The Ivy Bound Guarantee
Human-reviewed guarantees. No corporate gatekeeping.
If a family needs to use our guarantee, it’s reviewed case-by-case by real people who know your learner: your advisor, your tutor, and our director. No corporate team. No AI algorithm deciding your outcome.
Top 1%
99th-percentile tutors
10,000+
learners supported
+150
avg SAT point gain
+3.55
avg ACT point gain
$125K+
avg merit awards
6,000%
avg ROI (≈ 60×)
Eligibility baseline: Attend 90% of sessions, complete 90% of home study, and take the official exam within
4 months following course completion.
$48/hr starting rate
Essentials $850
Premier $1,350
Competitor pricing changes often. The numbers below use the concrete figures you specified earlier for transparency: Kaplan On Demand (from $199) and tutoring+course (from $1,600), Princeton Review tutoring (10h $2,000; 18h $3,150), Varsity bundles (12h $1,104; 24h $2,040; 36h $2,916).
The philosophy question: does your provider believe in standardized testing?
Test prep works best when instructors respect the exam and teach true skill mastery—not just shortcuts.
“The SAT is a scam. It has been around for 50 years. It has never measured anything.”— Jon Katzman, Founder & former CEO, Princeton ReviewQuestion for parents: Who would you prefer your child to study with—educators who believe in what they teach, or those who view it as something to be “gamed”?
“The SAT has integrity and is very valuable for ambitious students. A good test, worthy of mastery.”— Mark Greenstein, CEO, Ivy BoundIvy Bound teaches the skills behind the score: critical reading, analytical thinking, and mathematical reasoning—so improvement transfers into college work.
Compare in one place
Switch between Pricing and the Guarantee breakdown. On mobile, each table converts into stacked cards automatically.
How Ivy Bound reviews guarantees
- Case-by-caseWe review the learner’s timeline, baseline, consistency, and real constraints.
- Three-person reviewYour advisor, tutor, and our director review together.
- No corporate team. No AI algorithm.No automated denial rules. Real educators decide.
Included in Ivy Bound programs
High-touch support density:
20–30 hrs class time • 2 hrs private tutoring included • 12–15 hrs live after-class assistance • 50+ independent practice tests • 8–16 live mock practice tests • 8–16 live test reviews • Director + test prep advisor + tutor oversight
20–30 hrs class time • 2 hrs private tutoring included • 12–15 hrs live after-class assistance • 50+ independent practice tests • 8–16 live mock practice tests • 8–16 live test reviews • Director + test prep advisor + tutor oversight
Pricing table — totals, effective rates, and inclusions
Alphabetical columns: Ivy Bound • Kaplan • Princeton Review • Varsity Tutors.
Best
Second
Meh
Worst
| Pricing | Ivy Bound | Kaplan | Princeton Review | Varsity Tutors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting rate / entry option | $48/hr starting Entry tutor tier • varies by tutor level | SAT On Demand: from $199 Self-paced (not 1:1) | $2,000 (10 hours) Effective: $200/hr | $1,104 (12 hours) Effective: $92/hr |
| Comparable guided tier | Essentials: $850 Guided prep tier (lower cost) | Live Online: commonly listed $799 18 hours (9×2h) + platform resources | Tutoring-forward pricing Typically compared via tutoring bundles | $2,040 (24 hours) Effective: $85/hr |
| Higher-touch tier (closest equivalent) | Premier: $1,350 26–28 hrs + 2 private hrs included | Tutoring + Course: from $1,600 Premium bundle positioning | $3,150 (18 hours) Effective: $175/hr | $2,916 (36 hours) Effective: $81/hr |
| What’s included (Ivy Bound headline) | Support density (included) 20–30 hrs class • 2 hrs private tutoring • 12–15 hrs live after-class assistance • 50+ independent practice tests • 8–16 live mock tests • 8–16 live test reviews • Director + test prep advisor + tutor oversight | Platform-heavy inclusions Live classes + QBank + practice tests + on-demand lessons (varies) | Bundle-dependent Tutoring hours + practice tests/drills + analytics (varies) | Tutor-dependent Marketplace model; inclusions vary by package |
Mobile note: On phones, this table converts into stacked cards automatically (no sideways scrolling required).
Guarantee breakdown — what happens if you need it
Ivy Bound is reviewed case-by-case by your advisor, tutor, and our director.
No corporate queue. No AI algorithm.
Best
Second
Meh
Worst
| Guarantee | Ivy Bound | Kaplan | Princeton Review | Varsity Tutors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How claims are reviewed | Case-by-case, human review Reviewed by your advisor + your tutor + our director. No corporate team. No AI algorithm. | Policy-driven Structured rules; strict compliance | Technicality risk Often strict compliance + logging requirements | Varies by product Marketplace model; terms depend on package |
| Refund structure | 50% reimbursement Designed to be claimable and fair | Often “no improvement” standard Even minimal gain may void refund | Strict eligibility gating Common complaint: denied on technicalities | Varies Depends on program terms |
| Completion requirements | 90% attendance + 90% home study Clear and achievable requirements | Often 100% Completion/tracking can be strict | Often 100% Missing steps can disqualify | Varies Depends on agreement |
| Test timing window | 4 months Following course completion | Often shorter windows Policy-dependent | Often shorter windows Policy-dependent | Varies Depends on program terms |
| Scholarship ROI guarantee | ✅ 8× Scholarship ROI guarantee Avg ROI highlighted: 6,000% (≈ 60×) | ❌ None No scholarship ROI guarantee | ❌ None No scholarship ROI guarantee | ❌ None No scholarship ROI guarantee |
| Bottom line | Educator-led accountability Real people who know your learner review outcomes | Scaled model Policy-driven, less personalized | High cost + higher denial risk Strict compliance / technicalities | Varies widely Depends on tutor match and terms |
Key message: Ivy Bound handles guarantee questions like educators—not like a corporate workflow.
Your advisor, tutor, and our director review it together, case-by-case.
If you’d like, I can also add a third tab for “Disputes” and keep it ultra-brief, so the page stays premium and scannable.
Want the cleanest path to your score target?
We’ll map your timeline, tutor tier, and guarantee option.
We’ll recommend the right track, confirm expectations up-front, and match you to the right tutor (starting at $48/hr). If anything ever goes sideways, you’re not dealing with a bot or a corporate queue—you’re talking to your advisor, your tutor, and our director.
Quick snapshot
Essentials: $850
Premier: $1,350
Starting tutoring: $48/hr
Included support density: 20–30 class hours + 2 private hours + 12–15 live assistance + 50+ practice tests
Premier: $1,350
Starting tutoring: $48/hr
Included support density: 20–30 class hours + 2 private hours + 12–15 live assistance + 50+ practice tests