The Baltimore Collegetown Network brings area colleges and universities -- including 120,000 students and $17 billion in economic activity – into a consortium that benefits each institution and the region as a whole. We know that Baltimore is a great college town and create programs that strengthen that claim.  Collegetown began as a grassroots effort in the late 1990s, was officially incorporated in 1999, and received 501c3 status in 2001. Our projects and partnerships attract, engage, and retain students, raise the profile of Baltimore as a college destination, and help colleges share resources. Primary programs include:

• Academic partnerships: The Baltimore Student Exchange Program and library reciprocal borrowing privileges allow students to access resources on all member campuses.
• Transportation: The Collegetown Shuttle transports riders between three campuses and area destinations.
• Marketing:  Collegetown works to position Baltimore as a vibrant and welcoming city for college students. Print and online marketing materials show prospective and current students and others why Baltimore is a great college town. 
• Internships: Collegetown’s internship board allows businesses to post and students to search hundreds of listings, providing the only resource of its kind in the region.
• Communities of Practice: Collegetown facilitates networking and staff development groups that bring campus and community leaders together. Groups include those focused on Human Resources, Emergency Management, New Student Programs, Student Activities and Affairs, Sustainability, Transportation, and others.
• Research Studies: Collegetown publishes research studies, including economic impact studies for higher education and student perception studies.
• Engagement Programs: A variety of engagement programs encourage students to get involved in the greater Baltimore region.

Baltimore Collegetown is funded primarily by member colleges with additional support from area foundations and businesses. It is governed by a board of representatives from each member college, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County. Collegetown provides an important link between colleges and the community, and we welcome new partnerships and opportunities – please contact us!

Mission Statement

The Baltimore Collegetown Network will have a strong and clear reputation as the premier higher education organization in the Baltimore region that facilitates the efforts of its members to:

• Enhance the academic and social lives of college students in Baltimore;
• Attract students, faculty and staff of strong academic and professional standing and diverse backgrounds to the Baltimore area institutions of higher education;
• Increase professional development opportunities for faculty and staff working at the colleges in and around Baltimore;
• Enable the Baltimore area colleges to share resources;
• Promote the economic impact of higher education on the Greater Baltimore region;
• Enhance the visibility of the higher education community in the Baltimore region locally, regionally, and nationally;
• Serve as a resource and advocate to city officials and regional government; and,
• Engage in community service and provide support to the Baltimore metro area.

Vision Statement (Statement of Purpose)

The member campuses of the Baltimore Collegetown Network will tap the collective strength and expertise of our campus programs, services, and leaders to further attract and retain well-educated and diverse students, faculty, and staff and further develop the Baltimore region into an attractive living and learning community.  Through advocacy, convening public and private sector partners, and serving as an information resource, the BCN will facilitate collaborative planning and community development to maximize academic, residential, transportation, cultural, and social opportunities that raise the visibility of Baltimore as a college destination and advance the development of the region as a competitive and vibrant metropolitan area.

Baltimore Collegetown's work is deeply tied to place. All of our programs, events, and services take place on occupied Piscataway land. We encourage everyone to find out whose land you occupy and find ways to support the local tribe(s). We would also like to acknowledge the impact of racist, systemic oppression of redlining on the lives of Black folks in Baltimore. You can find more anti-racism resources here.

We would like to thank Both/And for the language used in these acknowledgments.