
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and inspired by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the US. The university is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and has a campus in Madrid, Spain. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is known for its rigorous and transformative education, encouraging students to ask hard questions and seek the greater good. While SLU has a Catholic identity, it welcomes students from diverse religious backgrounds and does not require attendance at mass, although it offers ample opportunities for worship and faith development for those who choose to participate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of institution | Private, coeducational institution of higher learning |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Religious affiliation | Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church |
| Founding date | 1818 |
| Number of campuses | 3 (Frost campus, Health Sciences Center, and a campus in Madrid, Spain) |
| Number of students | Over 11,000 |
| Number of Jesuit staff | 40 |
| Number of programs | 94 undergraduate majors and 88 graduate disciplines |
| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Notable alumni | Edward Adelbert Doisy (namesake of the university's research center and college of health sciences) |
| Notable events | The Mysteries of St. Louis, an anti-Catholic novel written by Henry Boernstein in 1852 |
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What You'll Learn
- Saint Louis University is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church
- The university encourages students of all religions and backgrounds
- Saint Louis University is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the US
- The university offers ample opportunities to worship and participate in sacraments
- Saint Louis University's Catholic and Jesuit traditions guide the university to serve a higher purpose

Saint Louis University is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church
Saint Louis University, a private, coeducational institution of higher learning in St. Louis, Missouri, is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the nation. The university is inspired by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus and encourages students to discover truth through faith and reason.
The university has a strong Catholic and Jesuit identity that shapes its teaching and service. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a core curriculum that includes theology and philosophy. The Jesuit traditions of educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—are evident in the university's commitment to academic excellence and compassionate health care. Saint Louis University is also known for its rigorous and transformative education, which helps students develop into bold, confident leaders.
The Jesuit influence at Saint Louis University is seen in its encouragement of students to integrate contemplation and action, fostering well-developed minds, generous hearts, and reflective souls. The university's nearly 500-year-old Jesuit tradition inspires everything from the classes students take to their extracurricular activities. Outside of the classroom, students, faculty, and staff devote more than 1.6 million hours to community service annually.
The university has a long history of Catholic influence, with its teaching priests being the subject of an anti-Catholic novel, "The Mysteries of St. Louis," in 1852. In the early 1940s, Jesuit priests at the university challenged segregationist policies at Catholic colleges, and by 1944, Saint Louis University opened its doors to African-American students. Today, the university continues to be guided by its Jesuit mission, offering a highly rigorous and transformative education to its nearly 13,000 students.
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The university encourages students of all religions and backgrounds
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a Catholic, Jesuit university rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and inspired by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities in the US, founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg. The university is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church and offers Catholic education at all levels.
Despite its Catholic and Jesuit identity, SLU encourages students of all religions and backgrounds. The university offers a truly personalized experience with nearly 100 undergraduate and 140 graduate programs, along with minors, concentrations, and certificates. SLU is home to a diverse community of scholars with more than 250 student organizations on campus, making it easy for students to find their niche. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and the university has a strong commitment to faith and service.
SLU offers a broad range of classes, and every major is founded upon a core curriculum that includes theology and philosophy. Students are encouraged to take courses that integrate service into their academic content, with more than 80 courses directly doing so. The university emphasizes the importance of ethical leadership and community service, with students, faculty, and staff members devoting more than 1.6 million hours to community service annually.
SLU's Jesuit traditions guide the university to serve a higher purpose and seek the greater good. The university encourages students to ask hard questions, look beyond easy answers, and develop the skills to think clearly, argue persuasively, and express themselves coherently. The Jesuit education at SLU focuses on educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and preparing students to make the world a better place.
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Saint Louis University is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the US
Saint Louis University, a private, coeducational institution in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg as the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. The university has a strong Catholic, Jesuit identity that shapes how it teaches and serves its students.
The university is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church and is guided by its principles in encouraging students to discover truths that are accessible through faith and reason. Saint Louis University offers ample opportunities for students to worship, participate in the sacraments, and grow in their faith. The Sunday Evening Student Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church consistently attracts over 800 students each week, with daily masses also held. The university's Catholic identity is further reflected in its commitment to ethics, spirituality, and compassion in the classroom, as well as the over 1.6 million service hours provided annually by its community.
As one of the oldest Catholic universities, Saint Louis University has a rich history and has set several milestones. It established the first schools of business, law, and medicine west of the Mississippi River. In the early 1940s, the university was at the forefront of challenging segregationist policies in Catholic colleges and parochial schools. By the summer of 1944, it had opened its doors to African-American students, becoming one of the first Catholic universities to do so.
The university's Catholic and Jesuit traditions guide its mission to serve a higher purpose and seek the greater good. It follows the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and preparing students to make a positive impact in the world. The university encourages critical thinking and a broad range of classes, with a core curriculum that includes theology and philosophy.
Saint Louis University's long research history includes notable work in the sciences, humanities, law, and technology. It is one of only nine Catholic universities with a "higher" or "highest" research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university's research endeavours are funded by federal grants, private foundations, and partnerships.
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The university offers ample opportunities to worship and participate in sacraments
Saint Louis University, a private, coeducational institution in St. Louis, Missouri, is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church. The university has three campuses: the Frost campus (main) and the Health Sciences Center in St. Louis, and a campus in Madrid, Spain.
The university offers ample opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to worship and participate in sacraments. The St. Francis Xavier College Church, located on campus, serves as a worship space for both the university and the parish community. The church celebrates masses at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM on Sundays, with a Vigil Mass on Saturdays at 5:15 PM. During the academic year, the Department of Campus Ministry also runs masses at 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays. The university community is invited to participate in liturgical services, with volunteer student cantors, singers, and instrumentalists supporting a mix of mainstream, traditional, and contemporary liturgical music.
The Department of Campus Ministry connects students of different faith traditions to congregations across the St. Louis area. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend Ash Wednesday Lenten services and other communal prayer opportunities offered around the university. The university's Catholic, Jesuit identity shapes how it teaches and serves its community, with prayer and worship being central elements.
The university has a long history of Catholic influence, dating back to its establishment in 1818. The first Jesuit president of St. Louis College, William Faherty, played a key role in intensifying the school's Catholic life and establishing a medical department. In the early 1940s, Jesuit priests associated with the university challenged segregationist policies at Catholic colleges, and by 1944, Saint Louis University opened its doors to African-American students. In 1967, the university became one of the first Catholic institutions to give laypeople more power over its affairs.
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Saint Louis University's Catholic and Jesuit traditions guide the university to serve a higher purpose
Saint Louis University, a private, coeducational institution of higher learning in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States. It was founded in 1818 by Catholic Bishop Louis William DuBourg and was the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. The university is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church and is guided by its enduring Jesuit mission.
The Jesuit tradition at Saint Louis University encourages students to integrate contemplation and action, cultivating well-developed minds, generous hearts, and reflective souls. The university follows the Jesuit traditions of educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and preparing students to make the world a better place. This is achieved through a broad range of classes, with every major founded upon a core curriculum that includes theology and philosophy. Students are encouraged to ask challenging questions, defend and improve upon their ideas, and develop skills in critical thinking, persuasive argumentation, and coherent expression.
The Catholic and Jesuit identity of Saint Louis University shapes how they teach and serve. The university encourages students, faculty, and staff to discover truths accessible through faith and reason, offering ample opportunities for worship, participation in sacraments, and faith development. The Sunday Evening Student Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church attracts over 800 students weekly, with daily masses also held. The Department of Campus Ministry sponsors retreats, service opportunities, mission trips, and faith-sharing and prayer groups.
Saint Louis University's long research history includes notable work in the sciences, humanities, law, and technology. It is one of only nine Catholic universities with a "higher" or "highest" research activity designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university's commitment to ethics, spirituality, and compassion is evident in the community's provision of more than 1.6 million service hours annually.
While Saint Louis University is rooted in Catholic and Jesuit traditions, it welcomes students, faculty, and staff from diverse religious backgrounds. The university once faced criticism for its segregationist policies, but in 1944, it opened its doors to African-American students, becoming one of the first Catholic universities to give laypeople more power over its affairs. Today, Saint Louis University embraces its role in serving a higher purpose and seeking the greater good.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Saint Louis University is a Catholic university that is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church.
No, you do not have to be Catholic to attend Saint Louis University. The university welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all religions and backgrounds.
As a Catholic university, Saint Louis University encourages students to integrate contemplation and action, developing well-rounded individuals with well-developed minds, generous hearts, and reflective souls. The university offers ample opportunities for worship, participation in the sacraments, and faith-sharing groups. The university's curriculum includes core courses in theology and philosophy, and more than 80 courses that directly integrate service into academic content.











































