This guide brings together what international applicants need to know about Saint Louis University（圣路易斯大学）: its programs, entry requirements, tuition and costs, application deadlines, and the support available from admission through arrival. All facts below come from the university’s own website (slu.edu), accessed on August 6, 2026; figures the university does not publish are flagged rather than guessed.
About Saint Louis University
Saint Louis Universityis a private Roman Catholic university in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1818 and run in the Jesuit (Society of Jesus) tradition. The university describes itself as one of the oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities in the United States, with a history spanning more than 200 years. Its main campus sits in Midtown St. Louis, and it operates a second campus in Madrid, Spain. Across both campuses it enrolls about 13,307 students from all 50 U.S. states and 100 countries; roughly 22.4% of students come from outside the United States. The faculty numbers about 2,100, giving a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio.
For international students, the Jesuit character of Saint Louis Universityshows up in the curriculum: undergraduates complete a common University Undergraduate Core of courses alongside their major, with an emphasis on small classes and education of the whole person.
Programs and Colleges
Saint Louis Universityoffers 91 bachelor’s degree programs and 125 master’s and doctoral programs, including more than 50 STEM-qualifying degrees. Undergraduate teaching is organized through colleges and schools such as Arts and Sciences, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, Science and Engineering, Nursing, Education, Health Sciences, Public Health and Social Justice, Law, Medicine, and Social Work. The 2026-2027 catalog’s Majors and Programs page lists popular options including Computer Science (B.A. and B.S.), Data Science, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, and business majors such as Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business.
The Madrid campus adds another route: 23 undergraduate majors and two master’s degrees can be completed entirely in Madrid, and more than 40 undergraduate degrees can be started in Madrid and finished at the St. Louis campus. SLU-Madrid’s student body speaks around 90 languages and draws from the United States, Spain and 75 other countries.
International students who need English or academic preparation before direct entry can use INTO SLU, the university’s pathway provider: Academic English runs in five levels of 16 weeks each in fall and spring (10 weeks in summer); International Direct offers credit-bearing English and introductory degree courses for undergraduates; Graduate Pathway combines language study with credit-bearing coursework for prospective graduate students. The program is accredited by CEA, the U.S. English-language program accreditation body, through August 2035.
Entry Requirements for International Students
There is no application fee for undergraduate admission to Saint Louis University. The steps are: complete the online application (first-year applicants also write an essay); submit academic records with English translations for every secondary and post-secondary institution attended — unofficial copies may be accepted for initial review, but official copies must be sent directly by the school before enrollment; and submit official English proficiency test scores, which must come directly from the testing agency (self-reported scores are not accepted). The university’s ETS code for TOEFL and SAT scores is 6629, and its ACT code is 2352. TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years.
A resume of activities, letters of recommendation and an admission interview are recommended but not required. Proof of financial support is needed for the I-20 process but does not affect the admission decision.
English Language Proficiency
For undergraduate direct entry, Saint Louis Universitypublishes these minimum scores: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 80; TOEFL PBT 550; TOEFL Essentials 8.5; TOEFL ITP Plus for China 627; Duolingo 110; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550; ACT English 21; PTE 54; AP Language and Composition 4; AP Literature and Composition 4; and IB English A Higher Level 6. A GaoKao route is available for Chinese applicants: an overall score in the middle of Tier 2 or better, English of 125/150 (100/120 for Jiangsu), plus an interview with SLU faculty.
Waivers are possible if you completed a college-level English course (not an ESL course) at an accredited U.S. college or university, completed your entire high school curriculum in English, or hold citizenship of an English-speaking country on the university’s list. After enrollment, virtually all international students take the Saint Louis University Writing Examination (SLUWE); a score of 4 satisfies the requirement, while lower scores lead to recommended ESL courses. Graduate applicants should check their program, since graduate minimums may be higher.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
The official 2026-27 undergraduate cost of attendance for Saint Louis University(accessed August 6, 2026) lists tuition of $58,960 per year (fall and spring), fees of $1,000, billable housing of $16,360 for on-campus residents, books and supplies of $1,290, transportation of $3,220, and miscellaneous costs of $2,880. Total cost of attendance is $83,710 for students living on campus or off campus, and $75,530 for those living with parents. Full-time tuition is $28,480 per term; full-time means 12 or more credit hours, and anything above 18 credits is charged at the standard per-credit rate. The 2025-26 tuition was $56,960, and the university notes rates are subject to change.
Itemized fees include a university fee of $435 per semester for full-time students, a $65 per semester undergraduate student activity fee, a one-time $200 orientation and fall welcome fee, and a mandatory $150 international orientation fee for new international students. The university’s FAQ estimates $70,000 USD per year for tuition and living expenses for undergraduate international students. Graduate tuition is published on individual program pages rather than in a single price list.
Financial aid is available to international students at the St. Louis campus. Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships with their application; the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship require separate applications and are open to first-time freshmen, and several scholarships exist for transfer students. In 2025, 99.6% of first-time freshmen received some form of financial aid.
Application Deadlines and Process
Saint Louis Universityoffers four application paths for first-time freshmen: Early Decision I (binding, November 1 deadline, decisions begin December 1); Early Action (non-binding, December 1 deadline, decisions by February 1); Early Decision II (binding, January 16); and Regular Decision (preferred by April 1, with applications still accepted and scholarships awarded while space remains). For Regular Decision, applicants with complete files by March 16 hear back by April 15; later submissions receive a decision within 30 days of a complete file.
After admission, the sequence is: submit financial documents and passport information to receive the I-20 form, use the I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa, then arrange housing, register for classes and attend orientation. First-time freshmen are required to live on campus for their first four consecutive semesters; transfer students may live off campus from their junior year.
Support Services and Arrival
Saint Louis Universityarranges airport pick-up before the fall, spring and summer semesters through its Office of International Services. International orientation is mandatory and the $150 fee covers airport transportation, shopping shuttles, social activities and meals. The English Language Center provides one-on-one writing consultations and group workshops for non-native speakers — covering TOEFL and SLUWE strategies, essay organization and presentation skills — from the second week of each semester through the end of classes. Students who need more structured language preparation can complete INTO SLU’s Academic English program before entering their degree program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply without a TOEFL or IELTS score? Saint Louis Universitystates that applicants who do not meet direct-entry requirements are encouraged to apply to the English language programs offered by INTO SLU and enter a degree program after completion. Do first-year students have to live on campus? Yes — first-time freshmen must live on campus for their first four consecutive semesters, while transfer students may move off campus after their junior year. Do scholarships need a separate application? Merit scholarships are considered automatically with your admission application; the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidential scholarships require separate applications. What does graduate tuition cost? The university does not publish a single graduate price list; tuition appears on each program’s page.
If you are planning your specific route from your home country’s qualifications to Saint Louis University, talk to our advisers about your situation so every step can be checked against the latest official information.