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Education

Rapid Rise of Private Tutoring Centers in the United States: New Research Reveals Concentration of Industry in High-Income Areas

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Bentley University have published a study on the growth and concentration of private tutoring centers in the United States, revealing a significant increase in the number of centers across the country. According to the study, the number of private tutoring centers tripled from approximately 3,000 in 1997 to over 10,000 in 2022, with the majority of centers located in areas with high income and parental education levels. The study also found that private tutoring centers tend to locate in areas with many Asian American families, suggesting differences in demand by ethnic or cultural identity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of private tutoring centers in the United States has more than tripled from 3,000 in 1997 to over 10,000 in 2022, with steady growth through 2015 and a recent plateau.
  • The location and growth of private tutoring centers are heavily concentrated in areas with high income and parental education levels, with over half of tutoring centers located in the top quintile of income.
  • Private tutoring centers tend to locate in areas with many Asian American families, suggesting differences in demand by ethnic or cultural identity.
  • Marginal evidence suggests that the private tutoring market does not track K-12 school markets, such as charter, magnet, or private school options.
  • The rapid rise in high-income families' demand for private tutoring has potentially important implications for inequality in student outcomes.
  • The study's findings have been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Education Finance and Policy, Volume 20, Issue 3, 2025.

Statistics:

  • The number of private tutoring centers in the United States has increased from 3,000 in 1997 to over 10,000 in 2022 (Source: Kumon et al.).
  • Over 50% of private tutoring centers are located in areas with incomes in the top quintile (Source: Kumon et al.).
  • Private tutoring centers are more likely to be located in areas with many Asian American families (Source: Kumon et al.).

Sources:

  • Kumon, In, et al. "Kumon In: the Recent, Rapid Rise of Private Tutoring Centers." Education Finance and Policy, vol. 20, no. 3, 2025, pp. 473-493.
  • NewsRx. "Studies from Bentley University Have Provided New Data on Education Finance and Policy (Kumon In: the Recent, Rapid Rise of Private Tutoring Centers)." Education Letter, August 20, 2025, p 582.

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