Is Eastern College the Same as Eastern University?
Updated
Yes—if you are looking at the Christian university in Philadelphia, Eastern College is the former name of what is now Eastern University. The institution changed its name to reflect its growth into a university offering undergraduate, graduate, and online degrees. If you are searching for "Eastern College" in a different region or context, however, you may be looking at a completely unrelated school, so it is worth confirming which institution you mean before relying on any details.
The name change: which name applies to which era
Eastern University's own site identifies it as a Christian university in Philadelphia. The "Eastern College" name belongs to an earlier period of the same institution, before it adopted "Eastern University." That means:
- Historical references—documents, alumni records, news articles, or transcripts from the earlier era—may use "Eastern College."
- Current references—admissions, program listings, official communications, and the website—use "Eastern University."
- If you are verifying a credential, transcript, or employment history, the two names can refer to the same school across different time periods.
The practical takeaway: a reference to "Eastern College" in Philadelphia-area Christian higher education is not a separate, defunct school to be avoided—it is the same lineage as today's Eastern University.
What Eastern University is today
Eastern University describes itself as a Christian university in Philadelphia. Its stated mission centers on teaching, scholarship, service, spiritual formation, student development, and societal involvement, with the goal of preparing both undergraduate and graduate students.
Its academic offerings span three broad levels:
| Level | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Bachelor's-level programs for traditional and other undergraduate students |
| Graduate | Master's and other advanced programs |
| Online | Degree programs delivered online |
Because the site explicitly names undergraduate, graduate, and online degrees, you can treat all three as part of the current institution's scope. Specific majors, formats, and delivery details are not fully enumerated in the source material, so confirm the exact program you want directly with the university.
Why "Eastern College" can be ambiguous
"Eastern College" is a generic-sounding name, and more than one institution has used it. Before you act on any information tied to that phrase, check that it refers to the Philadelphia Christian university and not:
- A different school in another state or country with a similar name
- A former or unrelated institution that happens to share the wording
- A program, department, or subsidiary with a coincidentally similar title
A quick way to disambiguate is to look for the location (Philadelphia), the Christian affiliation, and the current name (Eastern University) together. If those three line up, you are almost certainly looking at the same institution.
How to confirm current programs and contact details
Since program offerings, formats, and contact information can change, verify anything time-sensitive at the source rather than relying on older "Eastern College" materials:
- Go to the official site at eastern.edu.
- Look for the admissions or academics section to see current undergraduate, graduate, and online offerings.
- Use the site's contact details to reach the relevant office directly for questions about a specific program, transcript, or application.
This matters most if you are comparing schools, applying, or verifying a credential—those decisions depend on current information, not on the name used in an earlier era.
Bottom line
For the Christian university in Philadelphia, Eastern College and Eastern University are the same institution at different points in its history; the current name is Eastern University. If your search points to a different "Eastern College," confirm the location and affiliation before assuming any connection. When in doubt, check eastern.edu for the authoritative, up-to-date picture.