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Saint Louis University's Rankings and Honors

Saint Louis University is ranked among the top Jesuit universities in the country. In addition to being recognized for world-class faculty and academic programs, we’ve also received honors for our efforts to serve others and our commitment to making an extraordinary education attainable.

Cook school exterior with water in foreground
National groups also make note of our beautiful campus, recognizing SLU for its historic buildings, parklike spaces and commitment to sustainability.
No.52

in best value schools (U.S. News & World Report)

Top-25

university for study abroad participation (Institute of International Education)

No.6

in Catholic colleges (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education)

No.39

among most-trusted U.S. universities (Morning Consult)

Recent Recognition for SLU

View the latest accolades for Saint Louis University from U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education and others.

A Best Value

A college education is a significant investment. So it’s especially rewarding when the experts recognize SLU’s efforts to keep tuition affordable and to ensure that all students can achieve a Saint Louis University education.

U.S. News & World Report "Best Value"

Saint Louis University is among U.S. News & World Report's list of 2024 "Best Value Schools." The University has received U.S. News' best-value designation for seven consecutive years. The rankings considered a school's academic quality compared to cost of attendance. U.S. News determines best value by comparing a school’s academic quality and its net cost of attendance. At SLU, 90% of all students receive financial assistance, and the University offers scholarship programs recognizing academic merit, financial need and diversity, among other areas.

Princeton Review "Best Value Colleges"

SLU was named to Princeton Review's 2022 "Best Value Colleges" list, which recognizes schools that combine strong academics, affordability and strong career prospects for graduates.

Kiplinger's "Best Values in Private Colleges"

SLU ranks No. 133 on Kiplinger's list of the 200 top values in American private universities. Rankings considered cost and financial aid, student indebtedness, competitiveness, graduation rates and academic support.

Barron's "Best Buys in College Education"

SLU was named one of approximately 220 U.S. colleges and universities that provides a "first­-class education at affordable prices." In the publication, Barron's 11th edition calls SLU an "urban research university that refuses to act like one, caring for each individual as a total person and drawing its undergraduates into the life of the surrounding community."

Trusted Institution

"Most Trusted Brands" Report

Trust is a core value at Saint Louis University, central to the University's mission as a leading Jesuit research institution. SLU ranks No. 39 among the most-trusted universities in the U.S., according to a 2022 Most Trusted Brands report by Morning Consult, a global decision intelligence company.

The Most Trusted Brands report also rated trust in universities among underrepresented groups. Among Hispanic adults, SLU was the No. 5 most-trusted university.

Academic Excellence

Across the nation and around the world, Saint Louis University is routinely recognized for rigorous scholarship and research in a variety of disciplines.

U.S. News & World Report

Twelve academic programs at SLU are currently ranked in the top 50. Rankings are for graduate programs unless otherwise noted.

*Reflects 2022-2023 ranking. The 2023-2024 Best Medical Schools and Best Law Schools rankings will be released at a later date.

**Indicates most recent ranking. U.S. News does not rank all graduate programs every year. Some disciplines are ranked on four or six-year cycles.

Wall Street Journal /Times Higher Education

Saint Louis University is ranked the No. 6 Catholic university in the U.S. in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2021 college rankings. In the overall rankings, SLU was ranked No. 114 among nearly 800 U.S. colleges and universities ranked this year.

Forbes: "America's Top Colleges" 2022

Among the factors Forbes considers for their annual top colleges list are high alumni salaries and low student debt; proven leadership and entrepreneurial success; and high graduation and retention rates.

Princeton Review

SLU's excellence is noted in Best 388 Colleges: 2023 Edition. The organization's rankings are based on surveys of more than 160,000 students at all 388 institutions.

Princeton Review ranks SLU in the top-50 schools for undergraduate entrepreneurship studies. This ranking recognizes colleges and business schools with faculty who are genuinely engaged in entrepreneurism, rich in-class and out-of-class experiential components, and extraordinary financial and networking support for students.

Niche’s "Top-10 Catholic Colleges"

SLU ranks No. 10 on the Niche 2023 "Best Catholic Colleges in America" list. Niche bases its rankings on key statistics and student reviews.

Other top-100 national rankings from Niche are:

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

SLU is one of only 15 Catholic universities to receive a Carnegie Classification of “high” or “very high” research activity.

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2021

This listing of the 320-plus "best and most interesting" schools in the United States, Canada and Great Britain is based on the quality of academic offerings and student responses on a variety of topics.

Global Experience

Institute of International Education Open Doors Report

The 2021 Open Doors Report ranks Saint Louis University among the top-25 doctoral universities for undergraduate participation in study abroad, with nearly 33% of undergraduates participating in study abroad during their time at SLU.

Published by the Institute of International Education and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the annual Open Doors Report recognizes U.S. institutions that lead in educating international scholars and U.S. institutions that lead in sending U.S. students abroad for academic experiences.

Outstanding Community Service and Engagement

Learning outcomes improve when students are curious, interested or passionate — in other words, “engaged.” At SLU, service is integrated into academics, extracurricular activities and nearly all we do, and the nation has taken notice.

Princeton Review

In 2024, Princeton Review named SLU the No. 25 university in the U.S. for community service engagement, and SLU ranks No. 9 on Princeton Review's list of top private colleges for making an impact, reflecting student responses to questions about service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts and on-campus student engagement.

Carnegie Foundation's Community Engagement Classification

This honor recognizes institutions' commitment to engaging with local, national and global communities. Nationwide, only 361 institutions hold the classification, and only 83 received the designation in 2015, when the designations were last announced.

Wellness Resources

Princeton Review "Best Counseling Services"

SLU ranked No. 21 on Princeton Review's 2023 list of colleges and universities with the best counseling services. The rankings are based on students' assessment of the counseling services available on campus. SLU's University Counseling Center offers individual psychotherapy, case management, outreach and prevention, and educational groups.

Military Friendly

U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges for Veterans"

SLU ranked No. 68 on the U.S. News 2021 "Best Colleges for Veterans" list, which recognizes schools that participate in federal initiatives aimed at making a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members.

Campus Honors

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "Green Power Partner"

Saint Louis University ranks No. 12 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "Green Power Partners" colleges and universities, recognized as leaders in spurring innovation and promoting growth in the U.S. renewable energy market.

Princeton Review "Green College"

SLU was named to Princeton Review's 2022 "Guide to Green Colleges," which lists U.S. colleges and universities recognized for strong commitments to sustainable practices and programs.

No.1

health law program (U.S. News & World Report)

No. 9

private school making an impact (Princeton Review)

Top-10

international business graduate program (U.S. News & World Report)

No.10

best Catholic college in America (Niche)