Saint Louis University Invests Up to $1.5 Million Annually in Future Public Health Leaders
St. Louis (August 25, 2026) - Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice has launched the Healthier STL Scholarship, a new initiative designed to prepare the next generation of public health and health management professionals committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the St. Louis region.
Through the program, eligible students from the St. Louis area pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health or Health Management will receive half-tuition scholarships. The scholarships provide more than $100,000 in tuition support over four years and represent an annual University commitment of up to $1.5 million.
Healthier STL scholars will prepare for careers addressing some of the most consequential challenges facing communities today, from improving access to health care and reducing health disparities to strengthening health systems and developing programs and policies that help people live healthier lives.
“Public health is ultimately about creating the conditions that allow people and communities to thrive,” said Leslie McClure, Ph.D., dean of SLU’s College for Public Health and Social Justice. “That requires talented people who are prepared to tackle complex health challenges and who understand the important connection between health and social justice.”
Eligible students who qualify for one of the College’s accelerated programs will also be guaranteed scholarship support to complete a Master of Public Health or Master of Health Administration in one additional year.
Healthier STL builds on similar recent scholarship initiatives in SLU’s School of Education and School of Social Work that expand access for local students preparing for careers in teaching, social work, criminology and criminal justice. Together, the three new scholarship programs represent an annual University commitment of up to $4.4 million.
“These scholarships reflect an intentional investment in students from St. Louis who want to pursue a Jesuit education grounded in care for others and a commitment to service — and to put that education to work in their communities,” said Jean Marie Cox, SLU’s interim vice president for enrollment management. “By making a SLU education more accessible, we are not only investing in these students and their futures, but also in the St. Louis region and the communities they will serve.”
For more information about the Healthier STL Scholarship and other scholarships at SLU, visit the University's financial aid website at slu.edu/financial-aid.
About the College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice focuses on the social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities through a social justice lens. It is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and a focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.