What Crimson Education charges
Crimson sells most of its services through a consultation, so the only prices it publishes are for single services in its online shop. The package figures come from press reporting.
| Service | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admissions services | Not published. Roughly $30,000 and up, as reported | Fortune, 21 December 2024 |
| Graduate admissions consulting | Not published. From $15,000, as reported | Fortune, 21 December 2024 |
| Common App personal essay review | $70 to $200 | Crimson shop |
| Supplemental essay review | $70 to $200 | Crimson shop |
| University of California essays review | $78 to $192 | Crimson shop |
Fortune also reports that many families spend more on extra services such as research projects and test preparation. Crimson's own blog says college consultant fees in general "range from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars".
What you get with Crimson
Crimson is a full-service admissions consultancy for the US and the UK. According to its US site, a strategist builds your college list and timeline, and the wider team includes essay specialists, research mentors, SAT and ACT tutors and former admissions officers from selective colleges who review applications.
Crimson publishes its own results, such as 98% of its students being admitted to at least one of their top five choices. These are Crimson's figures and have not been independently verified.
Alternatives, from free to full service
The right alternative depends on which part of the work you want help with. Most students need a balanced list, essay feedback and someone keeping track of deadlines, and that does not have to cost a full consulting package.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Your school counselor | Free at your school | Advising on the process, and the school report colleges require |
| EducationUSA, if you apply from abroad | Free. Services vary by center | Advising on applying to U.S. colleges from your country |
| Capy, the bcs AI college counselor | Free, with immediate access | College list with reach, target and safety balance, essay feedback, activities, opportunities and deadlines, at any hour |
| Essay review only | $70 to $200 per essay at Crimson; $249 to $399 for a package at CollegeAdvisor | A person reviews a set number of essays |
| Other full-service consultancies | Command Education says multi-year engagements are "typically in the high five-figures annually". Empowerly and CollegeAdvisor do not publish package prices | A human team over one or more years |
For a wider view of what private counselors charge, read how much a college admissions counselor costs.
Is Crimson Education worth it?
It can be, if you want a human team with former admissions officers and research mentors, and the budget is not a problem. If it is, you can cover most of the same ground for far less:
- Build a balanced list with an AI counselor or your school counselor, and check it against the reach, target and safety guide.
- Get feedback on every essay draft from an AI counselor, and pay for a human review only for the essays that matter most. Keep the writing your own.
- Track every deadline on one timeline.
- Ask for a written scope before paying any consultant: how many meetings, how many essay rounds, and what happens after you submit.