Quick Facts

Founded on September 4, 1893 as the East Stroudsburg Normal School, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a Carnegie Comprehensive Master's-Larger Programs university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate programs, 21 master's programs and 2 doctoral programs. ESU is one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (the State System).

Although the Normal School was originally privately owned, ownership was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1920, and the name was changed to East Stroudsburg State Normal School. In 1927, the right to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Education and Bachelor of Science in Health Education was granted, and the School's name then became the State Teachers College at East Stroudsburg. In 1960, the College's name was changed to East Stroudsburg State College. In 1962, the College received the right to confer graduate degrees, and the first three graduate areas were Masters of Education in Biological Sciences, General Science, and Health and Physical Education. In 1963, the College instituted a Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1969, the first Master of Arts programs, in History and Political Science, were approved. In November 1982, the State System of Higher Education was authorized by Senate Bill 506. The College officially became East Stroudsburg University on July 1, 1983.

The University has 57 buildings located on approximately 258 acres in the East Stroudsburg Borough. Forty-six acres of the property in Smithfield Township are leased to University Properties Inc. which has constructed 541 beds of student housing in ten buildings on 43 acres. The 57 buildings in East Stroudsburg Borough include academic facilities, a 1000-seat dining hall, a student center, a fitness center, a recreation center, and eight residence halls (housing approximately 2,970 students). The Student Activity Association, Inc., owns Stony Acres, a 119-acre off-campus student recreation area near Marshalls Creek that includes a lodge, cabins, and a small lake. The university boasts a Science and Technology Center with state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facilities and equipment, a planetarium and a rooftop observatory.

Campus Location

• Located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
• 45 miles from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• 70 miles from New York City
• 90 miles from Philadelphia

Campus Size

258 Acres

Institution Type

Carnegie Comprehensive Master's-Larger Programs

Four Academic Colleges

Student Characteristics Fall 2023

• 81.2% Pennsylvania
• 17.8% Out-of-State
• 1.0% International
• 59% Female
• 41% Male

Total Fall 2023 Enrollment: 5,463

• 4,700 - Undergraduate
• 763 - Graduate

Fall 2023 Entering Freshmen: 1,399

• 78.5% PA Resident
• 21.5% Out-of-State
• 28.9% Self-Identified First Generation
• 47.1% Under-Represented Minorities
• 479 High Schools Represented
• Average High School GPA of 3.24

Student Diversity

• 55.3% White
• 18.7% Black/African Americans
• 16.8% Hispanic
• 3.9% Multiracial
• 1.0% International
• 1.9% Asian American
• 2.3% Unknown
• 0.1% American Indian/Alaskan
• 0.1% Pacific Islander

Undergraduate Tuition: Academic Year 2023-2024

• Pennsylvania Resident (Warrior Promise) $4,144
• Non-Resident (Warrior Promise) $8,808
• Pennsylvania Resident (Continuing) $3,858
• Non-Resident (Continuing) $7,716

(Rates shown are subject to change and are based on a 12-18 credit course load.)

Graduate Tuition: Academic Year 2023-2024

• Pennsylvania Resident $559 per credit
• Non-Resident $817 per credit
• Non-Resident (Distance Education Approved Programs) $526 per credit

Athletics & Intramural Sports 2023-2024

• NCAA Division II Athletics Programs
• There are approximately 625 student athletes at ESU.
• Member of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference - PSAC
• Intramural, recreational and outdoor sports.

Accreditation

ESU is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB#166, Wilmington, DE 19801.

The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of post-secondary Education.

All education programs at ESU are also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Other program accreditation at ESU include:

• Athletic Training, B.S. and M.S. - Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• Clinical Exercise Physiology, M.S. - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Computer Science, B.S. - Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. (ABET)
• Exercise Science, B.S. and M.S. - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP)
• Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, B.S. - Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA)
• Nursing, B.S. - Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (In addition, the program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing).
• Public Health, M.P.H. - Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Social Work, B.S. - Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Speech Language Pathology, M.S. - Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)

Special Academic Opportunities

• Air Force ROTC
• Army ROTC
• Extended Learning
• Honor's Program
• International Programs and Student Exchange
• Internship Opportunities
• Law School Express Admissions Program
• Marine Science Consortium
• Pre-College Dual Enrollment Program
• Research and Economic Development
• Summer Sessions
• Upward Bound

State and Regional Fun Facts

• Nickname - Keystone State
• State Symbols: Beverage - Milk; Insect - Firefly; Fish - Brook Trout; Dog - Great Dane; Animal - Whitetail Deer; Flower - Mountain Laurel; Tree - Hemlock; Bird - Ruffed Grouse (Partridge)
• The Poconos are the most popular tourist destination in Pennsylvania at any time during the year
• Hershey, PA is considered the Chocolate Capital of the United States
• Nazareth is the home of Martin guitars since 1833.
• 45 miles of the Appalachian Trail are located here in the Pocono area
• Philadelphia is the home of the Liberty Bell
• A few notable Pennsylvania firsts - Zoo, Newspaper, Cable TV, Banana Split, Multi-lane Highway, Nation’s Capital
• Punxsutawney, PA is the weather capital of the world, and is also home to the world renowned weather forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.