Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 5,700 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, seminary, and online programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with additional locations in Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Eastern’s core values of faith, reason, and justice are woven into all of its educational programs.

Eastern University is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and has an interdenominational Christian student body, faculty and administration. 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. 

Video Campus Tour

Our picturesque main campus is repeatedly celebrated for its beauty. Visit Eastern virtually through our campus tour video from anywhere in the world.

Majors & Programs

Explore our associate, bachelor's, master’s, doctoral, and certification programs, as well as our wide variety of online programs.

Colleges & Schools

The College of Arts and Humanities: Eastern University's College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) houses majors and minors in the humanities and 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. 

The College of Education & Behavioral Sciences: 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 CollegeEsperanza 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: Our scenic 114-acre suburban main campus is just west of Philadelphia, PA, offering undergraduate, graduate, and Palmer Theological Seminary programs.

Philadelphia, PA: Eastern has locations in Center City, City Avenue, and Esperanza College.

Harrisburg, PA: Our convenient, attractive Harrisburg location offers a centralized hub for working adults. 

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. Adult and graduate programs 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 Science, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Education, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Education.
  • Study Abroad: Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, universities including Oxford University and the University of St. Andrews, student teaching, and various other programs.
  • Eastern University offers many Online and Blended Online Programs.


Faculty

  • 107 full-time faculty (all colleges)
  • 79% 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 national honors and recognition.
 

Accreditation

Eastern University is accredited by the Middle 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 21 men's and women's NCAA Division III sports in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), including basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Visit the Athletics Website to learn more.

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 and Eastern University in 2001. The Seminary was renamed Palmer Theological Seminary in 2005. Learn more.

Strategic Alliances: Eastern manages more than 122 Partnerships and Alliances, including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and governmental organizations, across the greater Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh regions. View Partnerships Portfolio.

Activities and Ministries: Eastern provides a wide array of opportunities for student enrichment and service, including Habitat 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:  Houses 155,000 books; links to 1.3 million ebooks; has 10,000 audio-visual materials.
  • Access to over 55,000 online periodicals through databases EBSCOhost, SAGE,  Proquest, JSTOR, GALE.
  • Over 75 million books available through Interlibrary Loans. The library is a member of cooperatives: The Tri-State College Library Cooperative; the Pennslyvania Academic Library Consortium Inc; and the Southeast Pennsylvania Theological Library Association. 

St. Davids Facilities

  • 8 Academic and Administrative Buildings
  • The Bradstreet Observatory and Julia Fowler Planetarium
  • Residential: 8 residence halls house 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

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