Joshua Bennett
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and has since been guided by the Catholic and Jesuit traditions. SLU offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs and welcomes students from all religious backgrounds. While the university encourages Catholic education and provides opportunities for worship, it does not restrict admission only to Catholics. SLU has a history of navigating between conflicting perspectives, balancing its Catholic identity with the need to attract students and funding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Number of undergraduate programs | Nearly 100 |
| Number of graduate programs | 140 |
| Number of students | Nearly 13,000 |
| Religious affiliation | Catholic, Jesuit |
| Student body composition | Students from all religions and backgrounds |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, with a campus in Madrid, Spain |
| Founding | 1818 |
| Founder | Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg |
| Current president | Fred Pestello |
| Previous president | Father Patrick Holloran |
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What You'll Learn
Saint Louis University is a Catholic university
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic university. Founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg, it is the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. The Society of Jesus assumed control of the university less than a decade later, and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions have guided the university ever since.
Saint Louis University is one of only nine Catholic universities with a "higher" or "highest" research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Its research spans science, technology, law, and the humanities. SLU's Catholic, Jesuit identity shapes how it teaches and serves its students, encouraging the spirituality of all members of the SLU community. The university is committed to Catholic education at all levels, offering ample opportunities to worship, participate in the sacraments, and grow in faith.
However, Saint Louis University accepts students from all religious backgrounds. While it is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and inspired by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus, SLU welcomes people from every religious identity, practice, or tradition. The university encourages all students, faculty, and staff to discover truth through both faith and reason.
Despite its Catholic affiliation, Saint Louis University has faced criticism from local and national Church leaders for some of its decisions. For example, in 1997, the university sold its hospital to Tenet Healthcare, and in 2022, it sold its medical practice, SLUCare, to the SSM Health System. Additionally, in 2007, SLU claimed to be a secular institution in court, arguing that its board of directors was mostly comprised of laypersons and not of any specific religious creed. Nevertheless, the university continues to identify as a Catholic, Jesuit institution, dedicated to providing a rigorous and transformative education to its students.
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Saint Louis University is a secular university
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and has been providing students with a rigorous, excellent education for 200 years. The university is guided by its enduring Jesuit mission and is committed to Catholic education at all levels. SLU offers ample opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to worship, participate in the sacraments, and grow in their faith.
However, Saint Louis University accepts students from all religious backgrounds and identities. While it is true that the majority of SLU students are from St. Louis and its surrounding areas, which may suggest a large Catholic population, the university does not restrict admission based on religion. In fact, SLU encourages the spirituality of all members of its community through student groups such as the Interfaith Alliance and campus ministry’s affiliate minister program.
The university's first lay president, Fred Pestello, stated that SLU is a "faith-based institution," emphasizing that they explicitly grapple with issues of faith and pursue the "big questions." This stance may create a tension between the university's promise of inclusion and its religious foundations, as seen in Pestello's decision to deny access to contraceptives at the campus health center, which some students viewed as conflicting with SLU's commitment to inclusion.
Despite its Catholic identity, Saint Louis University has a history of challenging segregationist policies within Catholic colleges. In 1944, SLU opened its doors to African-American students after its president, Father Patrick Holloran, secured approval from the St. Louis Archbishop. Additionally, in 1967, SLU became one of the first Catholic universities to give laypeople more power over the affairs of the school.
In summary, while Saint Louis University identifies as a Catholic, Jesuit institution, it accepts students from diverse religious backgrounds and provides opportunities for all members of its community to explore their spirituality. The university's history and current practices reflect a balance between its religious foundations and a commitment to inclusion and social change.
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Saint Louis University is a Jesuit university
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Jesuit university with a Catholic identity. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg, and the Society of Jesus assumed control of the university less than a decade later. Since then, Catholic and Jesuit traditions have guided the university.
The university's mission statement reflects its Catholic and Jesuit identity: "The Mission of Saint Louis University is the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity." The university is dedicated to leadership in the quest for understanding God's creation and the discovery, dissemination, and integration of the values, knowledge, and skills required to transform society in the spirit of the Gospels.
SLU offers nearly 100 undergraduate and 140 graduate programs, as well as many minors, concentrations, and certificates. It is committed to providing a rigorous and excellent education and encourages students to integrate contemplation and action to become agents of change. The university offers ample opportunities for worship, participation in the sacraments, and spiritual growth.
While SLU is a Catholic and Jesuit university, it welcomes people from every religious identity, practice, or tradition. Student groups such as the Interfaith Alliance encourage the spirituality of all members of the SLU community. The university's first lay president, Fred Pestello, emphasized that SLU is a faith-based institution that explicitly grapples with issues of faith.
SLU is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and has a campus in Madrid, Spain. It has a long history of research and is one of only nine Catholic universities with a "higher" or "highest" research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
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Saint Louis University is open to students of all religions
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and has been guided by Catholic and Jesuit traditions ever since. SLU is recognised for its world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate healthcare, and strong commitment to faith and service.
Despite its Catholic identity, Saint Louis University is open to students of all religions. While the university encourages the spirituality of all members of its community, it does not have a religious test for admission. In fact, SLU has student groups such as the Interfaith Alliance and campus ministry’s affiliate minister program, which encourage the spirituality of all members of the SLU community.
One former student writes:
> "I graduated from SLU and I'm not Catholic and I had classmates of various religions. [...] For the most part, it's like every other college, aside from the occasional day off for a Christian holiday."
Another former student writes:
> "I went there and I'm atheist and saw many people that were definitely very different religions. [...] Nope. While I was there, there were and are students of all religions and backgrounds."
Saint Louis University has also been recognised for its pursuit of social justice. In the early 1940s, Saint Louis University priests began to challenge the segregationist policies at the city's Catholic colleges and parochial schools. By the summer of 1944, Saint Louis University had opened its doors to African-Americans. In 1967, it became one of the first Catholic universities to give laypeople more power over the affairs of the school.
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Saint Louis University is faith-based
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and has been providing students with a rigorous, excellent education for 200 years. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities in the nation.
SLU is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and inspired by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus. The university encourages all students, faculty and staff to discover truth that is accessible by way of both faith and reason. It offers ample opportunities to worship, participate in the sacraments and grow in faith.
The university's Catholic and Jesuit traditions have guided it to serve a higher purpose and to seek the greater good. The Jesuit emphasis on activism attracts like-minded students, which can sometimes create friction when their championed causes conflict with Catholic values. For example, students have pushed for access to contraceptives, which the university's first lay president, Fred Pestello, denied, stating: "We are a faith-based institution... I think what separates us from secular institutions is that we can explicitly grapple with the big questions, explicitly pursue issues of faith."
SLU is recognised for its world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate healthcare, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Guided by its enduring Jesuit mission, the university offers its nearly 13,000 students a highly rigorous and deeply transformative education that helps them develop into bold, confident leaders.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit university. It was founded by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg in 1818 and has been providing students with a rigorous, excellent education for 200 years.
No, students from all religious backgrounds attend Saint Louis University. While it is a Catholic university, it encourages students, faculty, and staff to discover the truth that is accessible by way of faith and reason.
No, while information about mass is provided, attendance is not mandatory or pressured.
Saint Louis University receives federal funding in the form of student loans and research grants. It is also funded by private foundations and partnerships.
Saint Louis University is guided by the Roman Catholic Church and the Society of Jesus. It offers ample opportunities for students to worship and participate in the sacraments.
