In 1932, collegiate classes were added to the curriculum for pastors at the Seminary. In 1952, the Seminary opened a separate institution, the Eastern Baptist College in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania, on the former estate of businessman Charles S. Walton.[4] The Eastern Baptist College focused on liberal arts rather than educating and training pastors, as the Seminary continued to exist and do so separately from the College. In 1972, the college was renamed to Eastern College: A Baptist Institution.
In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted the institution university status and it was renamed to Eastern University. In 2004, the institution's board of trustees voted to acquire the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the original parent institution of the university. The following year, the seminary's name was changed to Palmer Theological Seminary in honor of its longest serving president, Gordon Palmer (1936–48).[5]
In November 2022, the university added sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination policy, allowing the hiring of openly LGBT employees. Following this decision, its membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities was revoked.[6]
Campus
The main campus is located in on 114 acres (46ha)[7] of land in Radnor Township, just west of Philadelphia.[8] It has a St. Davids postal address,[9] but is outside of (though adjacent to) the St. Davids census-designated place.[10]
The main campus was originally a private estate, named Walmarthon, which was owned by leather tanning businessman Charles S. Walton. The size of the campus has expanded through purchases of surrounding buildings and land. The original buildings on campus were designed by locally renowned architect David Knickerbacker Boyd, in the Mediterranean style.[11][12]
The Warner Memorial Library is housed in the Harold Howard Center. The Mazie Hall African American History Room contains books and memorabilia from a local educator. The Edison Room houses several drawings and artifacts which belonged to Thomas Edison.[citation needed]
The Bradstreet Observatory consists of twin 14.5-foot diameter domes that house 16” diameter Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. This addition to Eastern’s facilities created opportunities for astronomical work and research done on campus.[citation needed]
Eastern University's main campus is located adjacent to Villanova University's Cabrini Campus, the former site of the now-defunct Cabrini College. Eagle Road in Radnor divides the two campuses. The St. David's SEPTA Station is located approximately 0.5 miles from Eastern's main campus, where SEPTA operates the Paoli-Thorndale Line.[13]
In addition to the main campus in St. Davids, Eastern has additional sites in Pennsylvania: Center City, Philadelphia; City Avenue, Philadelphia; and N 5th St, Philadelphia.[14]
Eastern University also manages a campus in Ripley, West Virginia. The campus is managed in conjunction with the West Virginia Baptist Convention. Students at the West Virginia campus are enrolled in the Master of Divinity program, as it is the only program offered at the Ripley campus.[15]
Academics
Eastern University offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in more than 100 areas of study. The university also offers undergraduate, graduate and noncredit certificates. Academic programs at the institution are housed in seven schools:
Eastern University enrolled nearly 7,000 students in Fall 2023, with 2,068 undergraduate students and 4,913 postgraduate students. The undergraduate student body is 62% female and 38% male. For undergraduate students, the student-to-faculty ratio is 19:1.[16]
Admission
Eastern University's overall acceptance rate in 2023 was 94%, with a 72% retention rate for first-year undergraduate students.[17]
Eastern University is test-optional, allowing applicants to submit scores for the ACT or SAT if applicants wish to do so. These test scores are not required for admission.[17]
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for the Baccalaureate Major in Social Work
Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
Student media
The Waltonian is Eastern University's student-run newspaper. It is published monthly, and covers university, national, and international news. [19]
Inklings is Eastern University's student-run literary magazine. It is published annually and features poetry, short stories, and photography. [20]
Eastern is the magazine of Eastern University. It serves as a connection between the campus community of students, faculty, staff and administration and its alumni, trustees, friends, donors, parents and neighbors.
Athletics
Eastern Eagles wordmark
The school's sports teams are called the Eagles and are Division III members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[21] Eastern University joined the Middle Atlantic Conferences (commonly referred to as the MAC) in 2008.[22]
Sports include men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's baseball, women's field hockey, women's flag football, men's football, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and cross country.[23] Eastern began fielding a football team in 2022 as an NCAA Division III independent and began playing in the MAC in 2023.[24] Women's flag football was added in the 2024–25 school year,[25] competing in the Division III Atlantic East Conference.[26]
In 2002, senior Andrea Collesidis broke an NCAA scoring record for women's lacrosse.[27][28][29][30]
Boehlke, Frederick (2003). Faith, Reason And Justice: The First 50 Years of Eastern University. Exton, Pennsylvania: Apple Press. ISBN978-0-9674912-3-3.
This list is incomplete. ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent township or townships. Armenian Sisters Academy has a "Radnor, PA" postal address but is in Upper Merion Township
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