Saint Louis University
#2 Best Nursing Colleges in MissouriBottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Nursing Colleges in Missouri.
Every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,603,787.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 74% more than the national college median.
A 80% graduation rate — 39% above the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $17.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
Why Saint Louis University Matters
Saint Louis University is a private research university in Saint Louis, MO ranked #251-300 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 7,267
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering
Why students choose Saint Louis University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 75% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1200–1410. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,398 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $70,783 ten years after enrolling — 74% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 58% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.64 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Saint Louis University has an enrollment of 7,267 students, creating a vibrant community that often feels like a close-knit family. This university appeals particularly to those interested in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering, and Psychology. With a 75% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse array of students, making it a fitting choice for those looking for a supportive environment to pursue their studies.
Graduates from Saint Louis University see strong earning potential, with an average salary of $70,783 ten years after completing their degree. This financial outcome suggests that students who invest their time and resources here often find themselves moving up in their careers. The affordability of education is also a crucial factor, as students face a net price of $24,398 after aid, making it a manageable option for many.
When it comes to financing their education, students graduate with a median debt of $25,000. This level of debt is relatively reasonable compared to potential earnings. Those who tend to thrive at Saint Louis University are often proactive, engage with the community, and take advantage of the resources available to them. This proactive approach, combined with a supportive campus culture, contributes to the university's positive outcomes for graduates.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Saint Louis University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Louis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Saint Louis University, located in Saint Louis, Missouri, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 75% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,317. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 80%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Louis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Saint Louis University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $55,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $24,398 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,501 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Saint Louis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Louis University earn a median of $70,783 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Saint Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Saint Louis University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Saint Louis University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,398/year ($97,592 total). Graduates earn $70,783 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,701,379 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,603,787 (17.4× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 80% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Saint Louis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saint Louis University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.33%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Saint Louis University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 49 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 11/100 research score.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Saint Louis University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Saint Louis University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Louis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Saint Louis University, located in Saint Louis, Missouri, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 75% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,317. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 80%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Louis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Saint Louis University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $55,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $24,398 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,501 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,000.
Is Saint Louis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Louis University earn a median of $70,783 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Does Saint Louis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Saint Louis University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.33%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Saint Louis University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Saint Louis University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Saint Louis University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations +
On the global stage, Times Higher Education places Saint Louis University at #251-300 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 11/100, teaching at 37/100, and citation impact of 85/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saint Louis University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Saint Louis University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Saint Louis University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.64 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note