Picking the wrong GMAT prep course can waste time and money. Neither of those is an option if you want to get into grad school.
Many programs promise results but lack structure or support. The Princeton Review aims to fix that with expert instruction, adaptive tools, and a strong score guarantee.
In this review, we’ll explore whether it lives up to the promise.
Table of Contents
Princeton GMAT Prep Course
Summary
The Princeton Review GMAT Prep Course offers structured learning, expert instructors, and a 645+ score guarantee. It’s ideal for goal-driven students who thrive with guidance but may not suit those on a tight budget or seeking flexible, self-paced options. Quality support and materials make it a strong, though pricey, contender.
- Great live instruction
- 645+ score guarantee
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Clear structure
- Comprehensive
- Official GMAT practice integration
- Online and in-person courses
- Tutoring available
- Expensive
- Limited self-paced options
- Limited adaptability
- Lackluster video lessons
- Inflexible classes
- No mobile app
- Great live instruction
- 645+ score guarantee
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Clear structure
- Comprehensive
- Official GMAT practice integration
- Online and in-person courses
- Tutoring available
❌Cons
- Expensive
- Limited self-paced options
- Limited adaptability
- Lackluster video lessons
- Inflexible classes
- No mobile app
Who Is Princeton Review GMAT Prep For?
The Princeton Review is a great company for preparing for the GMAT—that is, for students who are well-suited for it. As it goes, The Princeton Review’s approach to GMAT prep won’t jive with just anyone. Ambitious and accountable students who enjoy structure tend to perform the best at The Princeton Review.
🎯Students who are aiming to score high or greatly improve their previous score are ideal for The Princeton Review’s GMAT 645+ course.
The Princeton Review is one of a handful of GMAT test prep companies that have a score guarantee. The GMAT 645+ course aims to help students achieve a score of 645 (or higher) or increase their starting score by 70 points.
Late 2023 and early 2024 saw the integration of the GMAT exam’s “Focus Edition,” which made a 645 score equal to the former ideal score of 700. In short, 645 is a 90th percentile score as of 2024, and The Princeton Review can make that happen!
🎯 Students seeking a structured study plan can find the support they desire at The Princeton Review.
The Princeton Review offers students structure and support on their GMAT prep journey. It gives students access to e-mail support, and those enrolled in live classes get direct instructor support. To top it all off, live and self-paced courses both get access to a customizable study plan. You’re not getting thrown to the wolves, here: support is there every step of the way at The Princeton Review.
🎯Students who thrive in a live learning environment and enjoy guided learning will appreciate The Princeton Review’s approach to GMAT prep.
The Princeton Review gives students quite a bit of support. A lot of it comes down to the emphasis The Princeton Review places on its live learning environment and student-centered educational approach. With regularly scheduled live classes, students get to experience first-hand the benefits of guided learning.
🚫The Princeton Review GMAT is NOT ideal for everyone.
The Princeton Review isn’t the end-all, be-all of GMAT prep. It doesn’t work for everyone. Most notably, those on a tight budget or who prefer exclusively self-paced platforms may not perform well if enrolled in The Princeton Review GMAT courses.
The Princeton Review is expensive, especially its tutoring packages.
Honestly, exam prep can be a major expense. Most students can’t afford to shell out thousands of dollars—or in some cases, several hundred dollars—on test prep alone. In that case, budget-conscious students may turn to platforms like Magoosh, which remains the most affordable GMAT test prep on the market.
The Princeton Review does not have extensive self-paced options. It largely functions on a structured schedule that doesn’t have much room for the flexibility demanded by self-paced learners.
While The Princeton Review does have a self-paced option, it doesn’t cater to self-led learners in the way some students require. Of course, it has support resources for self-paced students, but these are not nearly as extensive as some other programs. For more seamless self-paced GMAT prep, students may turn to companies like Magoosh or Target Test Prep.
Princeton Review GMAT Course Options and Pricing
The Princeton Review offers four primary course options to help students prepare for the 2025 GMAT. The cost of each varies, ranging from $799 for its least expensive course to $5,400 for its most expensive.
All of The Princeton Review’s GMAT course options offer payment plans, and frequent sales can significantly reduce the initial costs for potential students. Payment installations are made available through the third-party lender, Affirm.
Let’s break down each of the four courses and compare what they each offer students preparing to take the GMAT in 2025.
| Courses | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
GMAT 645+ | $1999 | |
GMAT Self-Paced | $799 | |
GMAT Core Concepts | $999 | |
GMAT Private Tutoring | $2200–$5400 |
What Does Princeton Review GMAT Include?
The Princeton Review GMAT course includes several notable materials. Most have direct integrations from GMAT official resources, which makes them among the best of the best for preparing for the GMAT.
6 Full-Length Practice Tests
Almost all GMAT prep courses at The Princeton Review come with six full-length mock exams. The Core Concepts course gives students access to four practice tests. The kicker? All the practice exams included in The Princeton Review GMAT courses adapt to your performance, so they keep getting harder, and keep challenging you.
Now, remember that there are tons of benefits to adaptive learning techniques. And, while The Princeton Review isn’t the only GMAT prep company to have adaptive learning as part of its study programs, its inclusion is nice. Keeping up with the curve will only benefit students in the long run.
4,480+ Practice Questions
Another major benefit students get when registering with The Princeton Review for 2025 GMAT prep is its breadth of practice questions. There are a lot, over 4,000! They also cover all the major topics that are on the GMAT. Not only will the questions provided by The Princeton Review help you get a grasp on several GMAT topics, but they will also help you get a feel for its format.
GMAT Essay LiveGrader
With The Princeton Review GMAT, students get personalized feedback on their essays. Essay grading is carried out through the GMAT Essay LiveGrader, a system that’s available to all GMAT prep students regardless of their registered course.
It works like this: a certified grader receives your essay, then they give it a score between 0 and 6 and leave personalized feedback throughout so you know exactly where you need to improve. You’ll receive an email before the score is officially posted online.
Additionally, essays are graded as a whole rather than totally picked apart, so there is no need to get hung up on the finer details. The Princeton Review’s streamlined take on GMAT essays allows students to take a breather and tackle the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) with confidence.
Study Tools
The Princeton Review provides GMAT prep students with numerous study tools, from thousands of practice drills to an official GMAT guide. These demonstrate The Princeton Review’s adaptable platform and commitment to student success. We cover everything in more detail below, under Study Materials and Tools.
Instructor-Led Classes
The Princeton Review has three courses that include instructor-led classes: GMAT 645+, GMAT Core Concepts, and GMAT Tutoring. The instructors for the GMAT courses are all certified and selected by The Princeton Review based on their familiarity with test material and content.
Interactive Dashboard and Progress Tracking
Students registered with The Princeton Review gain access to an interactive student dashboard that allows for independent progress tracking. Students will be able to easily navigate their lesson plans from their dashboard and access digital materials with ease.
On-Demand Video Lessons
Video lessons are included in Core Concepts and Self-Paced options at The Princeton Review. On-demand videos are available to students whenever they need them. The on-demand nature of The Princeton Review’s videos allows for the ultimate flexibility.
While the videos themselves are largely uninteresting, they get the job done overall. It is all very “no-frills,” so students looking to just get information and move on can appreciate the lack of technical excitement.
Study Materials and Tools
Alongside the usual materials that The Princeton Review GMAT includes, the platform also has a list of study materials and tools to further enhance its students’ educational journey.
☑️GMAT Official Guide
The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, included as a supplementary study material for The Princeton Review GMAT students, is completely updated to cover the 2025–2026 GMAT. The e-book covers Data Insights, Quant, and Verbal Reviews.
Meanwhile, its Qbank is interactive and allows you to form your own practice sets for studying. On top of all of this, The Official Guide has diagnostics that keep track of a student’s strengths and weaknesses regarding the GMAT.
For those looking to score high on the GMAT exam in 2025, The Official Guide for GMAT® Review is an invaluable resource.
☑️DrillSmart™ Technology for Adaptive Practice
DrillSmart is The Princeton Review’s intelligent drill engine that adjusts to your evolving skill level as you progress throughout GMAT prep. It gives you targeted practice, complete with explanations and performance tracking, which is ideal for effective and efficient GMAT prep. It is one of the many ways that The Princeton Review keeps its content student driven.
☑️Realistic Test Interface
One major benefit for students is The Princeton Review’s realistic testing interface. In both appearance and functionality, the testing interface is meant to closely replicate the official GMAT exam. The practice tests cover all GMAT topics and include a built-in timer, allowing students to naturally improve their stamina and confidence under time constraints.
☑️Print or Digital Study Materials
The Princeton Review gives access to most of its key study materials in both print and digital formats. So, if you’re an ultra-mega fan of physical books to mark up or reference on hand, then this is great news. Kinesthetic learners rejoice! Alternatively, digital materials are awesome for busy students who need to study on the go or just prefer screen learning.
No matter what kind of learner you are, The Princeton Review gets some brownie points for having multi-formatted study materials.
☑️Access to Recorded Sessions
The Princeton Review has a robust video library that students can access. It is in place for students to access in case they need to review or revisit a particular lesson. For self-paced learners, The Princeton Review’s GMAT video library is their go-to source for learning. Videos cover a wide range of GMAT topics and can be rewatched and rewound as many times as a student needs.
Typically, students have access to The Princeton Review’s GMAT video library for the entire duration of their respective courses. If you extend your time with The Princeton Review or opt to retake a course, you retain access to the library for the allotted time.
☑️Free Resources
On top of the materials included in courses or that are supplemental, The Princeton Review also has a number of free GMAT prep resources. The following resources are available to anyone, whether they are enrolled as students or are visiting the site as casual browsers.
- Free GMAT Practice Test
- Free GMAT Strategy Session
- Free GMAT 101 course
- Free 1.5-hour GMAT sample class
- Free classes on getting into grad school
- Advice articles
Whether or not an individual chooses to register for classes with The Princeton Review for their GMAT prep, its free resources are still great. Its availability to the public further goes to show how much The Princeton Review wants business students to succeed, regardless of whether it is their final choice for GMAT prep.
User Experience & Platform Design
The Princeton Review’s GMAT digital platform is thoughtfully designed, combining structured content delivery with intuitive navigation. The interface is clean and user-friendly, organized into distinct modules for Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, and AWA essay sections. Users can easily jump between lessons, DrillSmartTM, full-length practice tests, score reports, the video library, and class recordings.
One of the standout features of The Princeton Review’s GMAT platform is its detailed performance analytics. The student dashboard offers a comprehensive overview of progress and topic-specific strengths and weaknesses. Color-coded progress bars and visual indicators make it easy to figure out where you stand on various subjects at a single glance. C’mon—who doesn’t like color-coded stuff? For deeper insight, students can get performance breakdowns by question type and review timing data for individual questions and sections. If all of the above doesn’t impress you, the system also tracks performance trends over time and suggests targeted areas for review.
Despite its fancy bells and whistles, the visual design may not be as modern as the interfaces of some competitors. That being said, visuals don’t tend to be a huge breaking point, especially since the analytics are more detailed than most. The platform is also mobile-compatible, which is excellent for students who need to study on the go. Unfortunately, there is no mobile app, but the responsiveness of the platform on cell phones and tablets makes up for it.
Instructor Support and Tutoring
At The Princeton Review, all instructors are vetted, certified, and familiar with the ins and outs of the GMAT exam. The same quality can be found in its tutors, who all fell within the 99th-percentile score range on their respective GMAT. When it comes to instructors and tutors, The Princeton Review is all about quality assurance—some of its instructors have been with the company since the ‘90s!
GMAT Tutoring at The Princeton Review comes in hourly packages. Generally, its approach is 10-hour, 20-hour, and 30-hour private tutoring, starting at $2,200 and reaching as high as $5,400 total. It all depends on what level of support you need.
| Tutoring Packages | Hours | Cost |
| Comprehensive | 30 | $180/hr |
| Targeted (2 Sections) | 20 | $200/hr |
| Targeted (1 Section) | 10 | $220/hr |
Otherwise, the instructors at The Princeton Review give a lot of attention to their students. They are available in class but also have dedicated office hours. If you need help outside of hours, they are always just an email away. Part of the efficacy of the instructors is their small class sizes. No class exceeds 15 students, which allows for individualized attention and constructive collaboration.
Score Guarantee and Refund Policy
The Princeton Review offers a fairly straightforward refund policy for its GMAT prep courses. Though keep in mind, the policy in place is also largely inflexible.
For classroom and live-online instruction courses, students can cancel and receive a full tuition refund up to the start date of the program.
No refunds are granted once the course begins, and shipping costs are not refunded. Moreover, any printed or shipped materials must be returned unused within two weeks to qualify.
Its 645+ course guarantees a score of 645 minimum, or a general score increase of at least 70 points based on your starting diagnostic score.
That is to say, if you start with a score below 575, you are guaranteed a score increase. A starting score of 575 or higher, and you are guaranteed at least a 645.
For self-paced GMAT courses, The Princeton Review usually offers a seven-day satisfaction guarantee.
If you’re not satisfied within the first week of access, you may request a refund. To the same extent, private tutoring may offer partial refunds if canceled early, though deposits or a minimum fee apply. Once tutoring has begun or the specified timeframe has passed, refunds are heavily restricted.
Note that refunds are not automatically returned: students must formally request a refund and return materials as required. The Princeton Review’s terms emphasize that no refunds are issued after a course starts, so acting quickly and decisively is important.
How Does Princeton Review Compare to Competitors?
With so many GMAT prep companies out there, it can be challenging to figure out which is best for you. What is even worse is when you’ve heard so much of the same shtick that it sounds like all of the big-name test prep platforms offer the same exact thing.
Below you’ll find a chart comparing The Princeton Review to its major competitors so you can see exactly how it stands out.
| Features | The Princeton Review | Manhattan Prep GMAT | Magoosh | Target Test Prep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799+ | $359+ | $249+ | $249+ |
| 12-month access | ✅(645+ Course ONLY) | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Installment payment options | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 7-day money-back guarantee | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Score Guarantee | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 99th-percentile instructors | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Practice tests | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Video lessons | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Personalized study schedules | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Email support | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Live classes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 1-on-1 tutoring | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Based on the above, we can comfortably say that The Princeton Review GMAT is one of the more expensive options for its basic curriculum.
That being said, it offers a lot compared to other companies and has more security for students as far as guarantees go. The only things it lacks are personalized study plans and a mobile app.
The price could be a deal-breaker for a lot of students. Less expensive plans like Magoosh and Target Test Prep, which offer classes on a month-to-month basis, may be better suited for budget-conscious students.
Final Verdict: Is Princeton Review GMAT Worth It?
The Princeton Review GMAT course is a great fit if you want structure, expert guidance, and solid score-improvement tools. The live classes, realistic practice tests, and personalized feedback really help keep you on track. Admittedly, it’s not the cheapest option, and there’s no dedicated app, but the quality is hard to beat. If you’re aiming high and want a course that does a bit of hand-holding, this one’s worth it.
On a tight budget or want something more flexible? You might be happier with Magoosh or Target Test Prep instead. Both are quality platforms with great material, just at a more comfortable price.
Get ready to tackle the GMAT today with The Princeton Review.
FAQs
Does Princeton Review guarantee a GMAT score increase?
Yes, the Princeton Review does guarantee a GMAT score increase. A score increase guarantee specifically applies to the GMAT 645+, the GMAT Self-Paced, and the GMAT Comprehensive Tutoring Package. The GMAT 645+ and the GMAT Self-Paced are also covered by a satisfaction guarantee, alongside the GMAT Core Concepts course.
How long is the Princeton Review GMAT course?
The GMAT 645+ course at The Princeton Review is approximately three months long, comprising a total of 30 hours of live instruction. Its Core Concepts offers 18 hours of learning. Otherwise, Private Tutoring is available in 10, 20, or 30-hour packages. The Self-Paced course provides 120 days of access to the program. Choose the program that works best for your learning style and study needs.
Is it better than Magoosh or Manhattan Prep?
Whether The Princeton Review GMAT is better than Magoosh or Manhattan Prep completely depends on if it fits your specific needs as a student. Budget-conscious students are more likely to appreciate Magoosh’s consistently low prices. Manhattan Prep GMAT is great for students who want top-tier support throughout their GMAT studies. Meanwhile, the Princeton Review is ideal for ambitious students with their eye on competitive MBA programs.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like it?
No, you cannot get a refund if you do not like The Princeton Review GMAT. Instead, you are offered the chance to retake the course for free as long as you contact The Princeton Review within one year of your last class session. It currently has three courses covered by its satisfaction guarantee: the GMAT 645+, the GMAT Self-Paced, and the GMAT Core Concepts course. The only way to get a monetary refund of a GMAT course through The Princeton Review is through its score guarantee. GMAT Core Concepts is not covered by its score guarantee.
What’s the difference between the Self-Paced and 700+ course?
At The Princeton Review, the primary difference between the Self-Paced and the 700+ course is its delivery. The GMAT Self-Paced is entirely self-led, with zero instructor intervention. Everything is done at your own pace. On the contrary, the 700+ course is led by an experienced instructor in real time, with scheduled classes. Please note that as of 2024, The Princeton Review’s 700+ course became the GMAT 645+ based on the GMAT’s new scoring scale.