Cost Guide
How much does Polygence cost?
Polygence publishes starting prices rather than fixed fees. Here is what it states publicly, what is not published, and the questions worth asking any provider before you commit.
The short answer. Polygence states that its programmes start at approximately $3,000, and that Polygence Pods start at $495. The $3,000 figure covers the Core Program: ten one-hour one-to-one sessions across roughly three to six months. Add-ons are priced separately and are not published, and paying in instalments adds 8%.
That is the honest summary. The longer answer matters, because a starting price and a final invoice are rarely the same number, and the gap between them is where most families get caught out.
The Polygence price, tier by tier
| Tier | What it is | Stated price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polygence Pods | Small-group course, six weekly meetings | From $495 | Paid upfront. A short group course rather than individual mentorship. |
| Core Program | Ten one-hour 1-to-1 sessions over roughly 3 to 6 months | From about $3,000 | Polygence states programmes "start at ~$3,000". The figure is a starting point, not a fixed fee. |
| Launchpad (add-on) | Topic-definition support bundled with Core | Not published | Polygence lists it as an add-on that changes programme length. No public price. |
| Premium Showcasing (add-on) | Support for publishing or presenting the finished project | Not published | Also listed as a bundle-able add-on with no public price. |
Figures as published by Polygence and reviewed 27 July 2026. Prices change; confirm directly with the provider.
What moves the final number
Three things routinely separate the advertised price from the amount a family actually pays, and none of them are unique to Polygence. They apply across this whole market.
1. "Starts at" is a floor, not a fee
A starting price describes the least expensive configuration of the cheapest tier. Longer engagements, more sessions, or a more senior mentor move the figure up. This is reasonable on the provider's side, but it means the published number tells you very little about your own likely cost. Always ask what the figure is for the specific programme being recommended to your child.
2. Add-ons carry the outcome
Polygence lists Launchpad (topic definition) and Premium Showcasing Support (help publishing or presenting) as separate bundles without public prices. That structure is common. The question to ask is simple: is the outcome I actually want included in the base price, or does it live in an add-on? If the reason you are buying is a finished, presentable piece of work, and presenting it is an add-on, the base price is not the real price.
3. Instalments are not free
Polygence's FAQ describes six monthly instalments with an 8% fee. On a $3,000 programme that is roughly $240 in additional cost for spreading payment. Worth knowing before choosing that option, and worth asking any provider whether their payment plan carries a charge.
The Polygence research program cost, per contact hour
Headline price is the least useful comparison in this market, because programmes differ enormously in what they include. A more honest comparison looks at cost per contact hour and at what the student owns when it ends.
The Core Program is ten one-hour sessions. At the stated starting price of about $3,000, that works out to roughly $300 per hour of mentor contact, before any add-ons and before the instalment fee. That is a reasonable benchmark to hold other providers against, including us.
When you compare, line up four things side by side: total contact hours, who the mentor is and how they are matched to the student, what the finished output actually is, and whether reaching that output requires paying for anything else. A cheaper programme that needs two add-ons is not cheaper.
Our fuller structural comparison, covering format, mentor model, and application fit rather than price alone, is here: ScholarBridge vs Polygence.
How ScholarBridge handles fees
We do not publish a headline starting price, and it is fair to ask why. The reason is that our programmes are scoped to the individual student rather than sold as fixed tiers, so any number we advertised would be as unreliable as the ones we have just picked apart.
What we do commit to is this. The fee is set at consultation, once we understand what the student actually needs. It is confirmed in writing before anything begins. It is all-inclusive, with no per-session charges and no add-ons required to reach the final piece of work. And there is no obligation and no payment until you have that figure in front of you.
More on that here: how our pricing works, and financial aid for families who need it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Polygence cost?
Polygence states that its programmes start at approximately $3,000, and that Polygence Pods start at $495. The $3,000 figure applies to the Core Program, which is ten one-hour one-to-one sessions delivered over roughly three to six months. Add-ons such as Launchpad and Premium Showcasing Support are bundled separately and their prices are not published, so the final figure a family pays can be higher than the advertised starting price.
What is the Polygence price for 2026?
The Polygence price published on its own FAQ is a starting figure rather than a fixed fee: about $3,000 for the Core Program and $495 for Pods. Polygence does not publish a price for the Launchpad or Premium Showcasing Support add-ons, and it does not publish an upper bound, so the Polygence price a specific family is quoted depends on the tier, the length of the engagement and the add-ons attached to it.
How much does the Polygence research program cost per session?
The Polygence research program cost works out at roughly $300 per hour of mentor contact, taking the stated $3,000 starting price for the Core Program and dividing it by its ten one-hour sessions. That figure excludes add-ons and excludes the 8% instalment fee. Cost per contact hour is the most useful number for comparing research programmes, because headline fees cover very different amounts of mentor time.
Does Polygence offer payment plans?
Yes. Polygence's FAQ describes either a single upfront payment or six monthly instalments. The instalment option adds an 8% fee, so spreading the cost increases the total paid. Pods must be paid upfront.
Why do published prices and quoted prices differ?
Most research mentorship providers advertise a starting price rather than a fixed one. The final figure depends on the tier chosen, the length of the engagement, and any add-ons. This is why families frequently find that the number quoted after an enquiry is higher than the number they first saw. Ask any provider for the total, all-inclusive figure in writing before committing.
What should I compare besides price?
Compare the number of contact hours, who the mentor actually is and how they are matched, what the student ends up owning at the end, and whether add-ons are needed to reach that outcome. A lower headline price with paid add-ons can cost more than a higher all-inclusive fee. Also check safeguarding, refund terms, and academic integrity policy.
How does ScholarBridge price its programmes?
ScholarBridge sets a fee at consultation, scoped to the individual student, and confirms it in writing before anything begins. Fees are all-inclusive: there are no per-session charges and no paid add-ons required to reach the final output. We publish how pricing works rather than a headline starting price, because the scope genuinely varies by student.
Sources and methodology
Last reviewed 27 July 2026. We compare current public programme information and avoid inferring admissions outcomes or institutional endorsement. Fees, formats, and availability can change; confirm them directly with each provider before enrolling.
No obligation
Want to know what the alternative costs?
You came here for a number. Polygence publishes a starting price; we will give you a written, all-inclusive figure for your child specifically, before you commit to anything.
- A written fee, not a "starting at" figure
- All-inclusive: no per-session charges, no paid add-ons to reach the final work
- The programme and project scope confirmed before you are asked for anything
- No obligation and no payment until that figure is in front of you