


Saint Louis University's Billikens compete in NCAA Division I athletics, primarily in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Varsity sports include basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, swimming and diving, tennis, cross-country, and track and field, among others.
Varsity participation involves team selection and conference competition; it is distinct from joining a recreational team. Students who do not compete at the varsity level can explore club sports, intramural activities and campus recreation. Available teams, schedules and eligibility can differ among those options. Applicants interested in varsity recruiting should discuss their sport's process with its coaching staff rather than assuming that general admission or participation automatically includes an athletic scholarship.
Saint Louis University has recognized student organizations covering academic interests, service, identity and culture, faith, the arts, and recreation. Student government offers a route into campus representation, while major-related and professional groups can help students meet peers pursuing similar fields.
Student media and performing arts provide other ways to participate: SLU has a student newspaper, student radio and theater and choral opportunities. Service organizations fit the university's Jesuit emphasis on community engagement, while fraternity and sorority life offers another form of involvement for interested students. Recognition and activity can change from year to year, so the current student-organization directory is the best way to confirm that a particular group is operating and accepting members.
Saint Louis University enrolls about 17,059 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. Its reported entering class included 1,615 first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, and the institution also enrolled 557 transfer-in undergraduates. Those figures describe different populations and should not be read as a breakdown of the entire student body.
Geographic reporting shows an undergraduate population drawn substantially from beyond Missouri: about 46% were Missouri residents, 47% came from other U.S. states, and about 6% came from other countries. The percentages are rounded. Reported racial and ethnic counts include students identifying as White, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and two or more races, among other categories; no single count describes everyone's background or experience.
The university reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1. That institution-wide measure is not a promise about the size of a particular lecture, laboratory or clinical group. Students comparing programs should ask about the classes and advising arrangements they would actually encounter.
Everyday life at Saint Louis University combines an urban campus, a substantial residential population and students who commute. About 46% of students are reported as living on campus and 54% as commuting, so participation in campus activities does not depend solely on residence-hall life.
Orientation and first-year programming offer ways for new students to learn the campus and meet peers. Student spaces, recreation, wellness resources, service activities and cultural programming create additional points of contact outside class. For commuters, timing matters: an evening event or organization meeting may require planning around travel and other commitments.
SLU's Jesuit affiliation is visible in reflection and service opportunities, while its academic and social activities serve students with varied interests and beliefs. Students assessing fit may find it useful to compare the experience of their intended school or major with the broader university, since clinical schedules, laboratory work and other program demands shape daily life.
Pius XII Memorial Library is Saint Louis University's main library for many students. It provides study space, research support and access to scholarly materials in print and online.
SLU's library system also serves specialized research needs, including law and health sciences. Depending on their program, students may use subject-specific collections, journals and databases rather than relying only on the main library building. Research librarians can assist with finding and evaluating sources, and library borrowing and interlibrary-loan services can help students obtain materials beyond SLU's own holdings.
Students planning to study remotely or outside normal class hours should check current database sign-in instructions, study-space availability and building hours. Access rules can differ among libraries and may change during exams or academic breaks.
Total enrollment
17059Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
1337Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
678 full time, 342 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Baseball
Basketball
Cross-country running
Field hockey
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Data 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.