About
College Track is an Oakland, California-based nonprofit that equips first-generation scholars to earn a bachelor's degree and build lives filled with opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Through a 10-year commitment that begins in ninth grade and continues through college graduation and into careers, College Track has worked for nearly 30 years with students in 13 communities across Colorado, the D.C.-Maryland region, Louisiana, and Northern and Southern California.
Mission
College Track's mission is to equip first-generation scholars to earn a bachelor's degree and build lives of their own choosing. Its partnership-based approach addresses systemic barriers to higher education access, and its scholars complete college at more than twice the national rate for first-generation students.
What they do
College Track's 10-year program model spans four connected phases:
- College Readiness (grades 9-12): academic preparation, college guidance, and confidence-building, including New Scholar and Family Orientation, Semester Zero, and Launch to College
- College Thrive (college years): coaching and community support through graduation, featuring Summer Edge, TFI Flourish, and the Career Discovery Externship
- Alumni Network (career phase): connects graduates nationwide through the Alumni Council and the CT Connect platform
- Career & Life Design (spanning all 10 years): hands-on experience and employer-valued skills through externships, internships, and Life Design Workshops
Communities served
College Track operates in 13 communities: Aurora and Denver in Colorado; Baltimore, Prince George's County, and Southeast D.C. in the D.C.-Maryland region; New Orleans in Louisiana; East Palo Alto, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco in Northern California; and Boyle Heights, Crenshaw, and Watts in Southern California.
Scale and impact
Figures published by College Track:
- 6,600 scholars and alumni across 13 communities and almost 300 colleges
- 89% first-year college retention rate
- First-generation scholars complete bachelor's degrees at more than twice the national completion rate
- Average time to degree of 4.72 years
- 1 in 3 scholars complete college with no debt
Financials
Per IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 94-3279613), College Track reported total revenue of $45,048,058, total functional expenses of $39,953,446, and total assets of $93,653,764 for fiscal year 2023. In fiscal year 2022 it reported revenue of $27,539,542 and expenses of $35,103,122.
Governance
Laurene Powell Jobs serves as Chair and Co-Founder of the board. Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D., is President & Chief Executive Officer. The executive team includes Karen Draper (Chief Finance & Operating Officer), Rodolfo "Rudy" Elizondo (Chief of Education), Carolina Martin (Chief Philanthropy Officer), and Jessica Rubie (Chief of Staff to the President & CEO).