Kaplan reviews

3.6

65% would recommend to a friend

(2,587 total reviews)

Andrew S. Rosen

76% approve of CEO

63% positive business outlook

Kaplan has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 2,587 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Kaplan employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
3.0
Oct 1, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There is a good amount of employee autonomy. Employees are free to experiment and try out new approaches.

Cons

For full time employees below the level of director, the pay is far too low for the level of pressure applied and performance expected. The company hires "bright young things" at bargain basement prices, and as those junior employees gain skill they are laden with additional responsibilities (and absurd numbers-growth demands) at a rate that far outstrips their compensation and level of experience. Locally, this gives the company substantial internal volatility and high turnover, as specialists in sales and operations discover that at other companies they can either A) earn the same amount of money in a far less stressful job (working 40, rather than 70-90, hours per week) or B) earn a far higher wage in a comparably stressful environment. Employees who leave are usually not replaced for 6-18 months, and the remaining employees are left to complete their own work and the work of their departed colleagues with no increase in compensation or reduction in expectations. The local management then marvels at the recent rash of short-notice employee departures.

4.0
Sep 30, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

People who work for Kaplan Publishing tend to be highly intelligent, motivated, interesting people. I met a great group of people there. Also, there is a lot of opportunity to learn new skills and to grow professionally.

Cons

They do not respect their employees' need to have work/life balance. Often, they expect their employees to work unpaid overtime and are not always willing to give you time off when you want it/need it. Also, the salaries at Kaplan are low compared to similar positions at other companies.

4.0
Sep 29, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

At its best, Kaplan appreciates the unique talents of individual employees. Management will find your strengths and help you develop them. It's also stimulating to work at a company where most people are young, creative and very bright (many employees in the field and the home office started as teachers for Kaplan). Kaplan also offers opportunities for advancement and loves to promote from within. Many of the highest executives in the country started as part time teachers. The benefits package is comprehensive and very good including medical, dental, 401K and pension plans. Kaplan also provides a fun work environment. We all work hard, but most people try to keep a sense of humor.

Cons

The level of compensation is not commensurate with the amount of talent and experience employees have. We also work incredibly hard and work long hours during busy seasons. The amount you will get paid from entry level-middle management does not compensate for the amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into these jobs. You really need to love your job and be passionate about the success of our students and our organization to survive here. If you aren't, it won't be worth it. Working for Kaplan also comes with many of the downsides typical of working for a large corporation. There are many layers of management, a lot of bureaucracy, and you may often be subjected to decisions that don't seem to make sense from the ground.

Viewing 2566 - 2568 of 2,587 Reviews

Glassdoor has 2,793 Kaplan reviews submitted anonymously by Kaplan employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Kaplan is right for you.