Private tutors work one-on-one with students, giving individual attention unique to the student's needs. Private tutors can be found by word of mouth, by referral from colleges and through online classifieds. Tutors who teach unique subjects like a foreign language charge more, but for a mainstream subject like reading, according to the Math and Reading Help for Kids website, private tutors charge anywhere from $20 to $100. Private tutor listings on Tutor Match vary from $20 to $150. The large variation in prices is due to the variation in private tutors' skills, education, licenses/tutoring training and experience.
Tutoring companies, like Sylvan, offer peace of mind from knowing that the tutor is qualified and vetted by the company. However, with tutoring companies students do not always receive personal attention. Some tutors and programs teach in a classroom of several students. Some companies require starting costs for assessment of the student's skill level, from where a specialized curriculum is developed. Sylvan charges $175 for a reading assessment. According to the Sylvan website, tutoring for reading begins at $43.50 an hour.
Online tutoring offers convenience because students do not need to leave their homes to get tutoring. Online tutoring is offered through the use of software which allows tutors and students to interact in a virtual classroom. Tutors and students interact via voice chat or instant messaging. Some online tutoring sites charge by the minute, typically around 45 to 60 cents a minute. Many sites charge a weekly or monthly rate, ranging from $75 to $150 a month for two to four one-hour sessions a week. Online tutoring site Tutor.com offers one hour of tutoring a month for $34.99 with each tutoring session lasting 25 minutes on average.
Location greatly influences tutoring costs. Tutors and companies have to price their services based on cost of living and overhead costs. Additionally, if you live near a college, more college students are likely to offer tutoring services cheaper than a professional tutor or tutoring company.