Music degrees at established universities and colleges that traditionally have focused on classical music have expanded their programs to include coursework in popular music. Many traditional university music schools offer jazz programs and classes. Some schools also offer practical or theoretical classes in popular music performance, history and theory. For example, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers undergraduate and graduate music degrees in classical music or jazz music performance.
A number of newer colleges in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries teach popular music forms. Berklee College of Music is a prestigious and well-known music college where students focus on popular music performance, history and theory. At popular music colleges, students may take classes in those instruments typically found in a pop setting, such as drums, electronic instruments, electric guitar, bass as well as popular-music singing.
Many of the colleges that focus on popular music are private institutions functioning without state funding. Some of these institutions enroll private students to learn a specific instrument used in popular music. For example, the DrumTech, GuitarTech, VocalTech and BassTech schools in London, England offer highly practical courses and bachelors' degrees intended to equip students for life as a professional pop-music performer.
The different types of college that you can study popular music all have benefits and disadvantages. Whether your college is training you to be an orchestral musician or a rock drummer, there are far more music graduates than there are jobs in the field. As a musician, you should weigh whether the time and money spent studying popular music at college is going to be more beneficial to your career than professional experience in the field.