What Is Saint Louis University (SLU) and What Does Its Website Offer?

Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit university in St. Louis, Missouri, described on its website as a top-ranked R1 research institution. Its site, slu.edu, serves as the main hub for prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, and visitors — offering academic program listings, admissions and financial aid information, campus visit scheduling, news, and events. If you're researching whether to apply, planning a visit, or looking for a specific program, the site is organized to route you to the right section.

What kind of institution is SLU?

According to the site, SLU is:

• A private Jesuit university based in St. Louis
• An R1 research institution (the highest research classification in the U.S. Carnegie system)
• Mission-driven and student-centered, with a stated focus on preparing students "to do good"

The homepage frames the university around three themes: mission-focused, student-centered, and research-driven.

Academic programs

SLU's site lists a broad range of degree options:

The homepage also references "nearly 100 academic programs" and offers navigation paths for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Online study, plus a directory of colleges and schools. A "Find Your Program" tool helps visitors locate specific majors or fields.

Key facts and figures

The site highlights several statistics:

• 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• 99% of first-time freshmen received aid

These figures are presented as quick indicators of class size and financial accessibility. The site links to a financial aid section for details on costs and assistance.

What can you do on slu.edu?

The website supports several common tasks:

• Explore programs — browse undergraduate, graduate, and online offerings by college or school
• Check financial aid — see aid statistics and access financial aid resources
• Schedule a campus visit — the site states that visiting is "the best way to learn about Saint Louis University," with options to explore campus, meet students, and learn about majors, financial aid, and housing
• Read news — the SLU Newsroom covers research breakthroughs, student achievements, and campus events
• Hear from students — a "Meet a Billiken" section features current students sharing their experiences (a "Billiken" is SLU's mascot and the nickname for its community members)
• Find events — a calendar lists upcoming activities such as the SLU Showcase, Health Careers Visit Day, and the Cannonball Conference

Who is the site for?

The content suggests slu.edu serves multiple audiences:

• Prospective students — program exploration, admissions, financial aid, visit scheduling
• Current students — news, events, and student stories
• Faculty and staff — institutional news and resources
• Visitors — campus information and event listings

Notable news and recognition

The homepage references recent highlights, including:

• U.S. News rankings — SLU recognized as a top private university for value and undergraduate programs
• Real-world learning — business students created a supply chain solution for a beverage company
• Mental health initiative — SLU completed a campus mental health initiative in partnership with the JED Foundation
• Faculty achievement — an occupational therapy professor won a Wheelchair Rugby World Championship

Bottom line

slu.edu is the official website of Saint Louis University, a private Jesuit R1 research university in St. Louis. It functions as both an informational resource and a practical tool — you can research 97 bachelor's and 131 graduate programs, check financial aid figures, schedule a campus visit, and follow university news and events. If you're considering SLU or need to navigate its academic offerings, the site's program finder and visit scheduler are the most direct starting points.