Baltimore Ravens College Track Center opened its doors to students in West Baltimore on March 11, 2026, with a vision to reaffirm the American Dream through the power of education.
College Track’s Mission
The project is led by College Track, a national nonprofit committed to helping first-generation students from underprivileged communities earn bachelor’s degrees. Shirley M. Collado, CEO of College Track and former executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at Rutgers University-Newark is on a mission to empower students with disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their ambition of becoming the first in their families to graduate from college, and lead lives filled with opportunity, choice, purpose, and power.
“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)
Last February, the new Baltimore Ravens College Track Center in West Baltimore welcomed its inaugural Class of 2029 including nearly 70 students from Baltimore City Public Schools. Over the next decade, the students will be supported through a comprehensive programme of academic coaching, college advising, career readiness, and lifelong support.
“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 M. Collado, Ph.D., President & CEO, College Track.
A $20 Million Investment in Baltimore’s Future
The centre is the 13th in the United States and third to join the East Coast in addition to centers in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. It is backed by a generous commitment of $10 million from the Baltimore Ravens and the Bisciotti Foundation, and $10 million from M&T Bank Charitable Foundation — backed by their shared belief in the upcoming generation.
“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
Both foundations have long supported educational initiatives as part of broader efforts to strengthen communities and nurture economic growth. The foundation of the new Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is part of the broader Ravens College Access Program, a $40 million initiative to support programs dedicated to ensuring higher education is within reach for more students across Baltimore, including College Bound and Bridges Baltimore.
What does the new center provide to Baltimore’s students
The new centre is lead by Founding Executive Site Director Charelle D. James, M.Ed., who holds a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College.
The center is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and it operates in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools to support students all the way — from the ninth grade through college graduation and their entry into the workforce. The ten-year programme provides students with academic enrichment, coaching, college advising, support through the college application process, educating them in financial literacy, leadership development, and career readiness.
“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
Who the Baltimore Ravens College Track Center serves
College Track supports more than 4,800 high school and college students across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C.–Maryland region. The new Baltimore centre’s inaugural class began their journey in February 2026, comprising nearly 70 students, 93% of whom are first-generation college students, and 88% of whom come from under-resourced households.
The Ravens and its funding partners are committed to addressing educational inequality in Baltimore City through their support of the College Track Programme, with the longer-term ambition of creating a replicable model for helping underserved students attain bachelor’s degrees.
Students on the programme are 2.5 times more likely to graduate than their first-generation peers. Students interested in enrolling are invited to visit the the programme’s website to learn more, or reach out at (410) 701-3250 or baltimore@collegetrack.org. The Baltimore Ravens College Track Center is located at 2401 Liberty Heights Ave., Suite #2730, Baltimore, MD 21215.
