More Than 1,000 New Billikens Arrive at SLU for Fall 2026

More Than 1,000 New Billikens Arrive at SLU for Fall 2026

There were comforters and mini-fridges. Boxes of clothes, desk lamps and family photos. And more than a few cars packed to the roof.

More than 1,000 new Billikens arrived at Saint Louis University on Friday, Aug. 14, as first-year students moved into residence halls and began making the SLU campus their new home. But they didn't have to do it alone.

Waiting for them were members of Oriflamme, SLU's team of student fall orientation leaders. It was hard to miss them. Wearing their familiar orange shirts, they cheered loudly as students and their families pulled into campus garages and parking lots before quickly getting to work unloading cars and hauling bins, boxes and bags into residence halls.

"Move-in is one of the most exciting days of the year at SLU. Our students, staff, and faculty take a lot of pride in welcoming our newest students and their families to this remarkable community," said President Edward Feser, Ph.D. "Our new Billikens have already accomplished a great deal, and I'm excited to see how they'll learn, grow and contribute during their years here. We're grateful they chose SLU, and we're glad to welcome them home."

The welcome won't end when the last box is unpacked. Oriflamme's 180 student leaders serve as mentors and guides for new students during their first weeks at SLU. After helping with move-in, they'll lead their new classmates through Fall Welcome, introducing them to campus traditions, university resources and to one another.

Fall Welcome includes activities designed to help students settle into life at SLU and begin building their campus community before and after classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 19. Events range from New Student Convocation and small-group activities to campus favorites, including PaintSLU and the SLU Spirit Competition at the men's soccer game.

The newest Billikens arrive at SLU with an impressive academic record and a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The incoming class earned an average 3.80 GPA in high school, and 26% of first-year students are the first generation in their families to attend college. They come from 38 states and 31 countries.

They also have big plans for their years at SLU and beyond. More than 70% say they intend to complete an internship during college and 46% hope to study abroad. Biology, nursing, psychology and medical sciences are among the most popular intended majors, and 44% plan to continue their education in graduate school.

And if someone calls out "Ava," "Emma," "Joseph," "Sophia" and "Thomas" in a residence hall this fall, there's a decent chance more than one new Billiken will turn around. They're among the most popular first names in the Class of 2030.

For first-year students, move-in marks the beginning of a new chapter. For parents and family members, it can also mean saying goodbye after the beds are made, the pictures are hung and everything finds a place.

By the end of the weekend, more than 2,300 students will be living on SLU's campus for the fall semester. And those once-empty residence hall rooms and campus apartments will start to look a lot more like home.