Kaplan vs Blueprint MCAT prep course price, guarantees, refunds and which one to buy

Blueprint is cheaper than Kaplan at every matching MCAT tier. Blueprint's Self-Paced course is $999 for six months, against Kaplan On Demand from $1,299. Blueprint Live Online is $1,999, against Kaplan Live Online from $2,399. The two 515+ courses carry the same promise (a 515, or 15 points if you start under 500), and Blueprint's costs $2,399 for six months, against Kaplan's $3,599 list price ($3,060 under a 15% code that ran September 21 to 30, 2026). Buy Kaplan if you want in-person classes or a five-week bootcamp; otherwise Blueprint gives more for less. Prices were read from both vendors on September 28, 2026.

Kaplan and Blueprint are the two course brands most premeds shortlist once they decide a question bank alone will not be enough. The pages ranking for this comparison are mostly affiliate reviews, and the figures on them drift: one current review still lists Blueprint's 16-hour tutoring package at $3,399, while Blueprint's cart says $3,799. This comparison uses what each vendor showed on the day it was written, and it ends with a pick for each kind of buyer.

Kaplan vs Blueprint MCAT price, tier by tier

The pattern holds all the way up. Kaplan's discounts are real but structured differently: its On Demand offer takes $300 off the 4-month plan, $500 off 6 months and $600 off 9 and 12 months, which is how the "from $1,299" figure is reached, while the 515MCAT code took 15% off the 515+ course, the Bootcamp and Premium Tutoring for new enrollments from September 21 to 30, 2026, ending at 11:59 pm Pacific. Kaplan rotates codes like this, so check its MCAT page for the current one before paying list. Blueprint shows its discount inside the cart instead: every Self-Paced plan is $500 under its regular price and every 515+ plan $600 under. The full Blueprint grid by access length, including the 9 and 12-month plans, is on our Blueprint MCAT prep price breakdown.

What each course actually includes

Blueprint builds every course on the same Self-Paced core: a personalized study plan, 500+ videos, a Qbank of 5,000+ questions, 1,600+ flashcards, 16 full-length exams (10 of its own plus the 6 official AAMC practice exams), six content review books and unlimited live review sessions six days a week. Live Online adds 40+ hours of classes taught by two instructors. The 515+ course adds 80 hours of live lessons and workshops and a weekly coach check-in.

Kaplan's catalog is broader. On Demand is self-directed, Live Online is taught by what Kaplan describes as 520+ scoring teachers, In Person puts you in a classroom on a fixed schedule, and the Online Bootcamp is a five-week daily program with one-on-one tutoring. Kaplan's catalog page does not print question counts or full-length counts next to its prices, so if raw volume matters to you, compare it during Kaplan's free 30-day practice trial rather than taking a review site's number on trust.

The 515 guarantees, side by side

On paper the two top courses promise the same thing. Kaplan guarantees a 515 if you start at 500 or higher on your baseline, or a 15-point improvement if you start below 500, "or your money back", when you purchase and engage extensively in the Online Bootcamp, Premium Tutoring or the 515+ Course. Blueprint's 515+ guarantee uses the same thresholds. The difference is in how clearly the work is spelled out. Blueprint lists it on the product page: attend 30 of the 32 live sessions, complete all learning modules, take the diagnostic, four Blueprint full-lengths and five scored AAMC tests, answer 1,000 extra questions and submit your score within 90 days of the course ending. The remedy is a six-month extension or a full refund, and the $250 of AAMC resources is excluded from any refund.

Below the 515+ tier the guarantees narrow. Blueprint's Self-Paced and Live Online guarantee pays out only if your official score does not rise at all from your baseline, so a one-point gain ends the claim. Kaplan's lower courses carry its Higher Score Guarantee, with conditions published separately at kaptest.com/hsg. Either way, a guarantee is a backstop, not a reason to pick a course.

Refund windows, which matter more than people think

Blueprint's refund policy is short and specific. Self-Paced can be refunded only within 24 hours of purchase. Live Online and 515+ allow three calendar days, provided you have opened no more than 15 course modules. Practice tests, the Qbank, books and extensions are final sale, Blueprint keeps $250 if you redeemed the AAMC codes, and it keeps $200 if the books are not returned within 30 days. The practical advice is to use the free trial first (14 days of Self-Paced at Blueprint, 30 days of practice material at Kaplan) and only pay once you have decided. Kaplan publishes refund terms per product, so read the one attached to the plan in your cart before checking out.

Tutoring, where the gap is widest

Blueprint's standalone tutoring is priced by package: Core, with a 517+ scoring tutor and six months of Self-Paced, costs $2,500 for 10 hours up to $7,399 for 40, and Premium, with a 520+ tutor and Live Online, costs $3,500 up to $10,999. The better deal is hidden inside the 515+ course. Twelve months of 515+ costs $2,999 on its own and $3,599 with 10 tutoring hours, so those hours cost $600, or $60 each, against $250 an hour for the same 10 hours bought separately. Kaplan's cheapest tutoring entry is Private Tutoring plus Live Online from $3,599. If you know you want both a course and a tutor, Blueprint's 12-month 515+ bundle is the lowest total we found.

Which one should you buy

• You want the lowest price for a full course: Blueprint Self-Paced at $999 for six months. It includes the six AAMC practice exams, so you will not need to buy the AAMC bundle separately.
• You need live classes and accountability: Blueprint 515+ at $2,399. With the current discount it is only $400 more than Blueprint Live Online and doubles the live hours.
• You want a classroom or a short intensive: Kaplan. In Person from $3,399 and the Online Bootcamp have no Blueprint equivalent.
• You only need practice: Blueprint's $299 six-month plan, or the UWorld MCAT QBank from $339 if you prefer UWorld's explanations. Our UWorld vs Blueprint MCAT comparison covers that choice.

A course gives you the structure. What it will not do is write a new question when you have used up the bank on the topic you keep missing. Some students fill that gap by reviewing recorded lectures, and if that is how you study you can turn a lecture video into a quiz to check yourself afterward. For MCAT-specific drilling, Aspirants.ai generates fresh MCAT-style questions on the exact passage type or topic you choose, explains every answer choice and answers follow-ups at any hour, from $24 a month billed yearly or $49 month to month. Try the quiz at the top of this page, or see our MCAT practice tests page for the full set.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kaplan or Blueprint better for the MCAT?

Blueprint is the better value on September 28, 2026: it is cheaper at every matching tier, and $299 buys six months of its five full-length exams and 5,000+ question Qbank. Kaplan is the better pick if you want in-person classes, the widest schedule choice or its five-week Online Bootcamp.

How much does the Kaplan MCAT prep course cost?

Kaplan lists On Demand from $1,299 (regular $1,599), Live Online from $2,399, In Person from $3,399, tutoring plus Live Online from $3,599, the 515+ course at $3,599 and the Online Bootcamp at $7,299. Code 515MCAT took 15% off 515+, Bootcamp and Premium Tutoring from September 21 to 30, 2026.

Should I buy the Kaplan 515 or Blueprint 515 course?

For most buyers, Blueprint 515+. Six months cost $2,399 against Kaplan 515+ at $3,599, or $3,060 under its September code, both carry the same 515 or 15-point promise, and Blueprint adds 10 tutoring hours to its 12-month plan for $600. Choose Kaplan if its class schedule suits you better.

Can I get a refund from Blueprint or Kaplan?

Blueprint Self-Paced can be refunded only within 24 hours, and Live Online or 515+ within three days with no more than 15 modules opened. Practice tests and the Qbank are final sale. Kaplan publishes its terms per product, so read them at checkout before you pay.