Knights of Columbus: How Many Degrees Are There?
If you’ve ever talked to a Knight about joining the order, you’ve probably heard the word “degree” come up fast. It can sound mysterious, even a little intimidating. The reality is straightforward once someone lays it out plainly. The Knights of Columbus has four degrees, each one a distinct ceremony that deepens a member’s commitment and understanding of what the organization stands for.
This article breaks down all four degrees, explains what each one means, and tells you what to expect at each stage. If you’re a new member, a candidate, or someone exploring membership, this is the clearest map you’ll find.
The Structure of the Knights of Columbus Degrees
The degree system is the backbone of K of C membership. It gives the order a sense of progression, purpose, and ritual. Each degree carries a specific virtue that ties back to the founding principles of Blessed Michael McGivney, who started the organization in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882.
The four degrees, in order, are Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Think of them as four chapters in a single story about Catholic brotherhood and civic responsibility.
| Degree | Name | Core Virtue | Who Confers It |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Charity | Charity | Local Council |
| Second | Unity | Unity | Local Council |
| Third | Fraternity | Fraternity | Local Council |
| Fourth | Patriotism | Patriotism | Fourth Degree Assembly |
First Degree: Charity
The First Degree is where every Knight begins. It’s the entry point, and it carries the virtue of Charity, which K of C defines as the love of God and neighbor. This degree formally initiates a candidate into his local council.
The ceremony is meaningful but welcoming. It sets the tone for what membership looks like, including the obligations a Knight accepts and the spirit in which he’s expected to fulfill them. After completing the First Degree, a member holds the title of Knight.
Second Degree: Unity
The Second Degree builds on the first. Its virtue is Unity, a recognition that Catholic men are stronger when they stand together across differences of occupation, background, and status. The ceremony reinforces the idea that Knights belong to a brotherhood that cuts across social lines.
Many councils confer the First and Second Degrees together in a single evening. If your council offers a combined exemplification, you’ll move through both ceremonies back to back. Check with your Grand Knight to see how your council schedules them.
Third Degree: Fraternity
The Third Degree carries the virtue of Fraternity and marks the completion of a Knight’s initiation into full membership. After the Third Degree, a member is considered a full Knight of Columbus in good standing. He can vote in council elections, hold office, and participate in all council activities.
The Third Degree ceremony is the most developed of the first three. It ties together the themes introduced in the earlier degrees and brings them to a meaningful conclusion. Many councils combine all three degrees into what’s called a “Exemplification of the First Three Degrees.” This is now the standard approach in most jurisdictions after the order updated its degree program in recent years.
The 2020 Degree Revision
In 2020, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly announced a revised degree system. The order consolidated the original ceremony structure to make the first three degrees more accessible, shorter, and spiritually focused. The updated format removed some older ceremonial elements and tightened the message around the four core virtues.
This revision matters because you’ll encounter Knights who went through the older, longer format and Knights who went through the new one. Both are equally valid. The substance, the commitment, and the brotherhood, remain the same.
Fourth Degree: Patriotism
The Fourth Degree is the highest degree in the Knights of Columbus, and it’s the one that sets members apart visually. Fourth Degree Knights wear the iconic regalia, including the plumed hat and cape, that most people associate with the order at public events, papal audiences, and patriotic ceremonies.
The core virtue here is Patriotism, a love of country rooted in Catholic social teaching. Fourth Degree Knights belong to a separate body called an Assembly, which operates alongside but distinct from the local council.
Membership in the Fourth Degree is by invitation. A Knight typically needs to be a Third Degree member in good standing for a period of time before receiving an invitation from his local Assembly. The exact waiting period can vary by jurisdiction.
What Fourth Degree Knights Do
Fourth Degree members take on a specific set of responsibilities that go beyond standard council work.
- They provide honor guards at Masses, funerals, and civic events.
- They support vocations by sponsoring seminarians and religious.
- They participate in patriotic programs and public ceremonies.
- They pray together and organize retreats focused on faith and civic duty.
- They represent the Knights of Columbus in the most visible public contexts.
The Fourth Degree is an honor, and active membership in an Assembly is a real commitment. Knights who join it and then disappear from Assembly activities miss the point entirely. Show up, wear the regalia with pride, and do the work.
Key Takeaways
The Knights of Columbus has four degrees. The first three, Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, bring a man into full membership in his local council. The Fourth Degree, Patriotism, is an additional honor open to Third Degree Knights in good standing, and it connects members to a broader Assembly focused on patriotic and devotional service.
The 2020 revision streamlined how the first three degrees are conferred, so newer Knights may experience a combined ceremony rather than three separate events. Either way, the commitment a Knight makes is the same.
If you’re working toward your degrees or helping candidates through the process, the most useful thing you can do is attend every ceremony with full attention. These aren’t formalities. They’re the foundation of what it means to be a Knight. Take them seriously, and the membership that follows will mean a great deal more.
