Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Louis University #495 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,024, placing Saint Louis University in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Saint Louis University sits in the 87.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates outperforming similar students at comparable institutions. Students at Saint Louis University achieve stronger financial outcomes than peers at many comparable institutions, reflecting the university's concentration in health sciences and other high-demand fields. Median earnings and earnings beyond expectations both rank well within the Azimuth coverage set, making Saint Louis University a compelling option for students weighing long-term return on investment.
Azimuth ranks Saint Louis University #495 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University enrolls roughly 7,267 undergraduates. Retention stands at 87.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 79.5%, reflecting a strong record of converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Saint Louis University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Saint Louis University #139 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $77,024, and earn about $11,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Louis University in the 87.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's dominant concentration in Health — a field with strong and stable labor-market demand — contributes meaningfully to this return profile. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. Saint Louis University admits about 75.0% of applicants, a selectivity level that shapes both the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students enrolled — 16.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.4% are first-generation college students. The university sits in the 34.3 percentile for access and the 28.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 53.6 percentile — a composite profile anchored by strong graduate earnings rather than broad enrollment reach.
Saint Louis University's published cost of attendance is $71,932. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,501, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,854, middle-income families pay about $21,880, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $21,702, and higher-income families pay around $27,466. Azimuth ranks Saint Louis University #1026 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Saint Louis University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The university meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students according to its published aid policies. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $34,177; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,024, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Louis University is a strong fit for students drawn to health sciences, nursing, and applied professional fields who want a private research university experience in Saint Louis, MO, with a program mix anchored in Health and related disciplines. Graduates earn about $11,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Louis University in the 87.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $77,024, placing Saint Louis University in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Saint Louis University enrolls 16.9% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 22.4% first-generation students, and Saint Louis University sits in the 98.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — indicating that access-oriented students who enroll and persist tend to reach solid long-term earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and professionally oriented fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking broad liberal-arts or engineering depth may find the mix narrower than at larger research universities. Families should also weigh net price against median debt of $25,000, as the private-institution cost structure means higher-income families pay roughly $27,466 annually before aid is factored in.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Saint Louis University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Saint Louis University's published cost of attendance is $71,932. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,501, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,854, middle-income families pay about $21,880, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $21,702, and higher-income families pay around $27,466.
Azimuth ranks Saint Louis University #1026 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Saint Louis University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The university meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students according to its published aid policies.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $34,177; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,024, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Saint Louis University earn median 4-year earnings of $77,024, placing Saint Louis University in the 80.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $11,033 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Louis University in the 87.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Louis University #139 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to MO's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,959 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. The earnings pattern at Saint Louis University is anchored by its Health concentration, which drives strong outcomes across the institution's highest-return programs.
Nursing stands out as a key program combining substantial cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — a combination that shapes the institution's overall return profile. The Nursing program graduates 189 students with median earnings of $81,525 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #265 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Kinesiology and Biology, General follow with median four-year earnings of $77,066 and $65,517, respectively, with Azimuth ranking Kinesiology #11 and Biology, General #38 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program mix skews toward Business (17% of graduates), Engineering (9%), and Social Sciences (5%), a concentration that supports the institution's above-average earnings profile across multiple fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wentworth Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#15229 ranked) | MA | 91% | $82,721 | #15229 | Compare |
Azusa Pacific University Similar quality tier (#15227 ranked) | CA | 88% | $66,677 | #15227 | Compare |
Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#15207 ranked) | CT | 16% | $73,897 | #15207 | Compare |
Fordham University Similar quality tier (#15256 ranked) | NY | 59% | $85,569 | #15256 | Compare |
Syracuse University Similar quality tier (#15259 ranked) | NY | 46% | $79,164 | #15259 | Compare |
Mechanical Engineering
27 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
73 graduates
International Business
30 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
15 graduates
Computer Science
35 graduates
Saint Louis University's program mix is anchored in health, business, and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a Jesuit research university in a major Midwestern medical hub. Health professions represent 17% of degree output, making Business the institution's dominant concentration, followed by Engineering at 9% and Social Sciences at 5%.
Across 59 programs serving roughly 1,646 graduates annually, 30 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing anchors the institution's strongest aggregate return, combining meaningful cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings — making it a key economic driver within Saint Louis University's degree portfolio.
Among the most-enrolled programs, Nursing program graduates 189 students with median earnings of $81,525 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #265 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Kinesiology and Biology, General follow in scale, with graduates earning $77,066 and $65,517, respectively, four years after enrollment — reflecting the strong labor-market demand for health and applied professional graduates in the Saint Louis region and nationally.
The highest-earning programs at Saint Louis University cluster in clinical and applied health fields. Finance leads with median earnings of $93,647 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #59 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biomedical/Medical Engineering and Nursing also post strong early-career figures of $86,844 and $81,525, respectively — fields where graduates typically enter the workforce directly into licensed, in-demand roles. Several health-adjacent programs are grad-school-dependent pathways, where four-year earnings undercount the longer-term trajectory of graduates who continue to medical, pharmacy, or graduate study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Saint Louis University's health-heavy program mix aligns with national labor-market demand.
