Aristo Scholars vs. Command Education
By Leo Cao, CEO of Aristo Scholars · Updated
Command Education is a New York firm whose own FAQ says multi-year engagements typically cost high five figures a year and six figures in total. Aristo Scholars charges well under half that, and you choose your counselor by name.
Command offers unlimited support, test prep and a full in-house team from middle school on. If you mainly want one-on-one application help on a set schedule, Aristo Scholars is the far less expensive choice.
Book a free call and compare for yourself
Aristo Scholars and Command Education, side by side
| Command Education | Aristo Scholars | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | No published price list. Command's FAQ: multi-year engagements "typically in the high five-figures annually", six figures in total; application-stage engagements "mid-to-high five figures total". CNBC (October 2024) reported $120,000 a year. | Well under half what large firms charge. Pricing is shared on the free first call, set by grade and how often you meet, and the same for every counselor. |
| Who your student works with | A dedicated full-time "near-peer" Senior Mentor, backed by essay editors, strategists and researchers. The founder works directly with a very limited number of students. | One counselor you choose by name from the roster, who takes the free first call. |
| Support model | Unlimited support with no hourly billing and no cap on essay rounds. | Meetings on the schedule in your agreement, essay reviews back within three business days and written questions answered within two. |
| Services | Academic planning, extracurricular and passion projects, test prep, an in-house design team and the full application. | College application counseling: the list, essays, activities and deadlines. No test prep or tutoring. |
| Credentials | Near-peer mentors backed by a larger team, per Command's services page. | Current students and recent graduates of selective universities, each verified against documents. No former admissions officers on the roster. |
When Command Education may be the better fit
Command can be the better fit if you want unlimited, all-in support including test prep, starting in middle school, and cost is not a constraint.
Sources
- Command Education: FAQs
- Command Education: Services
- CNBC, Oct 18, 2024: what families pay for Ivy League admissions consulting
Last checked October 2026. Details about Command Education come from the sources above and may have changed; Command Education is not affiliated with Aristo Scholars. Spot an error? Email us and we will correct it.
Questions families ask
- How much does Command Education cost?
- Command does not publish a price list. Its FAQ says multi-year engagements are typically in the high five figures a year, six figures in total, and application-stage engagements run mid-to-high five figures in total. CNBC reported in October 2024 that families pay 120 thousand dollars a year.
- Is Aristo Scholars cheaper than Command Education?
- Yes, well under half based on Command's own stated ranges. Command includes unlimited support and test prep, which Aristo does not offer.
Talk it through for free
The first call is a free one-on-one video call with the counselor you choose. You leave knowing what the work covers, what it does not and the price. How it works.
Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with any college named on this page and does not guarantee admission.