Becker College was originally established in 1784 as Leicester Academy, and Becker's Business College was founded in 1887 in Worcester. The two colleges formally consolidated in 1977 as the Worcester campus and Leicester campus of Becker College. The college offered more than 40 undergraduate degree programs including nursing, veterinary science, and video game design. Becker has more than 21,000 alumni.

After 237 years, the college trustees announced the school would close in 2021 due to financial losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school arranged transfer pathways for all of its programs, placing students with several local colleges.

Through the careful stewardship of its remaining assets, including scholarship funds and real estate proceeds, Becker College distributed more than $17 million to local and regional institutions connected to the college and its mission, including Clark University, Worcester State University, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, EcoTarium, Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation and Greater Worcester Community Foundation.