Saint Louis University

What Saint Louis University does

Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Catholic Jesuit research university founded in 1818 in St. Louis, Missouri, making it the oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. It serves more than 15,000 students drawn from every U.S. state and roughly 100 countries, operating through 12 colleges and schools that offer nearly 100 undergraduate, 140 graduate, and numerous certificate programs spanning Arts and Sciences, Business (Chaifetz), Health Sciences (Doisy), Education, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Science and Engineering. The university runs dual physical campuses — the 281-acre main campus in Midtown St. Louis (130 buildings) and the SLU-Madrid campus in Spain serving approximately 1,200 international students — plus an online division, the School for Professional Studies, that has served non-traditional learners for more than 60 years.

The university runs on a tuition-driven, subscription-style annual revenue model. Primary revenue streams are undergraduate and graduate tuition (with differentiated pricing for on-campus versus online programs and net tuition averaging roughly $20,000 per new student after scholarships and financial aid for Fall 2025), supplemented by external research grants from federal agencies (DoE, HRSA, HHS, Missouri DHEWD), endowment returns, gifts, and auxiliary services. Customer acquisition is sales-led through traditional university admissions: dedicated counselors, campus visits, virtual tours, SLU Showcase events, international recruitment offices, the INTO SLU pathway program for international students, and digital marketing across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. The institution uses Canvas LMS for course delivery, EAB Navigate for student appointment scheduling, Banner Self-Service for registration, and SLUth Search Plus for library research — standard educational technology infrastructure rather than proprietary platform plays.

The business is mission-driven rather than profit-driven: SLU is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, holds continuous accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission since 1916, and is not backed by private equity or any parent company. Financial aid is structurally central — $289 million in institutional aid was awarded in 2023, the average freshman aid offer is $45,343, and 90–99% of first-time freshmen receive aid, making net price the operative pricing signal alongside gross tuition. Strategic emphasis is on Jesuit whole-person education (mind, body, spirit), a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, guaranteed study-abroad access at SLU-Madrid, 215+ student organizations, 1.6 million annual service hours, NCAA Division I athletics (Atlantic 10 Conference, Billikens), and 420 employer recruitment relationships per year.

Name

Saint Louis University

Legal name

Saint Louis University

Website

https://slu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1818

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Saint Louis University is a private Catholic Jesuit university founded in 1818, serving 15,000+ students from 100 countries through nearly 100 undergraduate and 140 graduate programs across 12 colleges in St. Louis, Madrid, and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Online education
• Jesuit university

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with differentiated pricing for on-campus vs online programs. For Fall 2025, new students paid average of $20,000 in tuition after scholarships and financial aid.
2. Financial Aid and Scholarships: $270M in institutional aid available to students, $289M in institutional aid awarded in 2023, $140M in federal aid awarded. Average aid award of $29K that doesn't need to be repaid.
3. Grants and Research Funding: External grant funding including $5.96M Department of Education grant for teacher recruitment, $5M HRSA grant for geriatrics education, and various research grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saint Louis University delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 colleges and schools on its main St. Louis campus, its Madrid, Spain campus, and online through the School for Professional Studies. The university offers nearly 100 undergraduate programs and 140 graduate programs spanning arts and sciences, business, education, law, medicine, nursing, health sciences, public health, social work, and science and engineering, supported by academic tutoring, library services, and career services.

Product overview

Saint Louis University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered around its academic mission. The university operates as a unified institution providing nearly 100 undergraduate programs, 140 graduate programs, and online education through its School for Professional Studies (SLU Online). Core academic units include the College of Arts and Sciences, Chaifetz School of Business, Doisy College of Health Sciences, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Science and Engineering. Supporting services include SLU Libraries (Pius XII Memorial, Medical Center, Law, and Madrid libraries), student support services (tutoring, writing services, disability resources), and the SLU-Madrid campus for international education. The institution utilizes Canvas as its learning management system for online delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saint Louis University Academic Programs Traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning nearly 100 undergraduate programs, 140 graduate programs, and numerous minors, concentrations, and certificates across 12 colleges and schools including Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Social Justice, Science and Engineering, Philosophy and Letters, Social Work, and Professional Studies. Designed for prospective undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
• SLU Online Education Programs Online bachelor's degrees and graduate degrees and certificate programs offered 100% online through the School for Professional Studies. Programs include analytics, cybersecurity, information systems, leadership, and project management for working adults and non-traditional learners.
• SLU Libraries University library system comprising Pius XII Memorial Library, Medical Center Library, Vincent C. Immel Law Library, SLU-Madrid Library, and Vatican Film Library. Offers research databases, interlibrary loan, and academic technology commons to SLU students, faculty, and researchers.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive student support including academic tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, University Writing Services, Student Success Coaching, Billiken Beginnings orientation, and the Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources. Available to enrolled SLU students across all programs.
• SLU-Madrid Campus Programs Full university campus in Madrid, Spain offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs and study-abroad opportunities for approximately 1,200 students from around the world who earn SLU degrees while experiencing Spanish culture.
• Doisy College of Health Sciences Programs College of Health Sciences offering programs in communication disorders, clinical laboratory science, nuclear medicine, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and radiation therapy for students pursuing health professions careers.
• Chaifetz School of Business Programs Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business offering undergraduate and graduate business education including accounting, finance, management, marketing, ITM, and operations programs for students pursuing business careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of first-time freshmen received financial aid
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2026The NGA and Saint Louis University co-host the annual Geo-Resolution conference focused on geospatial technology advancements including GEOINT AI and quantum intelligence. The event emphasizes strategic importance for national security and workforce transformation, held at SLU in St. Louis, Missouri.
• The Boeing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 February 2026Boeing serves as a sponsor for the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition hosted at SLU, supporting STEM education and workforce talent pipeline development in the St. Louis region.
• Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis (AMICSTL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026AMICSTL hosted the Project MFG Additive Manufacturing Competition at SLU on February 20, 2026, bringing together 12 high school teams to compete in a 3D printing STEM challenge, with winning teams advancing to the National Championship.
• Regional Universities (St. Louis Area)minorOthers · 20 February 2026Regional universities in the St. Louis area serve as sponsors and supporters for the Project MFG competition, strengthening the region's workforce talent pipeline in advanced manufacturing.
• Sun Yat-Sen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership with Sun Yat-Sen University and Chinese University of Hong Kong analyzing UK Biobank data on air pollution effects, finding air pollution accelerates onset of 48 chronic conditions by 2-5 years.
• Chinese University of Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration analyzing hospitalization records from 900,000 Britons to study air pollution's impact on dementia and Parkinson's onset.
• SSM HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital serves as the primary clinical partner for SLU's medical education and health sciences programs, with Allison Kraus serving as Senior Radiation Therapist involved in cancer care, research, and education.
• University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL)minorOthersSLU and UMSL collaborate on the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, with UMSL hosting PitchFest 2026 competition where student teams pitch business ideas for funding.
• U.S. Tennis Association (USTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUSTA acknowledged the situation of colleges cutting tennis programs and stated it will continue seeking ways to support collegiate tennis growth and sustainability amid NCAA revenue-sharing changes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Marquette University: Private Catholic Jesuit university in Milwaukee with ~11,000 students across similar undergraduate and graduate programs. Closely comparable in mission, size, and Midwest footprint, including professional schools in business, law, and health sciences.
• Loyola University Chicago: Private Jesuit university in Chicago with ~16,000 students, comparable comprehensive program mix including strong health sciences and graduate offerings. Similar Jesuit whole-person mission and tuition-discounting dynamics.
• Creighton University: Private Jesuit university in Omaha with ~8,000 students. Highly comparable Jesuit identity, professional schools (business, law, health), and Midwest regional positioning.
• Gonzaga University: Private Jesuit university in Spokane with ~7,500 students. Comparable Jesuit mission, undergraduate teaching focus, and recent national brand lift driven by athletics—paralleling SLU's athletic momentum.
• Fordham University: Private Jesuit university in New York City with ~17,000 students across multiple campuses. Comparable comprehensive Jesuit offering, large graduate and professional schools, and significant international enrollment.
• University of Dayton: Private Catholic (Marianist) university in Ohio with ~11,000 students. Comparable Catholic mission, undergraduate teaching emphasis, and Midwest regional competition for similar student profile.
• Xavier University: Private Jesuit university in Cincinnati with ~7,000 students. Comparable Jesuit identity, strong business school (Williams College of Business), and similar undergraduate-focused teaching model.
• Santa Clara University: Private Jesuit university in Silicon Valley with ~9,000 students. Comparable Jesuit mission, strong undergraduate business and engineering programs, and Jesuit whole-person educational philosophy.
• Loyola Marymount University: Private Jesuit and Marymount university in Los Angeles with ~10,000 students. Comparable Jesuit-Marymount identity, comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs, and emphasis on faith-based whole-person education.
• DePaul University: Private Catholic (Vincentian) university in Chicago with ~22,000 students—the largest Catholic university in the U.S. Comparable Catholic mission, large graduate and online programs, and significant adult learner enrollment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SLU_Official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SaintLouisUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaintLouisU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saint-louis-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/slu_official
• TikToktiktok.com/@slu_official

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saint Louis University