Saint Louis University World Ranking

Saint Louis University (SLU) stands as a prominent private Jesuit institution in the United States. In the 2025 QS world rankings, SLU is globally positioned within the 951–1000 range, reflecting its growing academic stature. Similarly, the 2025 THE rankings place SLU between 401 and 500 globally, with notable rankings in specific subjects.

Additionally, US news has ranked SLU #105 among national universities, highlighting its strong national presence. The university's commitment to affordability is evident, as it has been recognized as a "Best Value School" by U.S. News & World Report. 

SLU's emphasis on global engagement is also highlighted by its ranking among the top 25 U.S. universities for study abroad participation. These achievements reflect SLU's dedication to academic excellence, affordability, and global engagement, making it a noteworthy choice for prospective students.

Saint Louis University World Rankings 2024-25

Saint Louis University consistently earns recognition for its strong academic programs, impactful research, and a distinguished alumni network of over 100,000.

The university maintains its prominent position worldwide, ranking among the top 25 U.S. universities for study abroad programs. It also consistently ranks under 500 in US News and THE rankings, further cementing its reputation for excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

Here’s a look at SLU’s rankings over the past few years:

Here’s a graphical representation of Saint Louis University's rankings trends:

Saint Louis University ranking has seen varied trends over recent years, reflecting both its growing influence and the competitive nature of higher education.

In the 2025 QS rankings, SLU remains in the 951-1000 range, a slight dip from its 901-950 ranking in 2024 and 601-650 ranking in 2023. Similarly, the THE rankings show SLU holding steady in the 401-500 range in both 2024 and 2025, a shift from the 301-350 range in 2023. 

This slight decline may reflect academic trends, but SLU's continued presence in this range highlights its enduring reputation in teaching, research, and international outlook.

Additionally, the U.S. News rankings consistently place SLU at #105 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This stability speaks to SLU's strong national standing and consistent performance in academic quality, particularly in key fields like health sciences, law, and business.

Overall, SLU’s trajectory in rankings suggests a slight decline in global visibility but maintains solid national recognition. 

Rankings offer valuable insights, but they only paint part of the picture. Explore how SLU’s global reputation can open doors for your career. Schedule a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad's experts to discover specialized courses, opportunities, and pathways that align with your aspirations!

After reviewing the top rankings of Saint Louis University, let’s explore SLU’s subject-wise rankings!

Subject-wise Rankings of Saint Louis University

Subject-wise rankings assess academic quality and program reputation, guiding students in making informed decisions about college and programs. 

SLU’s popular subjects, such as medicine (#401-450) and life sciences (#501-550), have consistently been ranked among the top 500 according to QS rankings.

Below is a detailed overview of Saint Louis University ranking for popular subjects from three of the most prominent ranking bodies: QS, U.S. News, and THE.

QS Subject-Wise Rankings 2025

SLU excels across a broad range of disciplines in the QS rankings by Subject, often securing satisfactory positions in fields like medicine (#401-450) and life sciences (#501-550).

These rankings are based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research citations per paper. Here’s some top programs' position according to QS rankings:

Note: Rankings can vary based on specific programs or departments within the university.

Times Higher Education (THE) Subject-Wise Rankings 2025

The THE rankings by subject reflect Saint Louis’s dominance across numerous disciplines, especially in Law (#201-250) and Psychology (#301-400), where it holds a position under the top 400.

These criteria are based on indicators such as teaching, research, citations, and industry income. Here’s some top programs' position according to THE rankings:

Note: Rankings can vary based on specific programs or departments within the university.

U.S. News Subject-Wise Rankings 2025

In the U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings, Saint Louis’s impressive rankings are evident in its business programs, such as International Business and Entrepreneurship (#12).

These rankings are based on factors such as graduation rates, student debt, and student-faculty ratio. Here are some top programs' positions according to US news rankings:

Note: Rankings can vary based on specific programs or departments within the university.

These rankings reflect SLU’s comprehensive academic excellence, with the university leading many high-demand fields.

Now, let’s take a look at how Saint Louis University performs in other diversified rankings.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

Saint Louis University ranking has achieved notable standings in various specialized fields for 2025, reflecting its strengths across multiple disciplines. 

These rankings, derived from reputable sources, highlight SLU's commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement.​

Here are some of the miscellaneous positions of SLU in different areas:

SLU continues to excel in multiple rankings for 2025, reflecting its strong academic reputation and commitment to providing high-quality education.

In Niche Rankings, SLU is #2 in the St. Louis area for academic quality and student satisfaction. Additionally, it ranks #6 for Best Value Colleges in the region, showcasing its affordable education options.

Globally, SLU holds #446 in the Citation Index, placing it among the top 50% of universities worldwide. With over 43,000 publications and 1.4 million citations, the university has made significant contributions to the global research community.

College Factual ranks SLU in the top 20% across 31 majors, with standout performance in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies at #26 out of 502. These rankings underscore SLU's broad academic strength, affordability, and global research impact.

Discover comprehensive application details, deadlines, and expert tips on our Saint Louis University Admissions Page to headstart your path at one of the leading institutions in the U.S.

Now, let’s explore the academic and extracurricular achievements of Saint Louis's students.

Saint Louis University: Excellence and Achievements

Saint Louis University combines academic excellence with a lively community, support, and cultural innovation, providing a well-rounded educational experience. 

The university is notably recognized for its subject-specific excellence and strength in community programs, such as the 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program. Through a combination of art and cultural initiatives like Atlas Week, SLU nurtures a creative environment where students can explore and contribute to global cultural conversations.

Below is an overview of SLU’s recognitions across key areas:

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

Saint Louis University consistently ranks among the top national universities, excelling in research output and academic programs, especially in health sciences and business. It's also recognized globally for its impactful research, with over 43,000 publications and 1.4 million citations.

Here are the major recognitions:

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

SLU provides a holistic student experience, blending academic success with strong community engagement. Its service programs, like the 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program, focus on developing students' leadership and social responsibility.

Here are some of  SLU’s community development initiatives:

Cultural and Creative Excellence

SLU stands out for its high-spirited cultural life, with initiatives like Atlas Week and the Cross-Cultural Center for Global Citizenship. These programs emphasize global citizenship and sustainability, enriching students beyond the classroom.

Some notable creative initiatives include:

Now that you’ve explored Saint Louis University ranking and achievements in academics, culture, and community development, let’s understand the relationship between ranking and acceptance rates.

Saint Louis University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

SLU has seen an uptick in its acceptance rate, rising from an average of 66.11% over the past decade to 81% in the latest year, indicating slightly easier admissions compared to previous years. 

However, the enrollment yield dropped to 14.17% in 2024-2025, down from the 10-year average of 17.70%, suggesting fewer admitted students are choosing to enrol.

This highlights SLU's evolving admissions scene with rankings, which is marked by higher acceptance but more competitive choices for students.

Below is a table showcasing the ranking and acceptance rates for the top programs:

Note: All the programs of SLU have the same acceptance rate.

This indicates SLU's position as a reputable institution with a balanced approach to admissions, offering opportunities for a distinct range of students.

Now, let’s check out the methodologies used for Saint Louis University ranking.

Ranking Methodologies

QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report are the leading university ranking systems that have become benchmarks for assessing university performance. 

Each ranking focuses on aspects such as academic reputation, research quality, and global outlook to gauge the performance of universities.

Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used for ranking universities.

QS World University Rankings

The QS world ranking emphasizes employer reputation and academic outcomes, obtained from surveys of thousands of educational experts and employers worldwide. It also gives importance to faculty research and international student admissions.

Here are the criteria used in QS World University Rankings.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings focus on research influence, teaching reputation, and staff-to-student ratio. It also emphasizes international diversity and industry income, assessing how well universities collaborate with industries and global academic networks.

Here are the criteria used by THE rankings.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

This indicator uses unique criteria like first-year retention rates, graduation rates, and student-faculty ratio. Other criteria, such as borrower debt and financial resources, measure how well universities support low-income students. 

Here are the criteria used in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings

The above rankings reflect how well a university is positioned to offer quality education and outcomes to students, using indicators like employability and industry applications.

Conclusion

Saint Louis University remains one of the top choices for students, with an 81% acceptance rate that reflects a competitive yet accessible admissions process. Ranked #105 nationally by U.S. News & World Report and 401–500 globally by Times Higher Education, SLU is solidifying its academic reputation.

With a notable 18.41% increase in applicants, SLU’s growing appeal is clear. However, the 14.17% enrollment yield indicates that while students get in, they carefully weigh their options before making a commitment.

SLU’s blend of strong academics, expanding research impact, and rising demand makes it a compelling choice for students seeking a high-quality, well-rounded education. For those looking for a university that balances excellence with accessibility, SLU can be one of the prominent options in higher education.