American Public University System

Private for-profit four-year university in Charles Town, WV that costs an average of $11,116 a year after financial aid and graduates 60% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$11,116
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
60%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$41,320

Private for-profitTown (fringe)40,074 undergraduates

Cost of American Public University System

Total cost of attendance (per year)$19,691
Tuition and fees, in-state$8,400
Books and supplies$0
Average net price after aid$11,116

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$11,133
$48,001–75,000$7,339
$75,001–110,000$8,599
$110,001+$15,991

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with American Public University System's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rateOpen admission (everyone admitted)

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate60%
First-year retention97%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$48,813
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$41,320
Rank in West Virginia (earnings)19th of 19 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$18,277
Typical monthly loan payment$208 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants29%
Students with federal loans13%

Majors and programs at American Public University System

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Bachelor's degree programs (45)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing224$86,573$12,500
Philosophy47$76,837—
Political Science and Government148$72,825$19,766
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management922$71,646$20,192
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations952$69,875$14,124
Applied Mathematics74$69,593$20,625
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities168$69,410—
Military Science and Operational Studies—$67,490$24,765
Fire Protection94$67,279$21,516
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods105$65,446$17,166
Homeland Security1,041$65,324$22,000
Computer and Information Sciences434$65,076$18,622
Business Administration, Management and Operations3,852$64,017$17,511
Criminal Justice and Corrections1,103$63,965$15,863
Security Science and Technology109$63,383$20,153
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians198$62,854$23,399
International/Globalization Studies198$59,708$13,165
Business/Commerce635$57,104$14,982
Non-Professional Legal Studies141$55,769$26,325
Natural Resources Conservation and Research607$54,940$22,170
Public Health178$54,702$19,815
Accounting and Related Services132$54,514$24,411
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness947$54,504$18,845
Sociology161$53,913$19,599
Marketing121$53,534$23,661
Natural Sciences56$52,705$28,125
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations75$52,062—
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other476$50,893$16,946
History229$50,567$21,438
Health and Medical Administrative Services205$48,268$23,419
Psychology—$46,472$20,231
Hospitality Administration/Management85$45,616$27,933
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services209$44,148$32,597
English Language and Literature139$43,357$27,318
Air Transportation———
Communication and Media Studies50—$30,413
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis19——
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering22——
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations13——
Human Resources Management and Services259—$14,188
International Relations and National Security Studies———
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other122——
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies42——
Religion/Religious Studies51——
Research and Experimental Psychology676—$23,162

Certificate programs (32)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Real Estate62$62,489—
Business Administration, Management and Operations310$60,633—
Legal Support Services60$56,032—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management70$51,253—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services76$39,248—
Accounting and Related Services———
Area Studies———
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning1——
Computer Programming1——
Computer Software and Media Applications30——
Criminal Justice and Corrections27——
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications32——
Educational/Instructional Media Design18——
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians———
Fire Protection25——
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations5——
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs28——
Homeland Security58——
Hospitality Administration/Management14——
Human Resources Management and Services3——
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations40——
International/Globalization Studies20——
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians8——
Military Systems and Maintenance Technology17——
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other12——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research15——
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other2——
Security Policy and Strategy———
Security Science and Technology26——
Sustainability Studies6——
Telecommunications Management72——
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management45——

Associate's degree programs (25)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Fire Protection105$62,638—
Business Administration, Management and Operations561$56,322$15,378
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities3,056$54,269$7,360
Homeland Security98$52,822—
Criminal Justice and Corrections259$50,172$19,000
Business/Commerce414$49,438$19,000
Accounting and Related Services81$48,950$19,000
Communication and Media Studies90$48,257$16,937
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management336$45,027$11,111
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other1,316$39,586$7,517
Public Health76$37,102$15,449
Real Estate89$31,684$17,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services188$30,058$18,882
Computer Software and Media Applications5——
Culinary Arts and Related Services18——
Data Processing20——
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations7——
History94——
Hospitality Administration/Management13——
Human Resources Management and Services———
Legal Support Services63—$21,144
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians22——
Military Systems and Maintenance Technology21——
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other20——
Security Policy and Strategy———

Master's degree programs (31)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing54$107,245—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management401$99,014$31,979
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations411$96,106$26,052
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods77$86,686—
Homeland Security547$82,381$37,617
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians141$82,314$33,806
Accounting and Related Services48$81,521$38,234
International/Globalization Studies238$80,428$35,980
Public Administration143$77,717$36,586
Criminal Justice and Corrections352$76,181$32,536
Business Administration, Management and Operations2,563$75,973$31,561
Non-Professional Legal Studies87$71,165$40,192
Political Science and Government66$67,643$37,456
Education76$64,447$31,626
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy202$63,973$30,849
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness352$61,901$29,926
History320$61,591$40,212
Public Health138$59,842$32,667
Health and Medical Administrative Services175$57,169$40,465
Psychology240$53,575$39,295
Air Transportation———
Educational Administration and Supervision34——
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations61——
Human Resources Management and Services87—$23,216
International Relations and National Security Studies———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities47——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research———
Public Policy Analysis30——
Sociology51——
Student Counseling and Personnel Services18——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods7——

Doctoral degree programs (3)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations5——
International Relations and National Security Studies———
International/Globalization Studies1——

Graduate certificate programs (24)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
History78$79,176$70,490
Business Administration, Management and Operations163$53,479$41,800
Accounting and Related Services4——
Business/Commerce15——
Computer Programming———
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management62——
Criminal Justice and Corrections37——
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis6——
Design and Applied Arts1——
Education———
Education, Other4——
Educational Administration and Supervision3——
Educational/Instructional Media Design8——
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy10——
Homeland Security58——
Human Resources Management and Services33——
Human Services33——
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations69——
International/Globalization Studies20——
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians6——
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other———
Natural Resources Conservation and Research36——
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness20——
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management31——

Similar colleges in West Virginia

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown$18,02089%$62,910
Marshall UniversityHuntington$7,34196%$49,444
Fairmont State UniversityFairmont$10,06099%$49,370
Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown$7,94097%$54,833
University of CharlestonCharleston$23,79362%$56,207
West Liberty UniversityWest Liberty$8,98897%$49,503
Concord UniversityAthens$9,48493%$45,054
West Virginia State UniversityInstitute$13,62496%$43,742

All colleges in West Virginia →

About American Public University System

TypePrivate for-profit four-year university
LocationCharles Town, WV
SettingTown (fringe)
Undergraduates40,074
Student-to-faculty ratio25 to 1
AccreditorHigher Learning Commission
Websiteapus.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does American Public University System cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $19,691 a year (tuition and fees: $8,400). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $11,116 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $11,133.

How much do American Public University System graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $41,320 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 19th of 19 similar colleges in West Virginia. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($86,573 a year after graduation).

What is American Public University System's graduation rate?

60% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 97% of first-year students return for a second year.