Eastern University

Private · Moderately Selective · PA

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingSuburban

Undergrads2,404

Student:faculty21:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate50.1%

6-yr grad rate54%

Drop-out rate34.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$38k

Out-of-state tuition$38k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity59.1%

Gender diversity62.6%

International4.5%

IdentityAmerican Baptist

Overview

Eastern University is a Christian university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, on Philadelphia's Main Line, with roots in the American Baptist tradition. It is known for combining an evangelical Christian identity with a strong social-justice orientation, a combination less common among faith-based universities, reflected in its long association with the Christian social-action movement associated with founder-era faculty like Ron Sider.

Academics

Nursing and education are established undergraduate strengths, and the Templeton Honors College offers a great-books, classical-education track within the broader university. Eastern has also built a national reputation in international and economic development, an area where its graduate programs are unusually well regarded for a university this size.

Campus & student life

The Main Line setting near Philadelphia gives Eastern access to a major city while keeping a smaller, faith-centered residential community on campus. Chapel and campus ministry are part of the culture, though the degree of religious observance expected of students varies by program.

Worth knowing

Eastern has drawn national attention in recent years for unusually affordable online graduate programs, a notable pivot for a traditional small Christian university, alongside its more conventional undergraduate offerings.

eastern.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate90.8%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying