Search results are ordered in three groups: NDA-endorsed providers with courses, other NDA-endorsed providers, and emerging providers. The order is produced by a fixed set of rules, not by an AI model, and the same inputs always produce the same order.
Endorsed providers
Within the endorsed groups, NDA-certified providers come first. The rest are ordered by the number of support commitments verified as in place, with more verified supports ranked higher. We show both the number in place and the number still in the works. We do not rank by the proportion completed, because a provider that lists fewer commitments should not outrank one that has disclosed and verified more.
Emerging providers
Emerging providers are ordered by a student-experience index calculated from the QILT Student Experience Survey. For each of the six survey dimensions we take the provider’s result minus the national average, then average those differences. We publish an index only when at least four dimensions are available, and we show the response count beside every figure so small samples are visible.QILT does not survey VET providers, so no QILT figure is shown for them. The student-experience index orders providers within the emerging group only; it does not determine the order across the three groups. Smaller providers can score highly on this index, which is why the response count is always shown and why the index is presented as one signal rather than a verdict.
What we do not do
We do not blend endorsement and survey data into a single score.
We do not use “best”, “top” or “recommended for you” labels.
We do not let an AI model rank, score or recommend providers.
We do not show a QILT figure where QILT does not publish one.
Sources
Student experience figures are derived from the QILT Student Experience Survey. Endorsement and support-commitment status come from NDA’s own verification work with each provider.
Change log
4 November 2026 — First published. Endorsed providers ordered by verified supports in place; emerging providers ordered by the QILT student-experience index.