Saint Louis University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Saint Louis, Missouri. It enrolls 7,267 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes86
Value57
Affordability21
Selectivity69
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75%, Saint Louis University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1200 – 1410
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saint Louis University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
23.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saint Louis University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $24,398 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,398
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$55,760
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,280
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,280
Books & Supplies
$1,070
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,932
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,501
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,854
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,880
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,702
Over $110,000
$27,466
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,00025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,20975%percentile
$38,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,000
↓ $4,000
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Independent students $16,000
↓ $9,000
Female students $20,500
↓ $4,500
Male students $19,000
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at Saint Louis University graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saint Louis University earn a median of $70,783 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$70,783
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$59,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$72,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$75,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$59,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$64,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,300, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saint Louis University is home to 7,267 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,267
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
22%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.5%3,885
Asian 14.5%1,054
Black 11.1%809
Hispanic 9.0%651
Other 5.6%405
International 4.9%359
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saint Louis University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySaint Louis, Missouri
Housing
Mostly residential4,188 beds on campus
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Saint Louis University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
181 distinct programs across
30 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Louis University is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$2.2B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$102,426
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
793 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
247
31%
$132,563
Associate Professors
268
34%
$99,793
Assistant Professors
240
30%
$82,388
Instructors
38
5%
$78,512
Pros & Cons of Saint Louis University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saint Louis University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Saint Louis University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Louis University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saint Louis University.
Is Saint Louis University hard to get into?
Saint Louis University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75%.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University has an acceptance rate of 75%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Saint Louis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Louis University scored between 1200 and 1410 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Saint Louis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Louis University scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Saint Louis University cost?
The average net price after aid at Saint Louis University is $24,398 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saint Louis University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,783 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,398 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saint Louis University known for?
Saint Louis University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Law, Medicine. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saint Louis University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saint Louis University are $70,783, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saint Louis University accredited?
Yes. Saint Louis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University enrolls 7,267 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saint Louis University a public or private college?
Saint Louis University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Saint Louis University located?
Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
What programs does Saint Louis University offer?
Saint Louis University offers 181 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Law, Medicine.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Louis University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Louis University is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Missouri
Other colleges in Missouri share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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Counseling Psychology
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Saint Louis University
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