Saint Louis University (SLU)

Saint Louis University was founded in 1818 as the first university west of the Mississippi River. At the core of this diverse community of scholars is SLU's service-focused mission, which prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.

WORLD-CLASS: SLU is a Catholic, Jesuit research university, highly ranked by the Princeton Review and by U.S. News & World Report.

SLU boasts 15 academic programs in the top 50 in their fields and several in the top 10, along with accolades for campus sustainability efforts, military-friendliness and as a "best value" in private education. SLU is also the first Jesuit university to receive the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.

URBAN AND INTERNATIONAL: With two dynamic, urban campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, and Madrid, Spain the university is home to nearly 13,000 students from 50 states and 82 countries. SLU's international focus and 50+ study abroad programs invite students to engage with and learn from the global community. The St. Louis campus is a welcoming residential oasis located steps from some of the region's top art and culture venues, while SLU-Madrid puts students in the heart of one of Europe's most vibrant, history-rich cities.

HANDS-ON: One of only nine Catholic universities with a "higher" or "highest" research activity designation, SLU empowers students to collaborate with faculty mentors on groundbreaking research and gain hands-on experience. From developing systems to filter arsenic pollution out of water to exploring innovative ways to get fresh produce into low-income neighborhoods, students don't just contemplate solutions to the day's most challenging problems &mdash they actively work to make those solutions reality.

SERVICE-MINDED: Jesuit tradition inspires the SLU community's commitment to service and social justice. Designated a "character-building college," SLU was also the first institution named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for nine consecutive years. Students cook meals in the Campus Kitchen, volunteer at student-run medical and law clinics, and work alongside dozens of community organizations to serve their neighbors.

A SLU education gives graduates not only the skills to succeed in their careers but also the wisdom to lead lives of meaning and purpose. SLU alumni have become mayors of major cities, helped put men on the moon, directed Hollywood blockbusters and worked side-by-side with Mother Theresa.

Students participate in more than 175 clubs, honor societies and service organizations; 18 NCAA Division I teams; intramural sports; and community service efforts that see 85 percent of SLU students volunteering at least once during the academic year.

Talent and commitment matter at SLU, and high levels of energy and dedication exist in everything Saint Louis University students pursue: academic societies, athletics, performing arts and media groups, student government, cultural and political organizations, and fraternities and sororities. SLU's multicultural organizations highlight and celebrate the diversity of the University community, and a variety of faith-based organizations support and challenge students as they explore their own faith traditions.

The SLU community hails from 87 different countries, and many students take pride in the diversity celebrated on the SLU campus: "We host a lot of international students as well as students from different socioeconomic, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. I love getting to learn about other students' experiences and how they differ from mine." Even with so many different backgrounds, a shared passion for enriching the "mind, body, heart, and spirit" unites the student body. "I've found that the overwhelming majority of my peers are supportive of me as an academic and as a whole person, emotionally and spiritually." One first-year student explains, "My peers are helpful, friendly, positive, happy, and ignited with a passion for social justice." Overall, these ambitious students "are here to create a better future."

Saint Louis University looks for well-rounded students, and to that end offers a robust suite of extracurricular activities and opportunities for service. Among student favorites are the theater program, music program, mock trial, sporting events, and student government. One student enjoys the Micah Program "where we serve [the] community as tutors for elementary-aged kids," and the Billiken Success Program "where we help with new-student events." Warm weather brings even more opportunities for students to come together, "When the weather is nice students will hang hammocks from the trees on campus... They'll play frisbee on the quad or sit with friends and talk in the shade. Our campus comes alive when the weather is warm." Students also remind us that "Saint Louis University is known not only for its large STEM programs, but for having ... great soccer and basketball teams."

SLU students are looking for “careers that strive to improve our society and our own wellbeing.” The faculty is more than willing to help students outside of established class or office hours, and many offer “valuable career advice, support, and connections.” Career Services invites students to drop into the Career Lab or utilize a variety of online material to prepare them for the workforce. In addition to PowerPoints on “Adulting” or “From Backpack to Briefcase: Expectations for a New Professional,” Career Services releases audio and video career development content on their podcast The Launch Pod and YouTube channel SLUcareers, respectively. Internships, jobs, and employer campus visits are posted on Handshake, and students can network with alumni through SLUConnections or discover opportunities abroad with Interstride and GoinGlobal. And in anticipation of high-stakes interviews, the mock interview tool BigInterview provides virtual coaching to students that is tailored to their fields of interest and experience levels. Saint Louis University graduates surveyed by PayScale.com report a median starting salary of $63,500, and 59% of graduates find meaning in their work.