


Saint Louis University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree or professional school.
SLU also has program-specific accreditation in relevant fields. Examples include accreditation associated with its business, nursing, public health, law and medical education programs, while accreditation for engineering and other specialized degrees must be checked at the individual program level. This distinction matters most when a student is pursuing licensure or a credential with field-specific educational requirements.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, and it is one factor other colleges consider when reviewing transfer credit. It does not guarantee that another institution will accept a particular course or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license. Students considering a regulated career should verify the exact program's current accreditation and the licensing rules of the state where they intend to work.
First-year applicants to Saint Louis University generally submit an undergraduate application and a secondary-school transcript showing completion of high school or an accepted equivalent. SLU is not an open-admission institution: it reviews applicants' academic preparation rather than admitting everyone who applies.
Institutional admissions reporting identifies the high-school record and GPA as required review items. Class rank is neither required nor recommended, while recommendations and completion of a college-preparatory curriculum are considered rather than universally required. SLU's general first-year process is test-optional: SAT or ACT scores may be considered when submitted, but applicants should check whether a particular program or scholarship has different rules. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1325 on the SAT and 30 on the ACT; those figures describe score-submitters, not every entrant or a minimum for admission.
In the reported admissions cycle, SLU admitted about 75% of its 15,533 first-year applicants. That university-wide rate does not describe the selectivity of an individual major. International applicants may need to document English proficiency, and programs with clinical, artistic or other specialized components can have additional steps. Applicants should use the admissions requirements and deadlines for their own applicant category and intended program rather than assuming one university-wide checklist applies to all degrees.
Saint Louis University does not charge a standard application fee for its general undergraduate application. A student should not confuse an application fee with a later enrollment deposit or with charges connected to a particular program.
Graduate and professional schools may use different applications and fee policies. Applicants to those programs should check the fee shown in their specific application before submitting it. If a program does charge a fee, its admissions office can explain whether a waiver is available and when a request must be made; a waiver should not be assumed to apply automatically across SLU's schools.
Saint Louis University students have access to Air Force ROTC on campus and Army ROTC through a cooperating institution. These are different participation arrangements: an on-campus unit has a presence at SLU, while a cross-enrolled student may need to travel for some training and classes.
ROTC participation involves coursework and leadership training in addition to a degree program. Scholarship availability, medical and citizenship eligibility, commissioning requirements, and any resulting military service obligation depend on the branch and the student's circumstances. Interested applicants should confirm the current host-unit arrangement, travel expectations and scholarship application process with the relevant ROTC detachment before building ROTC into a four-year academic or financial plan.
Saint Louis University accepts transfer applicants and generally reviews college credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer students can enter in fall, spring or summer, subject to the admission schedule and capacity of their intended program.
A transfer application typically centers on official transcripts from every college attended, along with any additional records required for the applicant's educational history. Admission to SLU and acceptance of individual courses are separate decisions: a course can transfer as credit without satisfying a specific major requirement. SLU reports accepting several forms of examination or recommended credit, including CLEP, DSST and American Council on Education recommendations, but the amount and use of such credit depend on university and program rules.
Before enrolling, a transfer applicant should request a program-specific evaluation showing which courses satisfy general education, prerequisites and major requirements. This is particularly important for sequenced degrees such as nursing or engineering. Students should also check any minimum SLU-credit requirement for graduation and whether their program has a separate GPA threshold or application deadline.
Saint Louis University offers study abroad, including opportunities connected to its Madrid campus. Depending on the program, students may consider a semester, a shorter faculty-led experience or another approved international option.
The Madrid campus is a distinctive option because students can take SLU courses abroad rather than assuming every international experience is run by an outside provider. Other programs can involve partners or third parties. Those arrangements affect course approval, housing, billing and the way financial aid applies, so the program type matters as much as the destination.
Students should obtain academic approval before committing to a program, especially when a major has tightly sequenced courses or clinical requirements. Study abroad advising can help them compare credits, dates and costs. Scholarships and existing aid may be usable in some circumstances, but students need an award-specific financial review rather than assuming their usual package will cover every program.
14% of admitted students enrolled (1,615 of 11,656)
Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 1Early Action
Yes, deadline December 1Median composite SAT score
1325Median composite ACT score
30Percent of students submitting ACT scores
44%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
11%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
RequiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.