ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Officials at Belmont College announced Monday that the associate degree nursing program at the school achieved accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

ACEN is “the leading authority for nursing education accreditation,” according to its website, and sets the benchmark for nursing education excellence both nationally and internationally. ACEN Board of Commissioners granted accreditation for Belmont in August, and the accreditation is valid through Spring 2030.

As part of receiving ACEN accreditation, the program is required to maintain positive National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nursing pass rates. The NCLEX-RN is a computerized, adaptive standardized test used by state boards of nursing for registered nurses to determine if a candidate has the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to be a safe and effective entry-level nurse. In 2023 Belmont College’s nursing associate graduates achieved a 94.12% pass rate, while in 2024 they received a 92.86% pass rate and in 2025 earned an 85.71% pass rate.

Karolyn Fox, Belmont College director of nursing, said that Belmont attributes the ongoing high pass rates from 2019-2024, which have exceeded state and national averages, to smaller class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, simulation lab software, scheduled weekly tutoring conducted by course faculty, and post-graduation mentoring from Belmont faculty.

“This recognition from our national accreditation organization affirms what we’ve long known at Belmont: We have exceptional faculty, a strong history of graduating qualified nurses, and the resources needed to execute our program to meet the growing needs of our community and healthcare partners.

“We are extremely proud of our graduates and their outstanding NCLEX success rate,” Fox said. “These individuals are now making a meaningful impact by caring for members of our community, and it has been a true honor to witness their growth and achievements.”

She continued, “I would also like to take a moment to thank the administration, faculty, and college staff for their outstanding efforts in securing this accreditation. The survey team visited every department during their site visit, and it was the dedication and hard work of our entire community that made this achievement possible.”

The Ohio Board of Nursing will be on campus for its scheduled five-year survey visit of the program at the end of October.

At Belmont, the faculty that instructs and oversees the nursing programs take their mentoring roles very seriously as they work on a daily basis to encourage students and provide them with a successful start. Many of these faculty members are highly experienced veterans with over 30 years of experience. The range of these professors’ abilities is broad and includes (but is not limited to): medical-surgical nursing, maternal/infant nursing, chronic disease management and training, mental health nursing, critical care nursing, administrative nursing, pediatric nursing, public health, and home health.

“We take great pride in our longstanding tradition of preparing nurses who serve and meet the evolving needs of our community,” said Paul Gasparro, college president. “Our dedicated faculty are deeply committed to student success, engaging collaboratively with students in clinical settings and delivering a concept-based curriculum through innovative instructional methods, including active learning and simulation.”

For more information about the nursing programs at Belmont College visit belmontcollege.edu or contact Fox at 740-699-3910 or kfox@belmontcollege.edu.