What a private GMAT coach costs in 2026

Hourly rates, typical packages, and what you are actually paying for, from coaches' own price pages.

A good GMAT coach can be worth it. But prices vary a lot, and most are sold in packages, so it helps to know the numbers before you talk to anyone.

Hourly rates

Marketplace coaches: about $100 to $420 an hour. The median across 22 GMAT coaches on Leland was about $170 (October 2026).
Large test-prep firms: about $290 to $340 an hour in their tutoring packages (Target Test Prep and Manhattan Prep, October 2026).
A review of one practice test with a coach: about $600 for two hours (Stacy Blackman, October 2026).

Packages

Most coaching is sold in blocks of 10, 20 or 30 hours. Twenty hours is a common purchase. At the rates above, that is roughly $2,000 to $6,500. Some providers do not refund unused hours.

What the hour includes, and what it does not

The session is the coach's time with you. Mock exams, question banks and help between sessions are often extra, or part of a course with its own price and expiry date.

Questions to ask before you buy

Will you review my mocks, and is that inside the package hours?
Can I ask questions between sessions, and how fast do you reply?
Are mocks and practice questions included, or extra?
What happens to unused hours?
How will we know, week by week, whether it is working?

When a person is worth it

A person is better at encouragement, at holding you to a schedule, and at admissions advice. If those are what you need most, a coach can be money well spent. If what you need most is someone reading every mistake, that is a lot of paid hours.