Eastern University (EU) is a private university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, United States affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, with an interdenominational student body. Its schools are Palmer Theological Seminary, Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Templeton Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences, and Esperanza College. Eastern's roots go back to 1925 as a department of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary), which was founded to provide a theologically conservative Seminary alternative within the American Baptist Churches. Eastern was meant to provide an alternative to the nearby and theologically liberal Crozier Seminary. In 1952, Eastern University became a separate institution, moved to its present St. Davids location, and took the name "Eastern Baptist College". In 1972, it was renamed "Eastern College" to encourage enrollment by members of other Christian denominations. In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted the institution "university status" and it was renamed Eastern University.