If you're comparing ACT tutors in San Diego, here is what the main options cost, who does the tutoring, and where you meet. I run Vince Kotchian Test Prep, so I'm not neutral, and I've put our ACT tutor, Blake Jensen, first. Every other fact here comes from each company's own website, so you can check it.
Prices from each company's websiteChecked November 5, 2026
San Diego ACT tutor prices compared
| Option | Price | Who tutors your child | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vince Kotchian Test Prep (Blake Jensen) | $380/hour, or packages from $2,250 for 6 hours | Blake Jensen, an SAT and ACT specialist with nearly 20 years of experience | In person at our Carmel Valley office, or on Zoom |
| Pivot Tutors | $235/hour, $5,500 for 2 months, or $7,500 for 3 months | A Pivot tutor | In person in San Diego, or online |
| Carmel Valley Test Prep | No price listed on its website. Hourly, with no long-term commitment. | A Carmel Valley Test Prep tutor | In person in San Diego, or online |
| Hammer Prep | No price listed on its website | A Hammer Prep tutor, matched to your child by its director | In person in Sorrento Valley, or online |
| Wyzant | Set by each tutor. Its San Diego ACT tutors charged $30 to $175 an hour. | Independent tutors, many of whom teach several subjects | Depends on the tutor |
Sources: each company's ACT tutoring page, checked November 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
What to look for in an ACT tutor
- They teach the current ACT. The ACT changed in 2025: it's shorter, and Science is now optional. Ask whether your child needs Science for the schools on their list, and make sure the tutor teaches the current format.
- Pacing help. The ACT gives less time per question than the SAT. A good tutor teaches your child when to move on.
- Who your child will work with. At larger companies, a director matches your child with a tutor. Ask who it will be, and how long they've tutored the ACT, before you pay.
- Practice tests and review. Most score gains come from careful review of missed questions, not from doing more questions.
- Results you can check. Reviews on Google, or another site the tutor doesn't control, tell you more than quotes on the tutor's own page.
The options, one by one
1. Vince Kotchian Test Prep (Blake Jensen)
Blake Jensen is a native San Diegan and an SAT and ACT specialist with nearly 20 years of experience. He recently helped a fencing athlete score a perfect 36, which led to his recruitment at Johns Hopkins. He meets students at our Carmel Valley office, near Del Mar Heights Road and High Bluff Drive, or on Zoom.
- $380 an hour, or packages: 6 hours for $2,250, 12 hours for $4,200, or 24 hours for $8,700.
- Each package includes weekly sessions, homework built for your child, and review of missed questions.
- You start with a free 15-minute consultation with Blake.
Some of his results, from his students' Google reviews: a perfect 36 and a 36 superscore for twin sisters (Haena M.), a 36 on the first try (Jaden), and up 11 points (Stevie T.). Read more about ACT tutoring with Blake.
Or call or text Blake at (858) 367-0187.
2. Pivot Tutors
Pivot Tutors charges $235 an hour. Its ACT program is two 90-minute sessions a week, one for Math and one for English, Reading, and Science. Its 2-month package is $5,500 for 16 sessions, and its 3-month package is $7,500 for 24 sessions. It tutors in person in San Diego or online.
3. Carmel Valley Test Prep
Carmel Valley Test Prep is a San Diego tutoring company founded in 2010. It offers one-on-one SAT, ACT, and AP tutoring, in person in San Diego or online. It charges by the hour, with no long-term commitment, but its website doesn't list a price.
4. Hammer Prep
Hammer Prep is in Sorrento Valley and tutors in person or online. Its director meets with families and matches each student with a tutor. Its website doesn't list a price.
5. Wyzant
Wyzant is a marketplace, not a tutoring company. It listed 59 ACT tutors for San Diego who set their own rates, from $30 to $175 an hour when we checked. Many also teach other subjects, so check each tutor's ACT experience and look for reviews from ACT students.
Which one should you choose?
- You want a set schedule of two sessions a week: Pivot Tutors.
- You want to pay by the hour, and may want AP help too: Carmel Valley Test Prep.
- You want a director to match your child with a tutor: Hammer Prep.
- Lowest price, and you have time to vet tutors: Wyzant.
- You want your child to work directly with one experienced coach, in Carmel Valley or on Zoom, with results you can check on Google: Blake.
Or read more about ACT tutoring with Blake. Considering the SAT? See the best SAT tutors in San Diego.
FAQ
How much does an ACT tutor cost in San Diego?
Among the options on this page, ACT tutoring runs from $30 an hour on Wyzant to $380 an hour with Blake. Pivot Tutors is $235 an hour. Carmel Valley Test Prep and Hammer Prep don't list prices on their websites.
Can my child meet an ACT tutor in person?
Yes. Blake meets students at our Carmel Valley office, near Del Mar Heights Road and High Bluff Drive, or on Zoom.
How many hours of ACT tutoring does my child need?
It depends on the starting score and the goal. Our most popular package is 12 hours, usually one session a week for 12 weeks.
Does Blake tutor the SAT too?
Yes. Blake tutors both tests, and his SAT students' Google reviews include a 300-point gain in less than 3 months and 1550 with a perfect Reading score.