Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 7,500 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings.Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.
Faith, Reason, & Justice
Eastern alumni are living with courage in a wide variety of fields, empowered by an education rooted in our core values: Faith, Reason, and Justice.
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Video Campus Tour
Our picturesque main campus is repeatedly celebrated for its beauty.Visit Eastern virtually throughour campus tour videofrom anywhere in the world.
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Majors & Programs
Explore ourassociate, bachelor's, master’s, doctoral, and certification programs, as well as our wide variety of online programs.
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Mission:EasternUniversity is a diverse, Christ-centered community preparing graduates to impact the world through faith, reason, and justice.
Affiliations:Eastern University is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and has an interdenominational Christian student body, faculty, and administration.
Colleges & Schools
The College of Arts and Humanities:Eastern University's College of Arts and Humanities(CAH) houses majors and minors in the humanitiesand performing arts.
The College of Business and Leadership:Eastern University's College of Business and Leadership (CBL) brings together carefully designed educational offerings from the disciplines of business, leadership, and advocacy.
Eastern University's College of Education is one of the leading private university Education programs in the state of Pennsylvania. It offers a diverse array of undergraduate, graduate, and certification programs.
The College of Health and Sciences:Eastern University's College of Health and Sciences (CHS) equips students with the knowledge, skills and abilities for meaningful careers, advanced professional training and active roles in local and global communities through social services and healthcare professions.
The Templeton Honors College:The Templeton Honors College offers graduate-style undergraduate education for the most academically-gifted students.
Palmer Theological Seminary and College:Palmer Theological Seminary provides theological education for all types of ministry that seek to present the whole gospel, to the whole world, through whole persons.
Esperanza College:Esperanza College is Eastern’s junior college which operates in partnership with Nueva Esperanza, Inc. and aims to serve the Latino community in Philadelphia, PA.
Locations
St. Davids, PA:Ourscenic 114-acre suburban main campus is just west of Philadelphia, PA, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and Palmer Theological Seminary programs.
Philadelphia, PA:Eastern has additional locations onCity Avenueand in North Philadelphia atEsperanza College.
Ripley, WV: Palmer Seminary offers the Master of Divinity here.
*Eastern also holds additional instructional sites at numerous suburban and international locations.
Academics
Majors and Programs
- Calendar: A two-semester academic year, Fall and Spring, with two summer sessions. Online and graduate programs are offered throughout the calendar year.
- Academic Programs and Degrees: Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity, Master of Education, Master of Practical Theology, Master of Science, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Social Work, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Ministry.
- Study Abroad:OpportunitiesincludeOxford University, the University of St. Andrews, student teaching, and a wide array ofother programs.
- Eastern University offers many Online and Blended Online Programs.
Faculty
- 123 full-time faculty (all colleges)
- 87% hold earned doctorates or highest professional degrees
- Over 300 faculty publications
Honors and Recognition
Alumni and faculty of Eastern University have received the MacArthur Foundation Award, Olaf Palma International Justice Award, Regional Emmy for PBS Documentary, and Lindback Awards for Excellence in Teaching. View recent nationalhonors and recognition.
Accreditation
Eastern University is accredited by theMiddle States Commission on Higher Education.
Learn more and view our Professional Accreditations.
Retention
- Surveys like the Student Satisfaction Inventory are administered annually to ensure continual improvement of student services.
- Undergraduate retention rate of 78% (full-time traditional students)
High School GPA
- Average high school GPA for entering first-time full-time traditional undergraduate students = 3.58 (Based on the students with reported data)
Diversity
- International and Multi-ethnic Enrollment: 47.4% of all undergraduates (including Esperanza).
Athletics:The Eastern Eagles compete in 22men's and women'sNCAA Division IIIsports intheMiddle AtlanticConference(MAC), includingbasketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and football.Eastern also sponsors competitive esports and has a cheer team and dance squad.Visit theAthletics Websiteto learnmore.
Our History:Eastern was founded in 1925 as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The collegiate division began in 1932 and was chartered as a 4-year college in 1952. The college became Eastern College in 1972 andEastern Universityin 2001. The Seminary was renamedPalmer Theological Seminaryin 2005.Learn more.
Activities and Ministries: Eastern provides a wide array of opportunities for student enrichment and service, includingHabitat for Humanity, touring drama and choir groups, prison ministry, homeless ministry, U.S. and overseas missions trips, and the Leadership Fellows Program.Learn more about Student Life.
Facilities & Library
Library Resources
- Harold C. Howard Center/Warner Memorial Library: Our collection of 135,000 physical books and media has been rated "A" for size according to the Association of College and Research Libraries.
- More than 42,000 periodical titles in paper and electronic format throughout our databases and over 160 databases for research.We have access to over 675,000 e-books. We also maintain a collection of about 82,000 video recordings, primarily streaming but also some in physical format.
- Over 75 million books available throughInterlibrary Loan options and Open Access tools. The library isa member of cooperatives: The Tri-State College Library Cooperative (TCLC); the Partnershipfor Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation,Inc (PALCI); and the Southeast Pennsylvania Theological Library Association (SEPTLA).
St. Davids Facilities
- 8 Academic and Administrative Buildings
- The Bradstreet Observatory and Julia Fowler Planetarium
- Residential: 8 residence halls that can house up to 944 students on campus
- Athletic: Gymnasium, tennis courts, pool, multi-purpose baseball field, softball field, turf soccer/lacrosse and practice field
Financial Aid, Tuition & Grants
Financial Aid
96% of students receive academic and need-based scholarships and grants. Learn more about the Financial Aid Office.
Tuition and Costs
- Traditional Undergraduate Tuition
- OnlineUndergraduate Tuition
- Graduate Tuition
- Palmer Seminary Tuition
Grants
- Barnabas Foundation
- Comloquoy Charitable Foundation
- EAPE Kingdom Works, Inc.
- Eden Charitable Foundation
- HBE Foundation
- Huston Foundation
- Stewart Huston Charitable Trust
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- PA Department of Education
- PA Higher Education Foundation
- Sodexho Marriott Services, Inc.
- W.W. Smith Charitable Trust
- U.S. Dept. of Education
Leadership & Governance
Board of Trustees
Chair: Mr. Steve Clemens, '91
Senior Leadership
President: Dr. Ronald A. Matthews
- 31,771 alumni in 50 states and 97 countries
- 94-99% of graduates in the last decade have found employment, full-time volunteer work, or begunpost-graduate studieswithin the firstsix months of graduation (based on the percent of students who responded in each year). Learn more about Post-Graduation Reports.
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