Eastern University
Eastern University is a private Christian nonprofit university founded in 1925 in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, delivering 130+ undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary programs across seven colleges, with satellite sites in Philadelphia and Harrisburg and a community-focused Esperanza College subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersWayne, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Eastern University does
Eastern University is a private, nonprofit Christian university founded in 1925 and headquartered on a residential campus at 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, Pennsylvania, with additional operating sites in Philadelphia (including the Esperanza College subsidiary) and Harrisburg. The institution delivers 130+ undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and online programs across seven colleges and Palmer Theological Seminary, integrating a faith-based framework throughout its curriculum.
Its core product portfolio spans traditional on-campus undergraduate degrees, fully online undergraduate and graduate programs, accelerated pathways such as Eastern FastPass (three-year graduation), the Templeton Honors College, associate degrees through Esperanza College, and a June 2026 launch of a fully online Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence Innovation priced at $9,900 total for a 10-month program. Delivery infrastructure runs on the Brightspace learning management system, with an AI Registrar Assistant built on Google's Gemini handling routine student queries, and FERPA-compliant student records operations.
The business model is tuition-driven: revenue comes primarily from tuition and fees across undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary programs, supplemented by donations and fundraising (annual donor honor rolls and named scholarship funds), state and institutional grants (notably a $499,677 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency VIP grant in June 2025), and theatre scholarships including one full-tuition and up to ten $25,000 Fine & Performing Arts awards. With 97% of undergraduates receiving financial aid, the institution is highly discount-dependent. Go-to-market is sales-led across dedicated admissions teams for traditional undergraduate, graduate/online, and transfer students, supported by digital advertising, social media, email campaigns, open houses, and dual-enrollment partnerships; theatrical internship alliances with regional professional companies and study-abroad partnerships (Los Angeles Film Studies Center, National Theatre Institute, Gaiety School of Acting Dublin) extend the experiential offering.
Eastern University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eastern University
- Legal name
- Eastern University
- Website
- https://eastern.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Eastern University is a private Christian nonprofit university founded in 1925 in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, delivering 130+ undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary programs across seven colleges, with satellite sites in Philadelphia and Harrisburg and a community-focused Esperanza College subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eastern University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)
Keywords
Where Eastern University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wayne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Eastern University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary programs. Tuition varies by program type with specific pricing for online graduate programs like the MA in AI Innovation at $9,900 total.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships: 97% of undergraduates receive financial aid and scholarships, indicating significant scholarship distribution as part of the revenue model.
- Donations and Fundraising: Annual donor honor rolls and fundraising campaigns supporting university operations and programs, including diversity initiatives and specific program funds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MA in Artificial Intelligence Innovation - Online Graduate Program |
| Subscription | Annual | Fine & Performing Arts Scholarships for Theatre Students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Eastern University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eastern University is a Christian university that delivers higher education through seven colleges and Palmer Theological Seminary, offering 130+ nationally-recognized undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary degree programs and certifications. Programs span traditional four-year on-campus bachelor's degrees, fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees, accelerated completion tracks such as Eastern FastPass, the Templeton Honors College, and associate degrees via Esperanza College in Philadelphia.
Product overview
Eastern University is a Christian university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across seven colleges and a seminary. The institution provides traditional on-campus undergraduate programs, online undergraduate and graduate programs, and specialized honors education through the Templeton Honors College. The university operates Esperanza College as a community college division and has recently launched a new fully online Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence Innovation program. Key programs include the Eastern FastPass for accelerated degree completion and Eagle Learning Materials for affordable textbooks. The university serves students through on-campus, online, and hybrid modalities, with main campus located in St. Davids, PA and additional locations in Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Esperanza College of Eastern University: A two-year college of Eastern University serving the Hispanic community in Philadelphia with associate degree programs.
Products and services
- Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence Innovation A fully online interdisciplinary master's degree program designed for non-technical professionals, focusing on ethical AI use, critical evaluation of AI tools, digital literacy, and responsible AI adoption. The program can be completed in 10 months with a total tuition cost of $9,900.
- Traditional Undergraduate Programs On-campus bachelor's degree programs for traditional students, with over 130 nationally-recognized undergraduate degree programs available at the St. Davids, Pennsylvania main campus, including campus housing, student life, and athletics participation.
- Online Undergraduate Programs Associate or bachelor's degree programs available fully online for adult and non-traditional learners, designed with flexible scheduling for working professionals.
- Graduate Programs Master's and doctorate degree programs for graduate students, including online options across multiple disciplines such as the ranked #1 Online Master's in Data Science and #2 Online Master's in Counseling (OnlineMasters.com, 2026).
- Templeton Honors College A specialized honors college offering an enriched liberal arts education with emphasis on ethics, classical education, and liberal studies.
- Esperanza College An associate degree program division located in Philadelphia, offering associate degrees in Business Administration, Community and Human Services, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, eSports Management, Health Sciences, Media & Technology, and Medical Assisting.
- Palmer Theological Seminary Theological seminary offering seminary programs and degrees in Christian ministries and theology.
- Eastern FastPass An accelerated degree completion program allowing students to graduate in 3 years by earning college credit during high school through dual enrollment, with reduced course load or easy double-majoring option.
- Eagle Learning Materials Textbook cost reduction program providing affordable course materials for students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of undergraduates receive financial aid and scholarships
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Eastern University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Eastern University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Eastern University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Esperanza College of Eastern UniversitycoreEsperanza College is a division of Eastern University located in North Philadelphia, offering associate degrees and community-focused educational programs. It operates with its own leadership, admissions, and academic staff while being part of the Eastern University system.
- National Student ClearinghousecoreEastern University subscribes to the National Student Clearinghouse for enrollment and degree verification services, enabling third-party verification of student enrollment status and degree completion.
- Professional Theatres NetworkminorPartnership with regional professional theatres including Act II Playhouse, Arden Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Wilma Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival for student internship opportunities in theatre arts.
- Affiliate Colleges (Rosemont, Cabrini)minorCross-registration agreements with affiliated colleges allowing students to take courses at partner institutions as part of their academic program.
- Los Angeles Film Studies CenterminorStudy abroad partnership allowing theatre and film students to study at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, interning with casting agencies and production companies.
- National Theatre InstituteminorStudy abroad partnership allowing students to participate in theatre programs at the National Theatre Institute in Connecticut.
- The Gaiety School of ActingminorInternational study abroad partnership with The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland for theatre students.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Eastern University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Messiah University: Private Christian university in Mechanicsburg, PA offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a similar faith-integration model and Pennsylvania footprint. Closest geographic and mission peer to Eastern.
- Cabrini University: Pennsylvania private university with cross-registration ties to Eastern; similar size, faith-inspired mission, and undergraduate focus — a direct comparable for tuition, aid strategy, and program mix.
- Rosemont College: Small private Pennsylvania college with historical cross-registration arrangement with Eastern; comparable scale, liberal arts emphasis, and tuition-aid dynamics.
- Regent University: Christian university with a strong online graduate program portfolio; directly comparable to Eastern in faith-based branding, online modality, and adult-learner targeting.
- Azusa Pacific University: Private Christian university offering a broad mix of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with faith integration — a close national comparable in mission and program structure.
Broad incumbents
- Villanova University: Larger Augustinian Catholic university in the Philadelphia suburbs; competing for the same regional traditional undergraduate talent pool but with significantly greater resources and brand.
- Liberty University: Large Christian university with a dominant online program portfolio; competes with Eastern for faith-aligned online graduate students across the U.S. at greater scale and lower per-program pricing.
- Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): National leader in online undergraduate and graduate education; competes with Eastern's online programs on price, scale, and brand — particularly for adult learners.
- Western Governors University: Nonprofit, competency-based online university with nationwide reach; a key competitor in Eastern's online graduate and adult-learner segments, particularly on affordability.
Regional players
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania: Public Pennsylvania university serving the same Philadelphia-region traditional undergraduate market; competes primarily on price and public-university value proposition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Eastern University social profiles
Digital presenceEastern University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Eastern University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eastern University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Eastern University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Eastern University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eastern University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eastern University
What does Eastern University do?
Eastern University is a Christian university that delivers higher education through seven colleges and Palmer Theological Seminary, offering 130+ nationally-recognized undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary degree programs and certifications. Programs span traditional four-year on-campus bachelor's degrees, fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees, accelerated completion tracks such as Eastern FastPass, the Templeton Honors College, and associate degrees via Esperanza College in Philadelphia.
Is Eastern University a public or private company?
Eastern University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Eastern University founded?
Eastern University was founded in 1925.
Where is Eastern University based?
Eastern University is headquartered in Wayne, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eastern University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Aid and Scholarships and donations and Fundraising.
Who are Eastern University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Messiah University, Cabrini University, Rosemont College, Regent University and Azusa Pacific University. Broad incumbents are Villanova University, Liberty University, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and Western Governors University. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is listed as a regional player.
Does Eastern University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eastern University.
What industry is Eastern University in?
Eastern University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAG, Christian Colleges with Theological Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHACAF, Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 61131 and its SIC code is 8200.