Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River and one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the United States. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In the 2025–2026 academic year, SLU had an enrollment of 17,059 students, making SLU the fifth largest Catholic university in terms of enrollment in the United States. The student body included 8,502 undergraduate students and 6,702 graduate students that represent all 50 states and 96 countries. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Spending and Doctorate Production".