Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Catholic Jesuit university in the United States of America located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1818. It is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The athletic teams compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.