Baltimore Ravens College Track Center has opened its gates, backed by The Baltimore Ravens, the Bisciotti Foundation, and M&T Bank, with a mission to empower the upcoming generation through education
Baltimore City faces deep educational inequality. For the next generation to have a genuine choice in shaping their own futures, that must change. It is a challenge the Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is committed to addressing, backed by a $20 million investment from the Baltimore Ravens, the Bisciotti Foundation and M&T Bank.
The generous investment is the result of a partnership of $10 million from the Baltimore Ravens and the Bisciotti Foundation, and $10 million from M&T Bank Charitable Foundation. This comes as part of the foundations’ efforts to contribute to communities and expand economic opportunities. Moreover, the establishment of Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is part of a wider, $40 million initiative dedicated to helping more students across Baltimore have access to college education, and it includes College Bound and Bridges Baltimore.
“At M&T Bank, we believe education is one of the most powerful drivers of economic mobility. Our partnership with College Track and the Baltimore Ravens reflects our long-standing commitment to strengthening communities and creating pathways to opportunity for Baltimore’s young people.” – Augie Chiasera, Head of Community Markets, M&T Bank
College Track’s Vision
College Track is a nonprofit comprehensive college completion program committed to helping first-generation students from underserved backgrounds to lead lives full of opportunities, choice, and purpose through earning bachelor’s degrees. Shirley M. Collado, CEO of College Track and formerly Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer at Rutgers University-Newark was a first-generation college graduate herself, and now she is committed to clearing the path for underserved students with a strong belief that College Track can provide a replicable blueprint to empowering young generations to attain their biggest dreams.
“Alongside our phenomenal partners, College Track is meeting talent with opportunity for Charm City’s young people. Together, we are demonstrating how cross-sector collaborations can affirm the American Dream through the power of education. The best part is: this center provides a blueprint that can be replicated across the nation—in rural and urban communities.” – Shirley Collado, Ph.D., President & CEO, College Track.
Nationwide efforts
More than 4,800 College Track high school and college students across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C.–Maryland area students are pursuing their goal of becoming the first in their family to graduate from college.
Students on the program are two and a half times more likely to graduate than their first-generation peers.
College Track now has 13 centers around the United States, and the newest addition in West Baltimore will be 3rd on the East Coast to join centers in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. In February 2026, the new College Track Center in West Baltimore held a welcoming event for its inaugural class (Class of 2029) of 68 students. The center later officially opened its gates on March 11 of the same year.
“This year, we are opening our 13th location, in Baltimore, Maryland, which is the result of an unprecedented partnership between an NFL team—the Baltimore Ravens, a nation-wide financial institution in M&T Bank, and our national nonprofit. The Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is our third location on the East Coast.” Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D., President & CEO, College Track (Interview)
A blueprint for the future
The new center is led by Founding Executive Site Director Charelle D. James, M.Ed., a Johns Hopkins University and Spelman College alumna. Under her leadership, the center works in close partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools to guide students toward their futures.
The inaugural class of College Track Center in West Baltimore is made of 68 students, 93% of whom are first-generation college students, and 88% of whom come from under-resourced households. The program will offer participants ten years of continued support through academic coaching, college advising and application assistance, financial literacy, leadership development, and career readiness. From ninth grade through college and into the early stages of their careers, participants are supported at every step along the way.
“The Ravens are proud to support College Track’s expansion into Baltimore as part of our broader commitment to college access and workforce development. Through sustained investment and strong community partnerships, we are helping ensure that students across Baltimore have the resources, mentorship, and support they need to achieve their goals.” – Sashi Brown, President, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM and is located at 2401 Liberty Heights Ave., Suite #2730, Baltimore, MD 21215. Interested students are invited to contact the center to learn more about how they can benefit from College Track by calling (410) 701-3250 or emailing at baltimore@collegetrack.org.
Supporting Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdnKGSozbwo
