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Short answer
Sylvan and Huntington are similar: both start with an assessment, build a personal plan, teach K-12 subjects and offer test prep at local centers. Sylvan prices by session at about $50 to $75, teaches in small groups (one center describes three students per teacher) and also offers online tutoring. Huntington is estimated at about $45 to $80 or more per hour plus a $150 to $250 evaluation, with tutors it says hold degrees and certification.
Key takeaways
- Both start with an assessment and build a personal plan across K-12 subjects.
- Sylvan prices by session with membership discounts; Huntington charges hourly after an evaluation.
- Huntington's evaluation fee and test prep packages can make it the costlier choice.
- Sylvan also offers online tutoring; Huntington is primarily center based.
How TaleemSquare compares
- Format
- Live one-to-one math lessons online
- Price
- From $85 a month for 2 classes a week (about $10.63 a class)
- Fees and contract
- No registration fee, no contract, cancel any month
- First step
- Free 45-minute assessment, then a 4-class money-back promise
How we wrote this
TaleemSquare offers online one-to-one tutoring, so we compete with both centers named here. Details come from each company's materials and the dated sources listed at the end, checked in October 2026.
If you are choosing between Sylvan and Huntington, you are already comparing two of the most established tutoring brands in the US. They look alike on paper: both test first, both build a personal plan, both cover reading, writing, math and test prep, and both run as local franchises. The useful differences are in how they price, how deep the first evaluation goes, and how sessions are delivered.
How do Sylvan and Huntington work?
Sylvan begins with its Sylvan Insight assessment, then builds a plan aligned with school standards. Teachers work with small groups in which each child follows an individual plan. A 2024 profile of one center described a ratio of one teacher to three students, with weekly hours set from the assessment. Sylvan teaches at centers and online.
Huntington begins with an academic evaluation that it describes as multi-disciplinary assessments to find where and why a child is struggling. A learning plan and a parent conference follow. Huntington says tutors hold four-year degrees and state or Huntington certification, and that most students attend at least twice a week during the school year.
| Sylvan Learning | Huntington Learning Center | |
|---|---|---|
| First step | Sylvan Insight assessment | Multi-disciplinary academic evaluation |
| Tutors | Described as Sylvan-certified teachers | Four-year degree plus state or Huntington certification |
| Format | Small groups, one center describes 3 students per teacher | Tutor-led sessions at a center |
| Online option | Yes | Primarily center based |
| Pricing | About $50 to $75 per session; memberships lower it | About $45 to $80+ an hour, plus evaluation |
| One-off fees | Registration about $75 to $199 | Evaluation about $150 to $250 |
| Test prep | SAT courses about $999 | SAT or ACT about $1,300 (14 hours) to $2,800 (32 hours) |
| Contract | Month to month or memberships | Huntington says no contract |
Which is cheaper?
They overlap. Sylvan's reviewed centers charged about $52 to $75 per session month to month, and about $42 to $60 on 6 or 12 month memberships, plus registration of $75 to $199. Huntington is estimated at $45 to $80 or more per hour, plus an evaluation of about $150 to $250.
At two hours or sessions a week, both typically land somewhere around $360 to $650 a month. Sylvan's membership discounts can bring it lower if you commit; Huntington's evaluation fee and higher test prep packages can push it higher. Our guides to Sylvan cost and Huntington cost have full examples.
Which has the better assessment?
Both put the assessment at the center of their model. Huntington's is positioned as a deeper diagnostic, with multi-disciplinary testing and a conference to discuss results, and it is usually a separate charge. Sylvan's Insight assessment feeds directly into a school-aligned plan. If your child's difficulties are unclear, or you suspect several overlapping issues, Huntington's evaluation may be worth the fee. If you already know the subject and the gap, Sylvan's lighter start can be enough.
Which is better for reading and writing?
Both are strong here, which is one reason families choose them over math-only centers. Huntington lists reading, phonics, spelling, vocabulary and writing among its subjects, and its evaluation can separate decoding, comprehension and writing problems. Sylvan offers reading and writing programs alongside homework help and study skills, tied to school standards. For a child whose math word problems are really a reading problem, either center can address both in one plan, which is harder to do with two separate programs.
If your child has signs of dyslexia, ask each center whether it uses a structured literacy approach and whether a separate professional evaluation is recommended.
Which is better for test prep?
Both offer SAT and ACT prep. Published figures put Sylvan's SAT courses at about $999 and one 28-hour SAT and ACT course at $1,250. Huntington's packages are estimated at about $1,300 for 14 hours and $2,800 for 32 hours, and it also covers exams such as the GED, ASVAB, HSPT and ISEE. Compare the price per instructional hour and the group size before you choose.
Which fits a busy schedule?
Sylvan's online tutoring is a real advantage for families who cannot drive to a center several times a week. Huntington is primarily center based, with most students attending at least twice a week, and three or more times a week in summer. Before you commit, map the sessions onto a real week of school, activities and homework. If online learning suits your child, Sylvan, or a dedicated online tutor, removes the commute.
What should you ask both centers?
- What does the first assessment cover, what does it cost, and will I get a written report?
- How many students will share the teacher or tutor in each session?
- How many hours a week do you recommend, and for how many months?
- What is the full price, including registration or evaluation, and how do I stop if it is not working?
Our verdict
Choose Huntington if you want the most thorough evaluation, formally qualified tutors and a structured plan, and the budget allows for it. Choose Sylvan if you want similar breadth with more flexible pricing and the option to learn online. If your child mainly needs one subject taught one-to-one, a dedicated online tutor will usually give more individual time for less money than either center.
What to do next
- Call both centers and ask for itemized prices and the group size for your child's sessions.
- Compare the monthly total at the hours each one recommends.
- Book a free 45-minute assessment with TaleemSquare as a one-to-one comparison for math or reading, from $85 a month.
Sources
- 1.Huntington Learning Center FAQ Evaluation, tutor qualifications, session frequency, subjects, test prep, no contract. Checked Oct 2026.
- 2.ThePricer, Huntington Learning Center cost (updated Sep 2026) Huntington hourly, evaluation and test prep estimates.
- 3.ThePricer, How much does Sylvan tutoring cost? (updated Sep 2026) Sylvan hourly and per-session rates, memberships, registration and test prep.
- 4.Brookings Register, Sylvan Learning in Brookings (Feb 2024) One center's ratio of one teacher to three students.
- 5.Sylvan Learning Center of Winston-Salem (Dec 2023) Sylvan Insight assessment and school-aligned curriculum.
Written and fact-checked by the TaleemSquare Editorial Team
We research every figure against the provider's own pages or independent sources, list them above, and update posts when prices or policies change. See our editorial process and teaching method.
