Berklee College of Music, founded in 1945, is an independent music college in Boston, Massachusetts with many prominent faculty, staff, alumni, and visiting artists. It has an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students and a faculty of approximately 430 (2004 figures). Degree program tuition is approximately $20,350 for the fall through spring academic year (2004-2005 figures).

Berklee was founded by Lawrence Berk and was originally named Schillinger House of Music, after his teacher Joseph Schillinger. Berk changed the name to Berklee School of Music after his son Lee Berk in 1954, and after the school received its accreditation, the name was changed to Berklee College of Music in 1973.

At the time of its founding, almost all music schools focused primarily on classical music. The original mission of Berklee was to provide formal training in jazz, rock, and other popular music not available at other music schools.