Here's some perspective on what families typically spend on enrichment and instruction:
| Activity | Frequency | Typical Teacher | Top 5% Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math Tutoring (calculus+) | 1x/week | $2,500–4,000/yr | $7,500–10,000/yr |
| Physics Tutoring (AP/advanced) | 1x/week | $2,500–4,000/yr | $7,500–10,000/yr |
| SAT/ACT Prep | 1x/week | $3,750–5,000/yr | $7,500–10,000/yr |
| Piano Lessons | 1x/week | $2,500–4,000/yr | $5,000–6,000/yr |
| Vocal Lessons | 2x/week | $5,000–7,500/yr | $10,000–15,000/yr |
$12,000/year gets you a well-rounded research experience — structured mentorship, real methodology training, guidance for hands-on work, and more →
That's roughly what families pay for one top-tier tutor in one subject — except tutoring helps a student get better at something they already do.
A research lab teaches them to do something entirely new: ask original questions, design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings. These are the same skills they'll need in college and beyond — but learned before the pressure of grades and tuition kicks in.
Students who arrive at college already knowing how to do research use those four years far more efficiently. They're not spending freshman and sophomore year figuring out what research even is — they're ready to go deeper.
SoTS is offering the ONLY dedicated, year-round, online real science, real research, real guidance, real success program in the high school research market.
SoTS is operated by a for-profit LLC - by design. Systemic change across the education landscape takes years if not decades. We want this to exist for 20+ years. Grants run out. Donations fluctuate. Foundations and agencies have their own goals that shift over time. A sustainable business model means we're here for the long haul, and our success depends on delivering real value to students, families, and educators.
That said, we welcome contributions from those who share our mission. Reach out to team@teenscientists.org if you'd like to support teen research education. Your contribution would help us reach more teens faster. You'd be backing an ecosystem built to last. Contributions are not tax-deductible.