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The Princeton Review

From Alfawiki
The Princeton Review
Company typePrivate
IndustryEducation services
Founded1981
FounderJohn Katzman, Adam Robinson
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Area served
United States, Canada, and 21 offices worldwide (including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam)
Key people
Robert Batten (CEO)
ProductsTutoring, test preparation courses and materials, college admissions resources, print and electronic publications
OwnerPrimavera Capital Group

The Princeton Review is a privately held education services firm established in 1981 by John Katzman and Adam Robinson. Based in New York City, the company focuses on tutoring, test preparation, and resources for college admissions. It has assisted more than 400 million students through a network of over 4,000 tutors spanning the United States, Canada, and 21 offices worldwide.

The company’s business structure features digital tools, a catalog exceeding 150 print and electronic publications produced by Penguin Random House, and comprehensive rankings of colleges, business schools, law schools, graduate programs, and medical schools. These rankings enhance its prominence within the education sector. Additionally, The Princeton Review’s subsidiary, Tutor.com, delivers online tutoring services, broadening its international reach.

Currently owned by Primavera Capital Group, The Princeton Review benefits from strategic guidance under CEO Robert Batten to sustain its competitive positioning and foster growth in the educational marketplace. It is noteworthy that the company operates independently and has no connection to Princeton University.

Corporate history

The genesis of The Princeton Review dates back to 1981 when John Katzman started providing SAT tutoring shortly after completing his studies at Princeton University. Katzman soon joined forces with Adam Robinson, an Oxford-educated tutor known for pioneering test-taking techniques. Katzman expanded the enterprise both nationally and internationally and served as CEO until 2007, when Michael Perik assumed leadership.

In March 2010, Perik stepped down, making way for John M. Connolly as CEO. The following month, the company secured $48 million through a stock issuance but subsequently faced a class action lawsuit accusing it of inflating earnings to boost stock valuation. By 2012, private equity firm Charlesbank Capital purchased The Princeton Review for $33 million.

On August 1, 2014, Tutor.com—then a subsidiary of IAC—acquired The Princeton Review's brand and operations, appointing Mandy Ginsburg as CEO. This acquisition marked the company’s separation from its previous owner, Education Holdings 1, Inc. In March 2017, ST Unitas took ownership of The Princeton Review for an undisclosed amount. Most recently, in January 2022, Primavera Capital Group acquired both The Princeton Review and Tutor.com from ST Unitas.

Test preparation

Through its website, The Princeton Review offers a variety of test prep courses, tutoring services, and study guides for numerous standardized examinations. Major tests covered include:


The company maintains a global presence through both company-operated centers and franchise collaborations in countries such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. This extensive international network supports The Princeton Review’s strategic expansion within the worldwide education services market.

Settlement under the False Claims Act (2012)

In December 2012, Education Holdings, Inc., which operated The Princeton Review from 2002 until 2012, resolved a False Claims Act lawsuit initiated by the U.S. government. The complaint involved allegations of falsifying claims for federally funded tutoring services provided through the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program in New York City public schools.

Education Holdings acknowledged that between 2006 and 2010, attendance records were fabricated to obtain payments for tutoring sessions that were never delivered. Internal pressures included supervisors urging site managers to report inflated attendance numbers, with directors receiving bonuses linked to these figures. As part of the settlement, Education Holdings agreed to pay up to $10 million in damages and penalties and faced a three-year ban from participating in federal education funding programs. At the time of the settlement, the company had already sold The Princeton Review brand to a separate entity in May 2012.

Criminal and civil actions (2013)

Subsequent to the 2012 settlement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York pursued both civil and criminal charges against individuals implicated in the fraudulent SES reimbursement scheme. Ana Azocar and Zorayma Azocar, formerly Site Managers and later Directors overseeing The Princeton Review’s SES program in New York City, pleaded guilty to fraud-related offenses and resolved associated civil claims in January 2013. Additionally, Robert Stephen Green, a former Director and Vice President, reached settlements concerning civil allegations connected to the scheme.

Lawsuit over student data breach

The Princeton Review was subject to a class action lawsuit after students’ personal information—including Social Security numbers—was accidentally exposed on its website. Represented by legal counsel, affected students accused the company of negligence, breach of contract, and unfair trade practices. The resolution involved The Princeton Review agreeing to offer identity protection services such as credit monitoring and identity theft insurance for up to three years.

Consumer grievances

Providers of test preparation services like The Princeton Review have been criticized for exaggerating potential score improvements. Customer dissatisfaction is frequently documented in public reviews, with many reporting challenges when attempting to claim money-back guarantees due to restrictive terms. Online feedback often highlights problems related to refund processes, communication failures, billing mistakes, and insufficient customer service.

Employee dissatisfaction

Former staff members have shared concerns on platforms such as Glassdoor and Indeed regarding low compensation, limited career advancement options, and a corporate focus on sales targets rather than educational support. While some employees valued flexible schedules and interaction with students, others characterized the work environment as exploitative and poorly managed.

Controversies surrounding school rankings

The Princeton Review’s college rankings have faced criticism for emphasizing subjective student opinions over objective metrics. Company representatives contend that their rankings provide a distinctive reflection of student viewpoints. In 2002, a program affiliated with the American Medical Association and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation criticized the "Best Party Schools" list; nevertheless, media editorials recognized The Princeton Review’s reporting as a useful resource for students and parents.

The firm’s rankings related to LGBTQ issues drew scrutiny in 2010 due to outdated evaluation methods. The Princeton Review compiles its "LGBTQ-Friendly" and "LGBTQ-Unfriendly" lists based on triennial student surveys featured in its Best Colleges guidebook, querying campus equality regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, since 2011, it has published The Gay & Lesbian Guide to College Life, available as an electronic book.

Privacy issues

In 2016, privacy advocates raised concerns regarding the company's potential misuse of data, especially since it owned both online dating services and college preparation businesses. The main worry centered on the possibility that personal details from exam preparation users, including minors, might be shared with dating platforms to target them as prospective clients. Critics pointed out that The Princeton Review's policies permit the collection of information about academic performance and extracurricular involvement, which could be leveraged for customized advertising across its various websites.

Nonetheless, there has been no proof indicating that IAC, the former proprietor of The Princeton Review, utilized such information to market dating services to younger audiences.

See also

External links

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