Belmont College Joins Ohio’s Community Colleges in Statewide Effort to Make Credentials More Transparent

St. Clairsville, OH (July 14, 2026) – Ohio students, employers, and families will receive clearer information about credentials offered by Belmont College as part of a statewide community college transparency initiative.

In partnership with Credential Engine, Belmont College has published data on every certificate, associate degree, and credential it offers to the national Credential Registry. Supported by the Gates Foundation, this work helps advance clearer, more useful information about educational pathways and outcomes. As a result, these data can support tools that help students, employers, and families easily review key program details, including cost, time to completion, skills gained, available financial aid, and related career pathways.

“Belmont College students deserve clear, reliable information as they make decisions about their education and future,” said Dr. Paul F. Gasparro, President.

“By publishing our credentials on the national Credential Registry, we are helping our students better understand the value of our programs and how those programs connect to good jobs or the next step in their education,” he said. “This kind of transparency builds trust and helps people make informed decisions.”

Each year, Ohio’s 22 community colleges serve roughly 250,000 Ohioans, including high school students earning college credit through the popular College Credit Plus program, working adults, veterans, and individuals seeking new skills or a career change. Students can earn industry-recognized certificates, complete associate degrees, pursue limited bachelor’s degrees at some colleges, or begin coursework that transfers smoothly to a four-year institution, demonstrating the range of pathways Ohioans go through every year.

“Ohio’s community colleges have always been the state’s top workforce partner and the best value in higher education,” said Avi Zaffini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

“Partnering with Credential Engine strengthens that commitment by making our credential data transparent and easier to understand,” Zaffini said. “They support solutions that give students, families, and employers a clearer picture of the value and opportunity our colleges provide.”

“Transparency in the education process matters,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey. “This statewide partnership will help more Ohioans make informed decisions about education and careers.”

“Ohio’s community colleges are setting a powerful example for the country,” Credential Engine CEO Scott Cheney states, “When institutions publish their credentials in solid data formats, they give learners the information they need to make confident choices about their futures. We’re proud to support Ohio’s community colleges in that work.”

All of Belmont College’s credentials are now available through the free public platform CredentialFinder.org.

To learn more about our programs and credentials, visit belmontcollege.edu or search Belmont College on CredentialFinder.org.

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