East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in East Stroudsburg (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania), Pennsylvania. It is one of the 14 state universities that compose the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). It is commonly referred to as ESU by its students and members of the community. The university began its existence in 1893 as a preparatory school for teachers called the East Stroudsburg Normal School, which was private. In 1960, additional curricula were added and the school, then called East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, became East Stroudsburg State College. It assumed its current name in 1983.