Institutional History
Berkeley College’s educational traditions date back to 1931 with the opening of a private institution dedicated to executive secretarial training for women. From its humble beginnings in East Orange, New Jersey, Berkeley College has evolved into a co-educational, multi-campus college with on-site and online programs, affording students a wealth of educational options and opportunities. United by an unwavering commitment to provide high-quality, student-centered education, Berkeley’s campuses are supported by a Central Office featuring accounting, human resources, information technology services, and an International Department. Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 1007 North Orange Street 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801; 267-284-5011. Accreditation was last reaffirmed in June 2018. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
1931 - The Berkeley School was established in East Orange, New Jersey.
1980 - The Berkeley School of Garret Mountain became the first proprietary school in New Jersey to be licensed as a college and authorized to award the Associate in Applied Science degree.
1981 - The Berkeley School of Westchester received authorization from the Board of Regents to award the Associate in Applied Science degree. It was the first proprietary school in New York to be so authorized.
1983 - The Garret Mountain campus became accredited by the Middle States Association.
1988 - The Middle States Association extended accreditation to include the Paramus and Middlesex branches of the Garret Mountain campus.
1988 - The Westchester campus became accredited by the Middle States Association.
1990 - The Westchester campus became the first proprietary school in New York State to receive approval from the Board of Regents to include the word “college” in its name.
1993 - The New York City campus became accredited by the Middle States Association and received approval from the Board of Regents to change its name to Berkeley College of New York City.
1995 - The New York City, Westchester, and New Jersey campuses were authorized to award the Associate in Science degree.
1998 - The Middle States Association reaffirmed accreditation for the New York City campus.
1998 - Berkeley College of New York City and Berkeley College of Westchester received authorization from the New York State Board of Regents to award the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree.
1998 - The first online classes were offered through the New York City Midtown campus; fewer than 25 students were enrolled.
2000 - The New York State Board of Regents recognized the New York City and Westchester campuses as one institution. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education granted the College’s request for accreditation of its two New York campuses as a single institution.
2001 - The New Jersey College received authorization from the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education to award the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration.
2001 - The Blackboard Course Management and Portal System was implemented to better accommodate faculty and students.
2003 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education included the New Jersey Institution's BS degree in Business Administration offered via distance learning within the scope of its accreditation.
2003 - The first New Jersey online degree students started classes.
2004 - The New York State Education Department approved a proposal to offer the BBA in General Business via distance learning.
2004 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education included the New York institution's BBA degree in General Business offered via distance learning within the scope of its accreditation and agreed that Berkeley would no longer be required to seek Commission approval for additional programs offered via distance learning.
2004 - The first New York online degree students started classes.
2005 - Berkeley College Online® was established.
2006 - The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education approved a Change of Programmatic Mission that recognized Berkeley as a four-year college.
2007 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education affirmed inclusion of the Newark campus within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
2008 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Accreditation of the New Jersey institution.
2008 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Accreditation of the New York institution.
2009 - In July 2009, three Schools were established: School of Business, School of Liberal Arts, and School of Professional Studies.
2011 - The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education approved a proposal to offer the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design at the Paramus campus.
2012 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education affirmed inclusion of the Brooklyn campus within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
2012 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education affirmed inclusion of the Dover and Clifton campuses and seven clinical programs within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
2012 - The Larry L. Luing School of Business® was dedicated on June 15, 2012 in honor of Larry L. Luing, Chairman of the Board Emeritus.
2013 - The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education approved the merger of Dover Business College and Berkeley College.
2013 - Berkeley College Online received USDLA Quality Standards certification - one of the first online college or university programs worldwide to be certified for excellence by the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
2013 - In July 2013, the School of Health Studies was established when Berkeley merged with Dover Business College.
2014 - The New Jersey Presidents' Council approved proposals to offer Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs in various business disciplines in New Jersey.
2014 - Berkeley College Online was ranked among the best online Bachelor's degree programs by U.S. News & World Report.
2014 - The first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) was offered: Allied Health Careers: Beyond the Mask.
2015 - The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education approved Berkeley to exceed their programmatic mission to offer the first graduate degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management at the Woodland Park campus and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education affirmed inclusion of the MBA program to be within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
2016 - The New Jersey Board of Nursing approved a proposal to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the Woodland Park campus.
2016 - Berkeley College converted from a quarter to a semester calendar and began awarding semester credits.
2016 - Berkeley College established the School of Graduate Studies with the inception of the MBA Program with the first cohort starting during the Fall 2016 semester.
2017 - The Larry L. Luing School of Business received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
2017 - The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree offered at the Woodland Park Campus received specialized accreditation through the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
2018 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Accreditation of the New Jersey institution.
2018 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Accreditation of the New York institution.
2018 - The Canvas Learning Management System and the Engage portal were implemented, replacing Blackboard.
2019 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved Berkeley College New York's closure of its Brooklyn campus effective September 6, 2019.
2020 - The School of Graduate Studies merged with the Larry L.Luing School of Business® January 2020.
2020 - The School of Liberal Arts was dissolved and the Division of General Education was established in September 2020.
2021 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved Berkeley College New York's closure of its White Plans campus effective August 31, 2021.
2021 - The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education approved the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program which includes specialized concentrations in Nursing Leadership and Management, Nurse Educator, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Public Health and Emergency Management Nursing.
2022 - The New York State Education Department approved Berkeley College New York to offer its first graduate degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education affirmed inclusion of the MBA program to be within the scope of the institution's accreditation.
2022 - The Middle States Commission on Higher Education approved Berkeley College New Jersey's closure of its Paramus campus effective June 30, 2022.
2023 - The New York State Education Department approved an application to register a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Interior Design at the New York City campus.
2025 - Berkeley College continues to receive important distinctions from media authority U.S. News & World Report:
- Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs – for the 12th consecutive year!
- Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs for Veterans – for the 12th consecutive year!
Berkeley has also earned multiple recognitions for:
- Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs – Business
- Best Online MBA Programs
- America’s Top Online Colleges of 2025 by Newsweek and Statista, a global business data platform—for the fourth consecutive year!
- Berkeley has also been named as one of the nation’s “Top Veteran-Friendly Schools” in the Best of the Best issue of U.S. Veterans Magazine, a valuable resource for transitioning veterans published by DiversityComm.