in Collegiate DECA’s Competitive Events Program. Vie for top international honors in one of nearly 30 case study and prepared business presentation competitions. No matter your future career, there is a competition for you!
Business Management
- Business Ethics
- Business Research
- Human Resource Management
- Retail Management
Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Challenge
- Entrepreneurship Operations
- Entrepreneurship – Starting a Business
- Entrepreneurship – Growing Your Business
Finance
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Managerial Accounting
- Stock Market Game
Hospitality
- Culinary Management Institute
- Event Planning
- Hotel and Lodging
- Restaurant and Food Service Management
- Travel and Tourism
Marketing
- Advertising Campaign
- Business Research
- Business-to-Business Marketing
- Emerging Technology Marketing Strategies
- Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
- International Marketing
- Marketing Communications
- Marketing Management
- Professional Sales
- Sales Management Meeting
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing
EXTEND YOUR LEARNING BEYOND CAMPUS
Many associations offer leadership development conferences and events at the regional and association levels. These regionally-based conferences provide a perfect opportunity for you to develop your leadership skills, and in some cases qualify to attend Collegiate DECA’s International Career Development Conference.
ENGAGE is an exciting professional development experience. Through networking opportunities, career development seminars, and eduTours with DECA partner companies and Chicago-based businesses, ENGAGE attendees will leave Chicago feeling confident and ready to conquer their career goals, whatever they may be!
The International Career Development Conference allows 1,500 members to demonstrate their knowledge and skills by participating in Collegiate DECA’s Competitive Events Program in hopes of being named an international champion. Network and engage with business executives through a full day of professional development.
JOIN A CHAPTER
If your campus already has an established Collegiate DECA chapter, reach out to its key contact to find out how to join. Select your campus below to get started.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO CAN BE A COLLEGIATE DECA MEMBER?
Student members must be enrolled in a college or university on either a full- or part-time basis at some time during the academic year. Each chartered association may further define its own membership qualifications, and each chapter may set more detailed criteria. Collegiate DECA membership is also open to DECA advisors, alumni and professional members. This includes undergraduate and graduate students.
WHO SHOULD JOIN COLLEGIATE DECA?
All students who participate in Collegiate DECA activities at the local, district, chartered association and/or international levels should pay chartered association and DECA Inc. dues. These activities include, but are not limited to, conferences, competitive events, online challenges, scholarship applications and more. Board policy states that all members, including advisors, must pay membership dues.
WHAT ARE MEMBERSHIP DUES?
DECA Inc. membership dues are $10 USD per person (student, advisor, alumni and professional) plus appropriate chartered association dues. The list of dues is available on this page and automatically appears for your chartered association in the online membership system. Independent membership is available for students whose college or university does not have a Collegiate DECA chapter.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN DECA MEMBERSHIP?
In addition to an official membership card and pin, Collegiate DECA members have exclusive access to all of the career preparation opportunities Collegiate DECA provides. These include four issues of the DECA Direct digital magazine, access to the DECA Connect online community, participation in Collegiate DECA’s Competitive Events Program to demonstrate their knowledge and earn recognition, opportunities to attend conferences designed to prepare them for careers, access to $200,000 in scholarships and more. Collegiate DECA membership is for one school year, culminating June 30 of each year.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING MEMBERSHIP?
DECA membership is open year-round; however, DECA encourages all chapters to activate their chapter by submitting initial membership by November 15. This ensures that the chapter continues to receive communication, publications and services from DECA Inc. The deadline for members to be eligible to compete at the International Career Development Conference is February 15. Each chartered association may have earlier membership deadlines.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF MEMBERS NEEDED ON A ROSTER?
The minimum chapter size is ten (10) student members and one (1) advisor (or any combination of 11 paid members). The only exception is in the case of a new or reactivated chapter, which has two years to obtain the minimum chapter size. In this case, please contact Michael Mount.
WHO IS AN ALUMNI MEMBER?
Alumni members are individuals who have graduated and wish to remain involved with the program by paying the appropriate DECA Inc. and chartered association dues. Alumni members receive a pin and card, one-year subscription to DECA Direct (if a current address is provided) and the value of supporting an organization that has impacted them and additional emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Alumni members should join through their local chapter.
WHAT IF MY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DOESN'T HAVE A COLLEGIATE DECA CHAPTER?
If your college or university does not have a Collegiate DECA chapter, please contact info@deca.org for more information on how you can start a Collegiate DECA chapter.
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