Baltimore Ravens owner commits $3 million in scholarships for Morgan State students

The Bisciotti Family Foundation, led by Baltimore Ravens majority owner Steve Bisciotti, announced on Wednesday that it will commit $3 million in scholarships for Baltimore City Public Schools graduates who attend Morgan State University.

The gift expands the Ozzie Newsome Scholars program, named after the former Ravens general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer. Launched in 2021 by Bisciotti’s foundation, the Newsome Scholars program originally doled out $1 million to Maryland’s four historically Black universities for student scholarships benefiting city high school graduates.

But now the program is focusing its efforts on Morgan State University, according to Wednesday’s announcement.

The new eight-year grant, spanning from 2026 through 2033, will support 40 new Ozzie Newsome Scholars at the Northeast Baltimore HBCU. Ten students in each of the next four incoming classes will receive $15,000 annually for up to five years, or as much as $75,000 per scholar.

The scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, technical equipment, room and board, transportation or other personal expenses. In-state tuition, plus room and board, for Morgan State students this fall is $34,396.

“Since its inception, the Ozzie Newsome Scholars Program has been about more than financial support,” said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti in a statement. “We are proud of what these scholars have achieved and confident that Morgan State University will remain an exceptional partner in helping future scholars earn their degrees and impact Baltimore and beyond.”

The scholarship comes during an era of continued growth for Morgan State, Maryland’s largest historically Black university. The school has recorded five consecutive years of enrollment growth, setting an all-time record in the 2025-26 academic year, with 11,559 students enrolled. The university last spring had to acquire more dormitory space to house the influx of students.

Morgan has also upped its fundraising game in recent years. Last fall, the university received its largest ever gift, $63 million, from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The gift brought Scott’s total investment in Morgan State to over $100 million.

To qualify for the renewed scholarship program, students must be eligible for a Pell Grant, a form of federal aid for those with exceptional financial needs. Students must also have graduated from a Baltimore City public school or an approved independent school, begin college in the fall immediately following high school graduation, and enroll in the CollegeBound Foundation’s College Completion Program.

“Access to higher education should never depend on whether a promising Baltimore student can overcome every financial barrier alone,” said David Wilson, Morgan State’s president. “This renewed commitment will change the trajectory not only of individual scholars, but also of their families, their communities and the city we proudly call home.”

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