There’s no application fee, and you can use SLU’s own application, the Common App or the Coalition/Scoir app. Most students apply Early Action by Dec. 1 (non-binding). If SLU is your clear first choice, Early Decision I (Nov. 2) and Early Decision II (Jan. 19) are binding options. Either way, your merit scholarship shows up with your admission decision, so there’s no separate scholarship form for the big automatic awards.
🏆 Full tuition available (Presidential Scholarship & SLU Tuition Promise)
Average Net Price
$27,749/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$31,000–$39,000/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
28 opportunities
8 automatic · 4 competitive · 16 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 1 • FAFSA: Feb 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Presidential Scholarship & SLU Tuition Promise
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Saint Louis University (Read This First)
SLU’s merit chart is per semester, not per year. When you see “up to $19,500” for the Vice Presidents’ Scholarship, that’s every semester. Over a full year it’s up to $39,000. A lot of families read it as half of what it really is.
Test scores are truly optional, even for money, but there’s no superscoring. If you do send scores, SLU looks at each test sitting on its own. Scores that arrive after admission can still bump up a merit award if they’re in by Feb. 1.
Dec. 1 is the date that matters. It’s the priority date for automatic merit, the Presidential Scholarship, the Honors Program and the Scholars programs. Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Flight Science also stop accepting applications for those majors after Dec. 1.
The Presidential Scholarship replaces, it doesn’t stack. If your student wins full tuition, it takes the place of their automatic merit award. Housing and meals are still on you.
The SLU Tuition Promise has fine print. It covers full tuition for families with parent income of $60,000 or less, but your student has to live on campus, file the FAFSA by Feb. 1 every year, and deposit by May 1. It’s also awarded while funds last.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Saint Louis University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 27; SAT: 1260.
Average net price? About $27,749/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Saint Louis University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Saint Louis University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,500 to $3,800 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$76,320
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$59,960
Housing & meals (typical)
$16,360
Total billed cost
$76,320
Average federal net price: $27,749 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Saint Louis University
Why does SLU’s official cost of attendance say $83,710?
That number includes everything SLU estimates a student will spend in a year: tuition ($58,960), fees ($1,000), on-campus housing and meals ($16,360), plus books, transportation and personal expenses. What actually shows up on the SLU bill is closer to $76,320. The rest is money you’ll spend, but not money you’ll pay SLU.
Do we pay more if we don’t live in Missouri?
No. SLU is private, so tuition is the same for every undergraduate no matter where you live. That also means there’s no out-of-state waiver or regional exchange to hunt for. The price moves through scholarships and aid instead.
What do families actually pay?
The federal average net price is about $27,749 a year, which is what families paid after grants and scholarships, not counting loans. Here’s a quick sanity check: a student who lands the top automatic tier ($39,000 a year) would see a bill of roughly $37,320 before any need-based aid. A student at the entry tier ($31,000) would be around $45,320.
Is there a way to get tuition covered based on income?
Yes. The SLU Tuition Promise covers full tuition through a mix of all gift aid (SLU, federal and state) for first-time freshmen with combined parent income of $60,000 or less and parent assets of $50,000 or less. Your student needs a 3.0 GPA, has to live on campus, and must file the FAFSA by Feb. 1 each year. It’s awarded based on available funds, so applying early matters.
What if my student needs a fifth year?
This is one of SLU’s quieter perks. Tuition-based scholarships and the Tuition Promise can stretch to 10 fall and spring semesters, which is five years, as long as your student isn’t on academic probation. Housing awards don’t get the extension.
Can we save money by living off campus?
On paper, a little, since SLU’s off-campus estimate swaps billable housing for rent you pay a landlord. But if your student is counting on the Tuition Promise, they have to live on campus to keep it.
Does the price go up every year?
Usually, yes. Tuition went from $56,960 in 2025-26 to $58,960 in 2026-27. SLU’s merit awards are set amounts, so they don’t grow with tuition. Plan for the gap to widen a bit each year.
Sept. 1: Presidential, MLK, Honors and Scholars applications open in the Billiken Gateway portal once your admission application is in.
Dec. 1: Priority date for automatic merit, the Presidential Scholarship, the Honors Program, Scholars programs and the Jesuit Community Scholarship.
Feb. 1: FAFSA priority date (Tuition Promise and need-based aid), MLK Scholarship, Access Academies and Boys Hope Girls Hope, plus the last day for new test scores to raise a merit award.
March 1: Grow Your Own (School of Education) priority date.
May 1: Enrollment deposit, which is also required for the Tuition Promise.
Parent rule of thumb: get the application in by Dec. 1, even if your student is still deciding. After that, SLU still awards merit, but only while the money lasts.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Saint Louis University
SLU’s four big freshman awards (Billiken, Ignatian, University and Vice Presidents’) come automatically with admission. There’s no separate application, and test scores are optional. Apply by Dec. 1 for full consideration. One more thing: SLU prints these amounts per semester, so the yearly value is double what the chart on SLU’s site seems to say.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Vice Presidents' Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$39,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students receive one of the four main freshman merit tiers (Billiken, Ignatian, University or Vice Presidents'). The tiers do not stack with each other, but the Catholic High School or Jesuit High School Award can be added on top.
💡
Strategic Detail
SLU's top automatic tier. SLU's table lists it as up to $19,500 per semester, which works out to up to $39,000 per year. Awarded with admission based on your academic record; test scores are optional. Apply by Dec. 1 for full consideration. Renews for up to 10 semesters with a 2.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students at the very top of the admitted academic pool. This is SLU's highest automatic merit tier, if your student earns a Vice Presidents' Scholarship, they're being recruited hard.
Automatic
University Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$35,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students receive one of the four main freshman merit tiers (Billiken, Ignatian, University or Vice Presidents'). The tiers do not stack with each other, but the Catholic High School or Jesuit High School Award can be added on top.
💡
Strategic Detail
Second automatic tier. Listed by SLU as up to $17,500 per semester, which is up to $35,000 per year. Awarded with admission; test scores are optional. Apply by Dec. 1 for full consideration. Renews for up to 10 semesters with a 2.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong academic students often near the upper end of the admitted freshman pool. Landing the University Scholarship is a clear signal that SLU sees you as a top-tier admit.
Automatic
Ignatian Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$33,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students receive one of the four main freshman merit tiers (Billiken, Ignatian, University or Vice Presidents'). The tiers do not stack with each other, but the Catholic High School or Jesuit High School Award can be added on top.
💡
Strategic Detail
Third automatic tier. Listed by SLU as up to $16,500 per semester, which is up to $33,000 per year. Awarded with admission; test scores are optional. Apply by Dec. 1 for full consideration. Renews for up to 10 semesters with a 2.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen in the mid-to-high academic band. If you're a strong student who applied before Dec 1 and the Ignatian lands in your award letter, that's SLU telling you you're a serious contender.
Automatic
Billiken Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
$31,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students receive one of the four main freshman merit tiers (Billiken, Ignatian, University or Vice Presidents'). The tiers do not stack with each other, but the Catholic High School or Jesuit High School Award can be added on top.
💡
Strategic Detail
Entry automatic tier. Listed by SLU as up to $15,500 per semester, which is up to $31,000 per year. Awarded with admission; test scores are optional. Apply by Dec. 1 for full consideration. Renews for up to 10 semesters with a 2.0 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen who meet SLU's baseline academic criteria. This is the entry-level tier of SLU's automatic merit ladder, still a meaningful award, and renewable for up to 10 semesters.
Automatic
Jesuit High School Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of one SLU merit scholarship, up to but not exceeding the full cost of tuition. Mutually exclusive with the Catholic High School Award, you can only receive one or the other, not both.
💡
Strategic Detail
A stackable $5,000/year loyalty award for Jesuit high school graduates, renewable for up to 10 consecutive semesters with a 2.0 GPA. If your student went to a Jesuit school, this is one of the cleanest automatic stacking awards in the country.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any admitted freshman who graduated from a Jesuit high school. No test scores, no separate application, SLU recognizes the Jesuit educational tradition and rewards it automatically.
Automatic
Catholic High School Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on top of one SLU merit scholarship, up to but not exceeding the full cost of tuition. Mutually exclusive with the Jesuit High School Award, you can only receive one or the other, not both.
💡
Strategic Detail
A stackable $4,000/year bonus for Catholic (non-Jesuit) high school graduates, renewable for up to 10 consecutive semesters as long as you maintain a 2.0 GPA. This is easy money to leave on the table if you don't realize it exists, so make sure SLU knows your high school background.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any admitted freshman who graduated from a Catholic high school (that is not a Jesuit school). No GPA threshold, no test scores, if the school qualifies, the award follows automatically.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Jesuit Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$14,000–$22,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other SLU merit-based scholarships, up to institutional aid limits. Renewable over a maximum of 10 semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
Automatic merit scholarship for transfer students, awarded based on cumulative GPA from prior college coursework. Awards range from $14,000 to $22,000 per year; no ACT/SAT required. Renewable for up to 10 semesters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming transfer students, the award amount scales with your cumulative college GPA. Higher GPA means a higher tier in the $14,000 to $22,000 range. No test scores, no separate application, SLU calculates your scholarship directly from your transcripts.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Community College Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other SLU merit-based scholarships. Renewable over a maximum of 10 semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
Automatic $2,000/year award for transfer students coming from a community college. Stackable with other SLU merit scholarships and renewable for up to 10 semesters. No separate application required.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students who are currently attending or most recently attended a community college. It's automatic, no separate application, no GPA threshold listed. An easy $2,000 per year stacked on top of whatever other aid you qualify for.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: SLU doesn’t publish GPA or score cutoffs for each tier, so the tier your student lands is based on their whole academic record. Students get one of the four main tiers. The Catholic or Jesuit High School Award can sit on top of it.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Saint Louis University)
How much is the Vice Presidents’ Scholarship really worth?
Up to $39,000 a year. SLU’s chart says “up to $19,500,” but that’s per semester. The same math applies down the line: University is up to $35,000, Ignatian up to $33,000 and Billiken up to $31,000 a year.
Do we need ACT or SAT scores to get merit money?
No. SLU considers every applicant for merit whether they send scores or not. If you do send scores, SLU won’t superscore them, so send your composite and all subscores from each test. Scores received after an admission decision can still increase a merit award if they arrive by Feb. 1.
What happens if we apply after Dec. 1?
Your student is still considered, but SLU awards merit only while funds last after that date. In practice, Dec. 1 is the real deadline for the best shot at the higher tiers.
My student went to a Catholic or Jesuit high school. Is there extra money?
Yes, and it’s automatic. Catholic high school grads get up to $4,000 a year, and Jesuit high school grads get up to $5,000 a year, on top of their merit tier. You get one or the other, not both. Both renew for 10 semesters with a 2.0 GPA.
How do these scholarships renew?
Keep a 2.0 GPA and stay full-time. The awards renew for up to 10 consecutive fall and spring semesters, so a fifth year is covered if your student needs it. They don’t apply to summer.
What about transfer students?
Transfers get their own automatic awards: the Jesuit Transfer Scholarship ($14,000 to $22,000 a year, based on college GPA) and a $2,000 Community College Scholarship. Students transferring in with fewer than 24 college credits may also be considered for the freshman tiers.
SLU has two headline competitive awards, and they work very differently. The Presidential Scholarship is full tuition for up to 10 semesters, and it replaces your merit award. The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship is added on top of your merit award. Neither one needs a test score, and both use separate applications in the Billiken Gateway portal.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at SLU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
SLU Parent Translation
Automatic Merit Tiers
N/A
Your student gets one of the four tiers (Billiken through Vice Presidents’).
Catholic / Jesuit HS Award
Yes
Added on top of the merit tier. You get one of the two, never both.
Presidential Scholarship
Replaces
Full tuition takes the place of every other SLU merit award, and the Family Award can’t be combined with it.
MLK Scholarship
Yes, adds on
At least $3,000 more per year on top of the merit tier you already earned.
Tuition Promise
Fills the gap
Combines all gift aid to reach full tuition. If your student wins Presidential, Presidential takes over.
Federal / State Grants
Usually
Filed through the FAFSA. Hit Feb. 1 so your student is in line for every dollar.
Here’s how to think about it at the kitchen table. If your student has a 3.85 GPA and a real leadership story, the Presidential is worth the essay, the résume, the two letters and the campus interview. If your student has a 3.25 or better and has actually pushed for change in their school or community, MLK money comes on top of what they already have. That makes it one of the better essay-for-dollars trades on this page.
Full TuitionApp Required
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Highly competitive scholarship for top incoming freshmen that makes SLU tuition‑free for up to 10 semesters; students still pay for housing and meals.
🏫 3.9+ GPA👥 ~Limited number of awards each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Presidential Scholarship replaces any previously awarded SLU merit scholarship. Presidential Scholars can also apply for up to $1,200 in supplemental funding for an Investigative Learning Experience (research, service project, internship, or other co-curricular venture).
📄
How to Apply
Submit freshman admission application and all materials by Dec 1. Complete the separate Presidential Scholarship application, including a 500-word leadership essay, résumé, and two letters of recommendation, also by Dec 1. Finalists are invited to campus for an interview day.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers full tuition for up to 10 consecutive full-time (up to 18 credit hours) fall and spring semesters. Requires a 3.85 cumulative high school GPA (weighted or unweighted); no ACT/SAT needed. The application requires a 500-word leadership essay, a résumé, and two letters of recommendation, all due Dec 1. Finalists are invited to a campus interview day. Presidential Scholars still pay for housing and meals.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small, highly selective cohort of incoming freshmen who combine a 3.85+ GPA with compelling leadership and service narratives. Test scores are not required, but your application needs to tell a strong story, the essay, résumé, and interview all matter significantly.
App Required
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
The MLK Scholarship is added on top of other SLU merit scholarships. On average, King Scholars receive about $3,000 more per year than their base merit award. Total institutional aid cannot exceed tuition charges.
📄
How to Apply
Submit freshman admission application and all materials by Feb 1. Complete the separate MLK Scholarship application, including a 500-word essay and résumé, also by Feb 1. Finalists are invited to a campus interview day in March.
Selection criteria: Emphasizes leadership as an agent of change, commitment to addressing social injustice, multicultural engagement, and alignment with Dr. King's ideals. Campus interview is a major factor.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Adds at least $3,000 per year on top of the merit scholarship you received at admission; SLU says King Scholars average about $24,000 in total. Requires a 3.25 GPA (weighted or unweighted) at the end of junior year; no ACT or SAT needed. Submit the admission application and the separate MLK application (500-word essay and résume) in the Billiken Gateway portal by Feb. 1. Finalists interview on campus in March. Transfer students with 24 or more credits and a 3.0 GPA can also apply.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.25+ GPA who've been genuine agents of change, not just club members, but people who've led efforts to address social injustice. The essay and March campus interview are the heart of this selection; authentic storytelling matters more than a résumé packed with activities.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit (SLU-Sponsored)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 for SLU admission · 📢 Results: March (NMSC begins offering awards); June (posted to financial aid account) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of SLU-funded National Merit awards each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
SLU-funded National Merit Award of up to $2,000 per year stacks on top of other SLU scholarships, subject to overall institutional scholarship policies.
💡
Strategic Detail
SLU collaborates with NMSC to fund a limited number of National Merit scholarships. The award amount varies, if SLU sponsors the scholarship, the recipient receives up to $2,000 per year in additional aid. Must list SLU as first-choice institution on the NMSC application. Awards are typically posted to financial aid accounts in June of senior year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Finalists who list SLU as their first-choice school and are selected by SLU for sponsorship. Not all Finalists receive SLU-sponsored funding, the number of awards is limited and SLU selects recipients from the NMSC roster each spring.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
John Paul Fechter Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Jun 1 ✓ Renews
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewable over a maximum of 10 semesters provided the student completes 40 hours of community service per semester and remains in good academic standing.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for transfer admission and submit all required materials (including transcripts) by Jun 1. Complete the separate John Paul Fechter Service Scholarship application and submit all required materials by Jun 1.
Selection criteria: Selection based on demonstrated significant community service involvement and academic good standing.
💡
Strategic Detail
$10,000/year renewable scholarship for transfer students who have demonstrated significant dedication to community service. Requires 30 transferable college credit hours, good academic standing, and a separate scholarship application due Jun 1. Renewal requires 40 hours of community service per semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students with at least 30 transferable credit hours and a deep, documented commitment to community service. This is SLU's flagship service award for transfers, competitive, but if community service is the center of your story, this is worth a dedicated application.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When are the competitive scholarship deadlines?
The Presidential Scholarship is due Dec. 1, along with your admission application. The MLK Scholarship is due Feb. 1. Both applications open Sept. 1 in the Billiken Gateway portal after you submit your application for admission.
What’s in the Presidential application?
You’ll need a 500-word leadership essay, a résume and two letters of recommendation. SLU then invites a smaller group to campus to interview. The award covers full tuition for up to 10 consecutive full-time semesters. Presidential Scholars can also apply for up to $1,200 for a research project, service project or internship.
Does the Presidential Scholarship cover housing?
No. It’s full tuition only, so budget roughly $16,000 a year for housing and meals.
How much is the MLK Scholarship worth?
It adds at least $3,000 a year on top of the merit award your student got at admission. SLU says King Scholars average about $24,000 in total aid. The application is a 500-word essay about working through a social injustice, plus a résume. Finalists interview on campus in March.
Does SLU fund National Merit scholarships?
Yes, a limited number. National Merit Finalists have to list SLU as their first choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. If SLU funds the award, it’s $2,000 a year on top of other aid. Not every Finalist gets funded.
Is there a competitive award for transfer students?
Yes. The John Paul Fechter Service Scholarship pays $10,000 a year to transfers with 30 or more credits and a strong service record. It’s due June 1 and renews with 40 service hours each semester.
How can my student prepare?
Start the essays early and get the activity list organized before senior fall. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help with both.
A surprising amount of SLU’s extra money is aimed at students from the St. Louis area. If you live in the region, run through this list before senior fall:
Catholic high school in St. Louis or the Metro East? Ask the counselor about the Jesuit Community Scholarship nomination (one student per school).
Leaning toward teaching, social work, criminal justice or public health? Stay.Teach.Lead., Serve the Lou and Healthier STL are each worth half tuition.
A Girl Scout, Access Academies student or Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar? Each one has its own SLU award.
Everybody, local or not: the SLU Difference Award, the Family Award for siblings and the Tuition Promise apply no matter where you live.
Parent translation: several of these run through your high school, not through SLU, so the counselor’s deadline comes first.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up in SLU’s main merit chart, but some of them are bigger than the merit awards. A few are automatic, a few need a nomination, and a few depend on your major or your zip code.
Full TuitionAutomatic
SLU Tuition Promise
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 (FAFSA) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 5 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Awarded based on available funds winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers full tuition through a combination of all gift aid sources, including federal and state grants. Students must live on campus while enrolled. If a Tuition Promise recipient wins the Presidential Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship takes over.
💡
Strategic Detail
SLU's Tuition Promise covers full undergraduate tuition through combined gift aid (institutional, federal, and state) for qualifying freshmen. Eligibility requires a combined parent AGI of $60,000 or less, parent assets of $50,000 or less, a 3.0 GPA, living on campus, and annual FAFSA filing by Feb 1. Renewable for up to 10 semesters. Students not enrolled at SLU-Madrid are eligible; Madrid-admitted students are not, though Promise recipients can still study abroad.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-time full-time freshmen with a combined parent AGI of $60,000 or less and parent assets of $50,000 or less who maintain a 3.0 GPA, live on campus, and file the FAFSA annually by the Feb 1 priority deadline. This is a need-based program, but the income threshold is higher than many families expect, so it's worth checking even if you think you won't qualify.
Automatic
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri partner process; students must enroll at SLU in the fall term immediately following high school graduation. ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA, 4 yrs)
$30,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This award counts as your SLU merit award, so it does not combine with the Billiken, Ignatian, University or Vice Presidents' tiers. It does combine with the Jesuit High School, Catholic High School, Cristo Rey High School and Jesuit Community awards, plus federal, state and need-based grants. If you become a Presidential or MLK Scholar, that scholarship replaces this one.
💡
Strategic Detail
A minimum $30,000 per year renewable scholarship for current Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri members who enroll at SLU as first-time full-time freshmen or transfer students, starting fall 2026. You are considered automatically when you apply for admission; GSEM verifies membership before the money posts. Renews with at least 24 credit hours per year and a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current GSEM members who meet SLU's admission standards. If your daughter is a Girl Scout in eastern Missouri, this sets a floor of $30,000 a year under her merit award.
Automatic
Healthier STL Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Not published; ask your admission counselor ✓ Renews
$28,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
SLU describes this as a half-tuition scholarship; it has not published how it combines with merit tiers. Confirm with Student Financial Services.
💡
Strategic Detail
Launched in August 2026 by SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice. Eligible students from the St. Louis area pursuing a B.S. in Public Health or Health Management are guaranteed half-tuition scholarships, worth more than $28,000 per year and more than $100,000 over four years. Students who qualify for the accelerated program also get guaranteed scholarship support to finish an MPH or MHA in one extra year. SLU has not published a separate application process.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
St. Louis-area students who already know they want public health or health management. Because it is brand new, many local families have not heard of it yet.
App Required
Serve the Lou (STL) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Program-specific deadlines coordinated with SLU’s School of Social Work and partner schools. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$28,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Partner schools may nominate two graduating seniors each. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides a four-year 50% tuition scholarship valued at more than $28,000 per year; recipients remain eligible for additional need- and merit-based aid subject to institutional caps.
📄
How to Apply
Be nominated by a participating partner school, apply and be admitted to SLU, and complete any required Serve the Lou program application for Social Work or Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Selection criteria: Focuses on commitment to serving and strengthening the St. Louis region through social work or criminal justice careers.
💡
Strategic Detail
Program launched by SLU’s School of Social Work to support local students pursuing community-focused careers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Local students pursuing Social Work or Criminology and Criminal Justice who are committed to serving the St. Louis region and are nominated by partner schools.
App Required
Stay.Teach.Lead. Scholarship Program
📅 Deadline: Program-specific deadlines set in coordination with partner schools and SLU’s School of Education. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$28,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Each partner school or district may nominate two students. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides a half-tuition scholarship typically valued at more than $28,000 per year; recipients remain eligible for additional scholarships above this level subject to institutional caps.
📄
How to Apply
Be nominated by a Stay.Teach.Lead. partner school or district and apply to SLU’s School of Education; complete any required program application materials and enroll as a full-time education major.
Selection criteria: Emphasizes commitment to teaching in local schools and alignment with teacher preparation goals.
💡
Strategic Detail
Half-tuition scholarship program created to strengthen the St. Louis teacher pipeline; each partner school may nominate up to two students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students nominated by local St. Louis area partner schools who plan to become educators and study in SLU’s School of Education.
Automatic
SLU Difference Award
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
$10,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
The SLU Difference Award is supplemental, it sits on top of your regular financial aid package and cannot be used for fall/spring tuition. It's specifically for summer and winter term tuition, including courses at SLU-Madrid. Unused balances can in some cases be applied toward select SLU graduate programs (excluding Law and Medicine).
💡
Strategic Detail
Part of SLU's Billiken Promise, this $10,000 award (above and beyond your financial aid package) is available to all freshmen enrolling fall 2023 or later. Funds cannot be used until your second full academic year and are designated for summer or winter tuition, including SLU-Madrid courses. Consecutive enrollment is required to maintain eligibility. Transfer students receive $6,000.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every first-time full-time freshman who enrolled at SLU's St. Louis campus in fall 2023 or later. This is a universal benefit, think of it as a $10,000 savings account for summer and winter courses that activates in your sophomore year.
App Required
Grow Your Own Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
📄
How to Apply
Apply for freshman admission to the SLU School of Education. Complete the Grow Your Own Scholarship application, including a short essay demonstrating your interest in teaching in the St. Louis region and/or in communities serving traditionally underserved students.
Selection criteria: Based on financial need, essay quality, and demonstrated commitment to teaching in underserved St. Louis communities.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Offered through SLU's School of Education for students who want to become teachers in the St. Louis region. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year and are renewable for up to 8 consecutive semesters in good standing in the School of Education. Requires demonstrated financial need and a short essay. Priority deadline is Mar 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
School of Education admits with demonstrated financial need and a genuine commitment to teaching in St. Louis-area communities, especially those serving traditionally underserved students. The award range is $1,000 to $10,000, with the actual amount likely tied to need and application strength.
App Required
Jesuit Community Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPA👥 ~One award per participating high school winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other SLU merit-based scholarships. Renewal requires 20 hours of annual community service at your alma mater high school in addition to maintaining a 2.0 GPA.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for freshman admission by Dec 1. Submit the FAFSA by Feb 1. Prepare a 500-word essay on what a Catholic education means to you. Submit the essay and complete the scholarship application through your high school counselor by your school's internal deadline.
Selection criteria: School-nominated; selection based on financial need, 2.8+ GPA, essay quality, and demonstrated commitment to Catholic education.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
One nomination per eligible Catholic high school, SLU partners with about 29 Catholic high schools in the greater St. Louis and Metro East area. Requires demonstrated financial need (FAFSA by Feb 1), a 2.8 GPA, and a 500-word essay. Renewal requires a 2.0 GPA and 20 hours of community service annually at your alma mater. The nomination process goes through your high school counselor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One student per participating Catholic high school, the school nominates a single candidate. If you attend one of the ~29 eligible Catholic schools in the St. Louis metro and Metro East area and can make a compelling case, this is a school-specific nomination that dramatically narrows the competition. Check with your counselor early.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Family Award
📅 Deadline: Annual application required; check SLU Financial Aid for current cycle deadline. ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other scholarships or grants. Cannot be combined with full-tuition scholarships (such as the Presidential Scholarship) or tuition remission programs.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Family Award application (available through SLU Financial Aid forms) each academic year. Both siblings must be enrolled full-time as undergraduates at SLU.
Selection criteria: Eligibility based on simultaneous full-time undergraduate enrollment of multiple siblings; no competitive selection.
💡
Strategic Detail
If you have a sibling also enrolled full-time at SLU as an undergraduate, both of you are eligible for $3,000 per year through the Family Award. Each sibling must maintain a 2.0 GPA, and the application must be re-submitted every year. Cannot be combined with the Presidential Scholarship or tuition remission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families with two or more full-time undergraduate siblings enrolled simultaneously at SLU. Each sibling receives the award, so a family with two students at SLU is collecting $6,000 per year across both. It requires an annual re-application, so don't let it lapse.
App Required
Saint Peter Claver Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 2 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.2+ GPA👥 ~Approximately one award per four-year cycle winners/yr
📄
How to Apply
Apply for freshman admission and submit all materials by Dec 1. Submit the FAFSA by Feb 15. Complete the Saint Peter Claver Service Scholarship application through SLU.
Selection criteria: Committee selection based on urban background, community service record, financial need, and 3.2+ GPA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Approximately $5,000 per year for up to four semesters (two years). Requires a 3.2 GPA, demonstrated financial need, and a verifiable community service record from an urban background. Renewable for up to four semesters with a 3.0 GPA and 40 hours of community service per academic year in North St. Louis City and selected surrounding communities. Only one award is expected per four-year cycle, this is among the rarest scholarships SLU offers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: An incoming freshman from an urban background with a strong verified service record and demonstrated financial need. This award is extraordinarily rare, only one recipient is expected every four years. If your student fits this profile, it is worth a dedicated application.
App Required
Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
SLU does not publish stacking rules for this award. Ask the Office of Student Financial Services how it combines with your merit tier.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to SLU and provide verification of participation in a Boys Hope Girls Hope program; complete any SLU scholarship forms related to this partnership.
Selection criteria: Considers academic performance, financial need, and community service in designated communities.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
For Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars with demonstrated financial need. Apply for admission and send transcripts by Feb. 1, submit the Boys Hope Girls Hope application by Feb. 1, and have your Boys Hope Girls Hope coordinator upload a recommendation letter through the Billiken Gateway portal by Feb. 1. SLU does not publish a fixed award amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars with financial need who get all three pieces (admission file, scholarship application and coordinator letter) in by Feb. 1.
App Required
Access Academies Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
SLU does not publish stacking rules for this award. Ask Student Financial Services how it combines with your merit tier.
💡
Strategic Detail
For full-time undergraduates with financial need who graduated from an Access Academies school (Access partners with three middle schools and 26 private high schools in the St. Louis area). Apply for admission and send transcripts by Feb. 1, submit the Access Academies application by Feb. 1, and have your Access Academies contact upload a recommendation letter through the Billiken Gateway portal by Feb. 1. SLU does not publish a fixed amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Access Academies graduates with financial need who hit all three Feb. 1 requirements.
Automatic
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 recommended for SLU merit consideration ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Reflected as part of your overall merit award rather than a separate add-on, so expect it to show up inside your merit total.
💡
Strategic Detail
For incoming students from verified PLTW high schools who completed at least one official PLTW course with a B or higher. Awarded at admission and folded into your overall merit award; SLU does not publish a separate dollar amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
STEM-oriented students from verified PLTW high schools who complete at least one PLTW course with a B or higher.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
A+ Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other SLU merit-based scholarships. Renewable over a maximum of 10 semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
For Missouri transfer students who were A+ eligible in high school and attended an A+ participating community college. Stackable $3,000/year award renewable for up to 10 semesters. No separate application, eligibility is verified through your A+ and community college records.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Missouri transfer students who were designated A+ eligible by their high school and attended an A+ participating community college. This is a Missouri-specific program, if your student earned their A+ designation and went the community college route, SLU honors that with an extra $3,000 per year on top of their other aid.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with other SLU merit-based scholarships. Renewable over a maximum of 10 semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
SLU participates in Phi Theta Kappa's national transfer scholarship program. Requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 60 transferable credit hours or an associate degree, and a letter from your PTK advisor confirming good standing. Stackable $1,000/year award renewable for up to 10 semesters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Phi Theta Kappa members transferring to SLU with a 3.0+ GPA and at least 60 transferable credit hours (or an associate degree). The one unique step is the PTK advisor confirmation letter, get that lined up early so it doesn't hold up your application.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Jun 1 · 📢 Results: Jun 15 Non-Renewable
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA👥 ~Two awards per year winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Scholarship Suite (available to current SLU students). Application deadline is June 1; recipients are notified by June 15.
Selection criteria: Committee selection based on service history, financial need, 2.5+ GPA, 30+ earned SLU credits, and faculty/staff recommendation.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Two $10,000 scholarships are awarded annually to current SLU students who are committed to serving underrepresented populations. Requires 30+ earned SLU credit hours, a 2.5 GPA, demonstrated financial need, a service history with underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, and a faculty or staff recommendation. St. Louis metro preference. Applications are submitted through Scholarship Suite; the award is not automatically renewed but recipients may reapply each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current SLU students, not freshmen, with 30+ earned SLU credit hours, a 2.5 GPA, a real history of service to underrepresented racial or ethnic communities, and demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students from the greater St. Louis metro area. Two students receive this award per year.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the SLU Difference Award?
It works like a $10,000 savings account (or $6,000 for transfers) on top of your aid package. Your student can use it for summer or winter classes starting in their second year, online, in St. Louis or at SLU-Madrid. Any leftover can sometimes go toward a SLU graduate program, though not Law or Medicine.
We’ll have two kids at SLU at the same time. Is there a break?
Yes. Each full-time undergraduate sibling gets $3,000 a year through the Family Award. You have to fill out the application every year, and it can’t be combined with the Presidential Scholarship.
How do the half-tuition programs work?
Stay.Teach.Lead. (education) and Serve the Lou (social work, criminology and criminal justice) work through nominations, with each partner school sending up to two students. Healthier STL (public health and health management) is brand new as of August 2026 and promises half tuition to eligible St. Louis-area students. SLU hasn’t posted an application process for it yet, so ask your admission counselor directly.
My daughter is a Girl Scout. What does she get?
Current Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri members get a minimum of $30,000 a year starting with fall 2026. It counts as her merit award rather than adding to it, but it can be combined with the Catholic or Jesuit high school awards and with need-based grants.
We’re from Missouri and my student is starting at community college. Anything for us?
Yes. Missouri A+ students who transfer from an A+ community college get $3,000 a year. That stacks with the $2,000 Community College Scholarship, the Jesuit Transfer Scholarship and, for Phi Theta Kappa members with 60 credits, another $1,000 a year.
Are there nursing-specific scholarships?
Yes, but they’re for current students. The Valentine School of Nursing awards more than $1 million a year through an application each spring, and many of the awards are need-based, so filing the FAFSA matters.
University Honors Program at Saint Louis University
SLU runs a University Honors Program, not a separate honors college, and students from any major can join. It’s a separate application. Your student doesn’t get in just by being admitted to SLU.
Size: About 450 students across 52 majors
Typical profile: The average ACT among honors students is 32, but test scores aren’t required to apply
Application opens: Sept. 1 in the Billiken Gateway portal, after the admission application is in
Deadline: Dec. 1
Essay prompt: “Although I am _____, I am not _____.” (500 words max)
Honors Program Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Straight talk: SLU’s Honors Program doesn’t come with its own scholarship. The perks are academic: smaller seminar-style classes, a second advisor just for honors, registering one business day ahead of everyone else, and an optional honors living community for first- and second-year students. The money at SLU lives in the merit tiers and the Presidential Scholarship, and your student can go after both alongside Honors.
Also on the Dec. 1 list: SLU’s Scholars Programs
Medical Scholars: A pathway for students aiming at medical school.
Law Scholars, Physician Assistant Scholars, Nutrition and Dietetics Scholars: Early pathways into SLU’s professional programs.
Engineering Scholars and Business Scholars: Program-specific tracks with their own applications.
SLU’s pages don’t agree on these deadlines. The key-dates list says Dec. 1, and another page says Jan. 5. Treat Dec. 1 as your deadline.
Honors Program FAQs (Saint Louis University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. It’s a separate application with an essay, and SLU looks for strong grades in hard classes, a clear reason for wanting honors, leadership and real involvement.
Does Honors guarantee a scholarship?
No. There’s no honors-specific scholarship. Your student’s merit award comes from the regular admission review.
Can my student apply to Honors and the Presidential Scholarship?
Yes. Both applications sit in the Billiken Gateway portal, and both are due Dec. 1.
What if my student misses it as a freshman?
Current SLU students can apply in their second semester with a 3.5 GPA and fewer than 45 credits. The deadline is Feb. 15 for the following fall.
Should we pick Early Decision if Honors is the deciding factor?
SLU says no. If your choice depends on getting into Honors or a Scholars program, apply Early Action or Regular Decision instead of the binding Early Decision.
SLU is a Jesuit research university that’s been in St. Louis since 1818. If you had to describe it in one line, it’s a health-sciences powerhouse with a strong business school next door. A big share of students come for nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy or a pre-med track, and many of those programs let students start in the major as freshmen instead of competing to get in later.
Nationally Known Program: Chaifetz School of Business: SLU’s undergraduate international business and entrepreneurship programs are each ranked No. 15 in the country by U.S. News (2027 edition), and two other Chaifetz specialties also made the top 50. SLU’s Madrid campus helps here, since students can spend a term in Spain and keep their scholarships.
Nursing: The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing posted SLU’s biggest jump in this year’s rankings. Admission into the major is competitive and closes Dec. 1, with a 3.2 minimum GPA.
Physical and Occupational Therapy: These are direct-entry programs for freshmen with a Dec. 1 deadline. Recent admits averaged a 29 ACT among those who sent scores.
Pre-Med and Health Sciences: The Medical Scholars program gives a pathway to SLU’s School of Medicine, which U.S. News rates Tier 1 for primary care.
Aviation and Engineering: Flight Science and Aviation Management have their own Dec. 1 deadline if your student wants to start flight training in the first semester.
Public Health: SLU has the only accredited college of public health among Catholic universities in the country, and the new Healthier STL Scholarship covers half tuition for eligible local students.
🔗 Official Saint Louis University Links
Use SLU’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules and costs before you make any decisions. When something here and something there disagree, go with SLU.
SLU is a school where the sticker price scares people off before they ever see the real number. Yes, it’s about $76,000 a year on the bill. But almost every freshman gets automatic merit worth $31,000 to $39,000 a year, and that’s before you look at the Catholic and Jesuit high school awards, the Tuition Promise for families earning $60,000 or less, or the half-tuition programs for local students heading into teaching, social work or public health.
If your student is aiming at nursing, PT, OT, pre-med or business, SLU is worth a serious look. The playbook is simple: apply by Dec. 1, read the merit chart as per semester, file the FAFSA by Feb. 1, and if you’re from the St. Louis area, talk to your high school counselor about the nomination-based awards early. Then run SLU’s net price calculator and compare the result to your other offers side by side.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
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Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent and a parent who worked through the college money maze with his own daughter. He builds these guides so families can see the real numbers, with no paywall and no sales pitch. More about Leo →
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