Kaplan Schweser CFA Review 2026: Study Packages, Pricing & Who It's For

If you walk into a CFA study group, the odds are high that most members have Schweser notes open on their laptops. Kaplan Schweser has dominated the CFA prep market for decades — its concise study notes are considered the gold standard for distilling the 3,000+ page CFA curriculum into exam-ready summaries.

What Is Kaplan Schweser?

Kaplan Schweser is Kaplan's CFA-specific brand, founded by Dr. Andrew Temte. It offers study materials for all three CFA levels including SchweserNotes (condensed study books), QBanks, mock exams, and live instruction. It is officially licensed by the CFA Institute as an Approved Prep Provider.

Key Features

• SchweserNotes: 5-volume set condensing the entire CFA curriculum
• QBank with thousands of topic-based practice questions per level
• Full mock exams in exam-day format
• Live online weekly classes available
• On-demand video lectures covering all LOS
• All 3 CFA levels covered
• 10% discount with code "Early10" on select packages
• Approved Prep Provider — licensed by CFA Institute

Pricing

• Essential package (Level I/II/III): $649/level
• Premium package (Level I/II/III): $999/level
• Premium Plus (with live weekly classes): $1,499/level
• All 3 levels Essential: $1,947
• All 3 levels Premium Plus: $4,497
• Use code "Early10" for 10% off

Pros & Cons

• PRO: Most widely used CFA study materials — peer-tested and community-supported
• PRO: SchweserNotes efficiency is unmatched for summarizing the curriculum
• PRO: Available at all 3 levels with consistent quality
• PRO: Live class option available for those who need structure
• CON: Dense reading-heavy format may not suit visual/auditory learners
• CON: Video lectures are secondary to the notes — not as strong as Mark Meldrum
• CON: Premium Plus can be expensive at $1,499/level

Who Should Use Kaplan Schweser?

CFA candidates who are strong readers and prefer efficient, condensed study materials over long-form video lectures. Candidates at Level II and III where the curriculum density makes Schweser's summarization especially valuable. Study groups using Schweser as the shared reference material.

Final Verdict

Kaplan Schweser remains the default CFA prep choice for a reason: the SchweserNotes are the most efficient way to cover a notoriously dense curriculum. For candidates who also want exceptional video instruction, pair Schweser notes with Mark Meldrum's video lectures. Rating: 4.6/5.