How Much Does SAT/ACT Test Prep Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$200
Average
$1,000
High End
$3,000
per course
What Does SAT/ACT Test Prep Include?
SAT and ACT test preparation ranges from self-study books to intensive private tutoring programs. Higher-priced options typically include more personalized instruction and practice tests.
The national average cost for sat/act test prep is $1,000 per course. Most homeowners pay between $200 and $3,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Format
Self-study books: $30-$100. Online course: $200-$600. Group class: $500-$1,500. Private tutoring: $1,500-$5,000
Provider
Kaplan/Princeton Review: $800-$2,000. Boutique: $1,000-$3,000. Private: $2,000-$5,000+
Key Cost Factors
- ✓Format (self-study, class, private)
- ✓Duration
- ✓Provider reputation
- ✓Practice tests included
- ✓Score improvement guarantee
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Khan Academy offers free SAT prep in partnership with College Board
- 2.Group courses cost much less than private tutoring
- 3.Start early — cramming requires more intensive (expensive) help
- 4.Buy used prep books for self-study
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📈 SAT/ACT Test Prep Cost Trends (2022–2026)
Prices have increased +17.8% over the last 5 years
$849
2022
$885
2023
$943
2024
$969
2025
$1,000
2026
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $849 | — |
| 2023 | $885 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $943 | +6.6% |
| 2025 | $969 | +2.8% |
| 2026 | $1,000 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
SAT/ACT Test Prep Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $164 | $820 | $2,460 |
| Alaska | $256 | $1,280 | $3,840 |
| Arizona | $190 | $950 | $2,850 |
| Arkansas | $160 | $800 | $2,400 |
| California | $270 | $1,350 | $4,050 |
| Colorado | $216 | $1,080 | $3,240 |
| Connecticut | $244 | $1,220 | $3,660 |
| Delaware | $210 | $1,050 | $3,150 |
| District of Columbia | $250 | $1,250 | $3,750 |
| Florida | $196 | $980 | $2,940 |
| Georgia | $180 | $900 | $2,700 |
| Hawaii | $284 | $1,420 | $4,260 |
| Idaho | $184 | $920 | $2,760 |
| Illinois | $210 | $1,050 | $3,150 |
| Indiana | $176 | $880 | $2,640 |
| Iowa | $172 | $860 | $2,580 |
| Kansas | $170 | $850 | $2,550 |
| Kentucky | $168 | $840 | $2,520 |
| Louisiana | $174 | $870 | $2,610 |
| Maine | $204 | $1,020 | $3,060 |
| Maryland | $230 | $1,150 | $3,450 |
| Massachusetts | $260 | $1,300 | $3,900 |
| Michigan | $184 | $920 | $2,760 |
| Minnesota | $204 | $1,020 | $3,060 |
| Mississippi | $156 | $780 | $2,340 |
| Missouri | $174 | $870 | $2,610 |
| Montana | $190 | $950 | $2,850 |
| Nebraska | $176 | $880 | $2,640 |
| Nevada | $204 | $1,020 | $3,060 |
| New Hampshire | $224 | $1,120 | $3,360 |
| New Jersey | $250 | $1,250 | $3,750 |
| New Mexico | $180 | $900 | $2,700 |
| New York | $264 | $1,320 | $3,960 |
| North Carolina | $180 | $900 | $2,700 |
| North Dakota | $180 | $900 | $2,700 |
| Ohio | $180 | $900 | $2,700 |
| Oklahoma | $166 | $830 | $2,490 |
| Oregon | $220 | $1,100 | $3,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $204 | $1,020 | $3,060 |
| Rhode Island | $230 | $1,150 | $3,450 |
| South Carolina | $174 | $870 | $2,610 |
| South Dakota | $170 | $850 | $2,550 |
| Tennessee | $172 | $860 | $2,580 |
| Texas | $186 | $930 | $2,790 |
| Utah | $190 | $950 | $2,850 |
| Vermont | $216 | $1,080 | $3,240 |
| Virginia | $210 | $1,050 | $3,150 |
| Washington | $230 | $1,150 | $3,450 |
| West Virginia | $160 | $800 | $2,400 |
| Wisconsin | $188 | $940 | $2,820 |
| Wyoming | $184 | $920 | $2,760 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SAT prep worth the cost?
Students who complete structured prep programs typically improve 100-200 points on the SAT. The ROI can be significant in scholarship money.
🏙️ SAT/ACT Test Prep Cost by City
Compare sat/act test prep costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$1,450
Los Angeles
CA
$1,380
Chicago
IL
$1,150
Houston
TX
$950
Phoenix
AZ
$980
Philadelphia
PA
$1,120
San Antonio
TX
$880
San Diego
CA
$1,320
Dallas
TX
$1,020
San Jose
CA
$1,520
Austin
TX
$1,050
Jacksonville
FL
$920
Fort Worth
TX
$950
Columbus
OH
$900
Charlotte
NC
$950
Indianapolis
IN
$880
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$1,550
Seattle, WA
$1,300
Denver, CO
$1,150
Washington D.C., DC
$1,350
Nashville, TN
$1,000
Oklahoma City, OK
$820
El Paso, TX
$820
Boston, MA
$1,400
Portland, OR
$1,180
Las Vegas, NV
$1,020
Memphis, TN
$820
Louisville, KY
$850
Baltimore, MD
$1,100
Milwaukee, WI
$920
Albuquerque, NM
$880
Tucson, AZ
$880
Fresno, CA
$1,050
Sacramento, CA
$1,180
Mesa, AZ
$950
Kansas City, MO
$900
Atlanta, GA
$1,050
Omaha, NE
$880
Colorado Springs, CO
$1,020
Raleigh, NC
$980
Long Beach, CA
$1,350
Virginia Beach, VA
$1,050
Miami, FL
$1,200
Oakland, CA
$1,450
Minneapolis, MN
$1,080
Tampa, FL
$1,020
Tulsa, OK
$820
Arlington, TX
$950
New Orleans, LA
$950
Pittsburgh, PA
$950
St. Louis, MO
$880
Bakersfield, CA
$1,020
Anaheim, CA
$1,350
Honolulu, HI
$1,500
Santa Ana, CA
$1,320
Riverside, CA
$1,150
Corpus Christi, TX
$850
Lexington, KY
$880
Stockton, CA
$1,100
Henderson, NV
$1,020
St. Paul, MN
$1,050
Cincinnati, OH
$880
Anchorage, AK
$1,280
Greensboro, NC
$880
Plano, TX
$1,050
Newark, NJ
$1,250
Lincoln, NE
$850
Orlando, FL
$1,020
Irvine, CA
$1,400
Durham, NC
$950
Chula Vista, CA
$1,280
Toledo, OH
$820
Fort Wayne, IN
$820
Jersey City, NJ
$1,350
St. Petersburg, FL
$1,020
Laredo, TX
$800
Madison, WI
$980
Chandler, AZ
$980
Buffalo, NY
$920
Lubbock, TX
$820
Scottsdale, AZ
$1,120
Reno, NV
$1,050
Glendale, AZ
$950
Gilbert, AZ
$1,020
Winston-Salem, NC
$850
North Las Vegas, NV
$980
Norfolk, VA
$980
Chesapeake, VA
$1,020
Irving, TX
$1,000
Fremont, CA
$1,450
Richmond, VA
$980
Boise, ID
$980
San Bernardino, CA
$1,080
Spokane, WA
$950
Des Moines, IA
$850
Tacoma, WA
$1,150
Modesto, CA
$1,050
Fontana, CA
$1,100
Moreno Valley, CA
$1,080
Fayetteville, NC
$850
Birmingham, AL
$820
Rochester, NY
$920
Salt Lake City, UT
$1,050
Oxnard, CA
$1,220
Knoxville, TN
$850
Worcester, MA
$1,150
Brownsville, TX
$780
Grand Rapids, MI
$900
Newport News, VA
$950
Huntsville, AL
$850
Amarillo, TX
$820
Little Rock, AR
$820
Montgomery, AL
$800
Akron, OH
$820
Augusta, GA
$820
Baton Rouge, LA
$850
Mobile, AL
$800
Shreveport, LA
$800
Tallahassee, FL
$900
Hartford, CT
$1,150
Providence, RI
$1,120
Charleston, SC
$980
Savannah, GA
$880
Columbia, SC
$850
Chattanooga, TN
$850
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$1,180
Dayton, OH
$820
Sioux Falls, SD
$850
Springfield, MO
$800
Jackson, MS
$780
Palm Bay, FL
$950
Lakeland, FL
$920
Cape Coral, FL
$980
Pensacola, FL
$880
Port St. Lucie, FL
$980
Naperville, IL
$1,150
Tempe, AZ
$1,000
Overland Park, KS
$950
McKinney, TX
$1,020
Frisco, TX
$1,050
Cary, NC
$1,020
Clarksville, TN
$850
Cedar Rapids, IA
$820
Peoria, AZ
$980
Surprise, AZ
$950
Denton, TX
$980
Roseville, CA
$1,150
Gainesville, FL
$880
Bellevue, WA
$1,400
Murfreesboro, TN
$920
Round Rock, TX
$1,020
Columbia, MD
$1,150
Boulder, CO
$1,250
Ann Arbor, MI
$1,100
Santa Fe, NM
$1,050
Wilmington, NC
$920
Greenville, SC
$880
Fargo, ND
$850
Provo, UT
$980
Duluth, MN
$880
Billings, MT
$920
Missoula, MT
$980
Cheyenne, WY
$880
Burlington, VT
$1,080
Portland, ME
$1,080
Concord, NH
$1,050
Bismarck, ND
$850
Rapid City, SD
$850
Casper, WY
$880
Bangor, ME
$950
Charleston, WV
$800
Dover, DE
$980
Manchester, NH
$1,080
Bridgeport, CT
$1,200
Stamford, CT
$1,350
Wichita, KS
$820
Topeka, KS
$800
Springfield, IL
$850
Rockford, IL
$850
Erie, PA
$820
Scranton, PA
$850
Flint, MI
$780
Lansing, MI
$850
Syracuse, NY
$880
Albany, NY
$950
Eugene, OR
$1,050
Salem, OR
$1,020
Fort Collins, CO
$1,100
Pueblo, CO
$850
Aurora, CO
$1,080
Santa Barbara, CA
$1,400
Santa Rosa, CA
$1,280
Pasadena, CA
$1,380
Visalia, CA
$1,000
Pomona, CA
$1,180
Myrtle Beach, SC
$880
Daytona Beach, FL
$920
Sarasota, FL
$1,050
Naples, FL
$1,180
Ocala, FL
$850
Athens, GA
$850
Macon, GA
$800
Lexington, SC
$850
Asheville, NC
$1,020
Flagstaff, AZ
$1,080
Rochester, NY
$920
New Haven, CT
$1,080
Manchester, NH
$1,050
Augusta, GA
$820
Fort Myers, FL
$980
Wilmington, NC
$950
Arlington, VA
$1,300
Green Bay, WI
$850
South Bend, IN
$820
Bend, OR
$1,120
Bellingham, WA
$1,100
Midland, TX
$950
Waco, TX
$820
Newark, NJ
$1,200
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for SAT/ACT Test Prep
$1,010
Avg Reported
$707
Lowest Reported
$1,465
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$810
Dallas, TX · Jan 2026
★★★☆☆
$1,134
Chicago, IL · Feb 2026
★★★★☆
$836
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2026
★★★★★
$1,232
Denver, CO · Apr 2026
★★★☆☆
$874
Atlanta, GA · May 2026
★★★★☆
$1,318
Seattle, WA · Jun 2026
★★★★★
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