Saint Louis University (SLU) is conveniently located within Baguio’s Central Business District (CBD) along Andres Bonifacio Street. It is strategically located that it is walking distance or a short jeepney ride from major Baguio City landmarks such as the Baguio City Public Market, The Church of the Our Lady of the Atonement or more popularly known as Baguio Cathedral, Session Road and Burnham Park.
Almost all of the local jeepneys terminate at the heart of the CBD. To get to SLU, one may take any jeepney that passes by or ends their route at the CBD. Taking a taxi may be more expensive but is more convenient since passengers are dropped off in front of the university’s main gate.
Saint Louis University is a non-stock and non-profit educational institution founded in 1911 by the Congregation of the Heart of Mary. It started with 10 pupils in a wooden shack. It was in 1915 that the intermediate level was offered, while the secondary began with an all boys batch in 1921. Collegiate level began in 1952 with courses in Liberal Arts and Commerce. In 1963 that Saint Louis University was conferred its University Charter making it the first private university in the northern Philippines.
As of February 2009, SLU has exponentially grown to 54, 392 students and over 2, 000 faculty and staff, with a Laboratory Elementary and High School, and with 7 colleges with their respective Graduate and Post-Graduate programs totaling to almost 100 course half of which are undergraduate courses.
Students may enroll in undergraduate courses such as Accountancy, Business Administration, Education courses, numerous Engineering and Architecture Courses, Human Sciences courses such as Psychology and Mass Communication, IT courses, Natural Sciences courses such a Biology and Pharmacy, Law, Nursing and Medicine. Numerous graduate and post-graduate courses are also offered in the 7 colleges.
Saint Louis University’s envisions itself to be the Light of the North,an excellent missionary and transformative educational institution that is able to tap and enhance human potentials. Being a Catholic institution, education is evangelical work aimed producing human beings who are imbued with the Christian Spirit, competent, creative and involved with their community and society.
On the average, a student can expect to shell out around Php 13,000-15,000 per semester for an average of 24 units. This would vary on the course that a student would be taking since course that would require specialized classes would mean additional cost. However SLU offers scholarships for working students, as well as scholarships from government, non-government and private organizations for deserving students.
SLU has its own general-tertiary level hospital, the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred heart that began in 1977. SLU has a Child and Youth Wellness Center, fondly called Sunflower Children’s Center, that offers assessment and therapy sessions for kids with behavioral problems. Present as well is the SLU Alumni Foundation, Inc. with Louisians as recipients of the most popular project, the scholarship program for the financially-challenged but deserving students. SLU also established research units that focus on improving curriculum, present solutions to economic, environment and community issues.
Saint Louis University is actively involved in Philippine organizations CEAP and PAASCU, and international ones such as Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) and International Association of University Presidents (IAUP). It has also fostered linkages with international universities and organizations such as American Studies Resource Center (Thomas Jefferson Information Center, USA); Catholic University of Lovain (Belgium), Ford Foundation (USA), Jinan University (Guangzhou, China) and others. These lead the way for pursuit of higher education, as well as student and faculty exchange.
