Saint Louis University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Saint Louis, Missouri · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #100 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #146 (tie), Business Programs #101 (tie), Computer Science #193 (tie), Nursing #36 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Saint Louis University.
Is Saint Louis University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Saint Louis University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Saint Louis University is a private nonprofit university in Saint Louis, Missouri that admits about 75% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $24,398 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 10.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Saint Louis University is a private institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. For the most recent reporting cycle, Saint Louis University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 75%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1317 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $24,398 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
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SAT and ACT scores Saint Louis University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–710, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1317 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for admission and scholarships, including nursing, PT, OT and flight science (scores may be preferred there). No superscoring.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Saint Louis University's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Saint Louis University actually cost?
Published tuition is $55,760 for in-state students and $55,760 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,280 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $24,398 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 17% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $24,398 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Saint Louis University
Most popular majors at Saint Louis University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Saint Louis University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Biology, General. Across all programs, Saint Louis University confers roughly 663 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $80,449 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 189 | $80,449 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 99 | $77,984 |
| Biology, General | 81 | $64,951 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 73 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 58 | $57,601 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 57 | $72,049 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 53 | n/a |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 53 | $67,569 |
Is Saint Louis University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Saint Louis University disclosed 77 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 10.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 11 violent offenses and 16 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Next steps for Saint Louis University
Common questions parents ask about Saint Louis University
What GPA do I need for Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Saint Louis University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–710, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31.
How much does Saint Louis University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Saint Louis University after grants and scholarships is $24,398 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $55,760. Budget against the net figure.
Is Saint Louis University realistic for my child?
Saint Louis University admits 75% of applicants, so 600–710 SAT Math is target range and below 600 is a reach. Then check the $24,398 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Louis University?
Saint Louis University accepts about 75% of applicants. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Saint Louis University test-optional?
Yes. Saint Louis University is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
Is Saint Louis University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Saint Louis University is a private nonprofit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
What are the most popular majors at Saint Louis University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Saint Louis University by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness and Biology, General. The school awards about 663 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Saint Louis University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Saint Louis University reported 77 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 10.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Saint Louis University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers