Delta Chi was founded at Cornell University on October 13th, 1890. In 1892, a chapter was established at the University of Minnesota. 

Delta Chi did not become a single member fraternity until 1909 when membership in the Fraternity precluded membership in any other college social fraternity. After WWI, many Delta Chi chapters began to stretch recruiting restrictions by initiating men with no intention of studying law, contrary to the fraternity's roots in legal scholarship.

Following an important nationwide vote in 1922, Delta Chi became a general fraternity open to all undergraduate students. Delta Chi continued to progress and took the lead among Greek letter fraternities by voting to abolish “Hell Week” in 1929.