Berklee vs. Berkeley: What’s the Difference?

Though they are pronounced the same, “Berklee” and “Berkeley” are the names of different higher education institutions in the United States. Whether you are referring to Berklee College of Music; University of California, Berkeley; or Berkeley College, it’s understandable that their similar names and different spellings can cause confusion. Let’s clarify the difference between each of these three colleges and universities:

Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music is the prestigious contemporary music college based in Boston. The name was coined by the college’s first president and founder Lawrence Berk. He named the college after his son Lee Eliot Berk, who became Berklee’s second president. Berklee has several branches and campuses around the world, including the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee NYC, Berklee Valencia, Berklee Abu Dhabi, and Berklee Online. 

Berklee ‘College’ of Music or Berklee ‘School’ of Music?

The correct and most current name for the institution is Berklee College of Music, not Berklee School of Music. In 1970, the name changed from Berklee School of Music to Berklee College of Music to reflect its full scope of offerings. 

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. One of the nine University of California campuses, the name is often shortened to “UC Berkeley” or just “Berkeley.” The institution has a reputation for its rigorous academics, especially in STEM fields, and history for the role its students played during the free speech and anti-war movements of the 1960s. 

Berkeley College

With campuses in New York City, New Jersey, and online, Berkeley College is a private for-profit college that offers associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees. Their most popular programs are Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, Business Administration and Management, and General Health/Health Care Administration/Management. 

Berklee Online vs. Berkeley Extension vs. Berkeley College Online

Berklee College of Music, UC Berkeley, and Berkeley College all have online programs with different offerings. 

Berklee Online

Berklee Online offers music courses, certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees entirely online in areas of study such as music production, songwriting, music business, performance, and more. 

Berkeley Extension 

The online branch of UC Berkeley, Berkeley Extension, offers online courses and professional certificate programs in subjects such as accounting, business, and the sciences. 

Berkeley College Online 

Berkeley College Online offers a long list of undergraduate degree programs, as well as Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing programs. 

While “Berklee” and “Berkeley” may sound the same, there are distinct differences between the three institutions. What sets Berklee apart from the other Berkeleys is its unparalleled focus on music and performing arts, which has made the college a leader in music and arts education worldwide.