Prismacolor Premier vs Scholar: Which Colored Pencil Set Is Right for You?

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Prismacolor Premier vs Scholar: Which Colored Pencil Set Is Right for You?

Prismacolor makes two colored pencil lines that look almost identical on the shelf: Premier and Scholar. Both have the same brand name, similar packaging, and overlapping color counts. But they are designed for completely different users, and buying the wrong one can mean overpaying for features you will not use or being frustrated by pencils that cannot keep up with your technique.

I tested both sets side by side across several coloring book pages to find the real differences that matter for adult coloring book enthusiasts. The short version: Premier is for serious colorists, Scholar is for students and beginners. But the details reveal where each set excels and where the price difference is actually worth it.

The Core Difference

Prismacolor Premier is the artist-grade line. The cores are soft, wax-based, and highly pigmented, which makes them the most blendable colored pencils on the market. They are the pencils that professional illustrators and dedicated adult colorists reach for.

Prismacolor Scholar is the student-grade line. The cores are harder, less pigmented, and more durable, designed to survive being dropped, pressed too hard, and sharpened carelessly by beginners who are still learning technique. They cost roughly half as much as Premier.

The key question is: are you still learning, or are you ready for professional-grade tools?

Blendability: Premier Wins Easily

This is the biggest difference and the main reason to choose Premier. The soft wax core dissolves under pressure, allowing you to blend colors seamlessly with a colorless blender pencil or even just layering. Transitions between shades are smooth and painterly.

Scholar pencils blend, but with noticeably more effort. The harder core holds its shape, which means layers sit on top of each other rather than merging. You can achieve decent blends with 4-5 layers and a blender pencil, but the result is never as smooth as Premier achieves in 2-3 layers.

For coloring book pages that rely on gradients, skies, skin tones, floral petals, Premier is the clear winner. For flat color fills and simple designs where blending does not matter, Scholar is fine.

Pigment and Color Saturation

Premier pencils lay down more pigment per stroke. One light pass gives you full, rich color. Scholar pencils require 2-3 passes to achieve the same saturation, because the pigment-to-binder ratio is lower.

This means Scholar pencils use up faster, you will need to sharpen more often and replace the set sooner. Over a year of regular coloring, the cost difference between the two sets narrows because Scholar pencils do not last as long.

The color range is also different. Premier sets come in up to 150 colors, while Scholar maxes out at 60. For most coloring book work, 60 colors is enough, but the extra Premier shades give you more options for subtle variations.

Durability: Scholar Wins

This is where Scholar has a genuine advantage. The harder cores resist breakage far better than Premier. You can press harder, sharpen more aggressively, and drop Scholar pencils without the core shattering inside the barrel.

Premier cores are notoriously fragile. The soft wax breaks inside the barrel if the pencil is dropped, and aggressive sharpening can crack the core. Many colorists buy Premier sets knowing that several pencils will need to be replaced within the first few months due to internal breakage.

If you are buying pencils for a child or a beginner who is rough on supplies, Scholar is the practical choice. If you are careful with your tools and use a quality sharpener like the Kum long-point sharpener, Premier’s fragility is manageable.

Price Comparison

Prismacolor Premier 72-color set: Around $45-55 ($0.63-0.76 per pencil)

Prismacolor Scholar 60-color set: Around $25-30 ($0.42-0.50 per pencil)

The price gap is roughly $20-25. For many colorists, the question is whether the blendability and pigment quality are worth paying nearly double. If you color weekly and care about smooth gradients, yes. If you color occasionally and mostly fill flat areas, no.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy Scholar if:

• You are new to adult coloring and not sure if it will become a regular hobby
• You primarily color simple designs without complex blending
• You are buying for a teenager or student who may be rough on supplies
• Budget is a primary concern

Prismacolor Scholar 60-Color Set, around $25-30

Buy Premier if:

• You color regularly and want the best blendable pencils available
• You work on detailed designs with gradients, shading, and layering
• You are willing to handle pencils carefully and use a quality sharpener
• You want professional-grade results from your coloring book pages

Prismacolor Premier 72-Color Set, around $45-55

Can You Use Both Together?

Yes, and many colorists do. Use Scholar pencils for base layers and broad areas where durability matters, then switch to Premier for detail work, blending, and final touches. The two lines are compatible on the same page because they share the same wax-based binder formula.

A practical setup: buy the Scholar 60-color set for your everyday coloring, then add a Prismacolor colorless blender and a small set of Premier pencils (12-24 colors) for blending and detail work. This gives you the best of both lines for under $40.

Bottom Line

The Prismacolor Premier set is the better pencil, softer, more pigmented, more blendable. If you are serious about coloring, it is worth the extra cost. But the Scholar set is not a compromise, it is a purpose-built student pencil that does its job well. For beginners, students, and casual colorists, Scholar gives you 80% of Premier’s performance at half the price, and its durability means it will survive the learning curve.

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My take: The honest split: Scholar for the learning curve, Premier for the payoff. Scholar gives 80% of Premier’s performance at half price and survives beginner abuse; Premier’s effortless blending is worth the premium only once your technique can use it. Pick by whether you’re still breaking tips or chasing gradients.

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