American Public University System, a for-profit enterprise comprised of American Military University and American Public University, is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. AMU and APU are open to both military and civilian students, though the former caters to service members and the latter to those interested in public service careers. The schools are two distinct organizations, but share many resources. Neither has a formal relationship with the U.S. military.
Approximately 40 online bachelor's degree programs are offered at APUS, including accounting, homeland security, business administration, sports and health science, and retail management. APUS does not operate any brick-and-mortar educational facilities and all degrees are earned entirely online. Students have access to many academic resources, including a 24/7 online library, writing workshops, live tutoring and mentoring.
Classes at APUS are taught in eight-week and 16-week formats and are available beginning at 6 a.m. on the first Monday of the month. The classes are generally small, too - the maximum is 25 students. Faculty must have a minimum of a master's degree and are required to complete professional development training. Students at APUS can connect with peers through The Quad, where they can join virtual service organizations, among other activities. Once a year, APUS hosts a graduation ceremony in the Washington, D.C., area.
American Public University System is ranked No. 94 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
See how this program stacks up against others, based on factors used in the U.S. News methodology.
Student Engagement rank: 86
Student Engagement rank: 86
Student Engagement score: 73 ?
Student Engagement score: ? 73
Faculty Credentials and Training rank: 115
Faculty Credentials and Training rank: 115
Faculty Credentials and Training score: 81 ?
Faculty Credentials and Training score: ? 81
Student Services and Technology rank: 74
Student Services and Technology rank: 74
Student Services and Technology score: 67 ?
Student Services and Technology score: ? 67
Peer assessment score (out of 5): 2.4
Peer assessment score (out of 5): 2.4
Other rankings at this school: Colleges
Application deadline (U.S. residents): Rolling
Application deadline (U.S. residents): Rolling
Application deadline (international students): Rolling
Application deadline (international students): Rolling
Priority application deadline: N/A
Priority application deadline: N/A
Students are admitted and enrolled throughout the year with courses starting each month.
Application website: N/A
Application website: N/A
Director of admissions: Greg Hill
Director of admissions: Greg Hill
Admissions phone: (877) 777-9081
Admissions phone: (877) 777-9081
Admissions fax: N/A
Admissions fax: N/A
Admissions requirements same as campus-based students' requirements: N/A
Admissions requirements same as campus-based students' requirements: N/A
Sometimes denies admittance to qualified applicants: Yes
Sometimes denies admittance to qualified applicants: Yes
Accept transfer students: Yes
Accept transfer students: Yes
Transfer students may earn advanced standing credit: Yes
Transfer students may earn advanced standing credit: Yes
Dual enrollment at separate college allowed: No
Dual enrollment at separate college allowed: No
Can earn degree entirely outside U.S.: Yes
Can earn degree entirely outside U.S.: Yes
Application essay required: Yes
Application essay required: Yes
High school completion requirements: Diploma or GED required
High school completion requirements: Diploma or GED required
Minimum high school GPA required: 2
Minimum high school GPA required: 2
Rigor of secondary school record: N/A
Rigor of secondary school record: N/A
Class rank: N/A
Class rank: N/A
GPA: N/A
GPA: N/A
Recommendation(s): N/A
Recommendation(s): N/A
Standardized test scores: N/A
Standardized test scores: N/A
Application essay: Considered
Application essay: Considered
Interview: N/A
Interview: N/A
Extracurricular activities: N/A
Extracurricular activities: N/A
Talent/ability: N/A
Talent/ability: N/A
Character/personal qualities: N/A
Character/personal qualities: N/A
First-generation college student: N/A
First-generation college student: N/A
Alumni/alumnae relations: N/A
Alumni/alumnae relations: N/A
Geographical residence: N/A
Geographical residence: N/A
State residency: N/A
State residency: N/A
Religious affiliation/commitment: N/A
Religious affiliation/commitment: N/A
Race/ethnicity: N/A
Race/ethnicity: N/A
Volunteer work: N/A
Volunteer work: N/A
Work experience: N/A
Work experience: N/A
Applicant's interest level: N/A
Applicant's interest level: N/A
Applicants: 38,218
Applicants: 38,218
Female applicants: 15,774
Female applicants: 15,774
Male applicants: 22,444
Male applicants: 22,444
Applicants accepted: 26,275
Applicants accepted: 26,275
Female applicants accepted: 9,636
Female applicants accepted: 9,636
Male applicants accepted: 16,639
Male applicants accepted: 16,639
Applicants enrolled: 15,790
Applicants enrolled: 15,790
Female applicants enrolled: 5,513
Female applicants enrolled: 5,513
Male applicants enrolled: 10,277
Male applicants enrolled: 10,277
Acceptance rate: 69%
Acceptance rate: 69%
School type: For-profit
School type: For-profit
Terms: Semester
Terms: Semester
First year of program: Before-1994-1995
First year of program: Before-1994-1995
Full-time instructional faculty that teach courses accessible online: 392 ?
Full-time instructional faculty that teach courses accessible online: ? 392
Part-time instructional faculty that teach courses accessible online: 1,452 ?
Part-time instructional faculty that teach courses accessible online: ? 1,452
Average online teaching experience: 6 years ?
Average online teaching experience: ? 6 years
Full-time faculty with doctorate: 214
Full-time faculty with doctorate: 214
Part-time faculty with doctorate: 766
Part-time faculty with doctorate: 766
Full-time faculty with terminal degree: 219
Full-time faculty with terminal degree: 219
Part-time faculty with terminal degree: 783
Part-time faculty with terminal degree: 783
Full-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Full-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Part-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Part-time faculty whose highest degree is a bachelor's: 0
Full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty: 0
Full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty: 0
School finances online instructor training: Yes
School finances online instructor training: Yes
Required hours of initial training: 20
Required hours of initial training: 20
Formal peer review of instructors: No
Formal peer review of instructors: No
Continuing online instruction education required: Yes
Continuing online instruction education required: Yes
Full-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: 53 ?
Full-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: ? 53
Part-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: 10 ?
Part-time course development tech staff supporting faculty: ? 10
Average class size: 18
Average class size: 18
Maximum class size: 25
Maximum class size: 25
Online bachelor's degree programs: 46
Online bachelor's degree programs: 46
Online courses: 1,059 ?
Online courses: ? 1,059
Can earn degree entirely online: Yes ?
Can earn degree entirely online: ? Yes
Classes include campus-based students: Na
Classes include campus-based students: Na
Orientations: No
Orientations: No
Group projects/simulations: No
Group projects/simulations: No
Exams: No
Exams: No
Archived classes: All
Archived classes: All
Classes can be received live: None
Classes can be received live: None
Live online/on-campus classes after 5 p.m.: N/A
Live online/on-campus classes after 5 p.m.: N/A
Online chatrooms: Yes
Online chatrooms: Yes
Web conferencing (webinars): Yes
Web conferencing (webinars): Yes
Skype or other visual software: Yes
Skype or other visual software: Yes
New-student orientation: Yes
New-student orientation: Yes
Review and sign ethics statement: Yes
Review and sign ethics statement: Yes
Percentage of classes with lectures: N/A
Percentage of classes with lectures: N/A
Number of times per week students must login to a typical course: N/A
Number of times per week students must login to a typical course: N/A
Number of times per month faculty evaluate student participation: N/A ?
Number of times per month faculty evaluate student participation: ? N/A
Number of times per month faculty provide feedback to students on participation: N/A ?
Number of times per month faculty provide feedback to students on participation: ? N/A
Courses requiring students to work collaboratively with other students: Majority
Courses requiring students to work collaboratively with other students: Majority
Class participation graded: Yes
Class participation graded: Yes
Exams: Yes
Exams: Yes
Same exams are administered only once: Yes
Same exams are administered only once: Yes
Exams have random question order: Yes
Exams have random question order: Yes
Exams use multifactor authentication: Yes ?
Exams use multifactor authentication: ? Yes
Number of settings in which in-person exams are administered: Multiple geographically dispersed settings
Number of settings in which in-person exams are administered: Multiple geographically dispersed settings
Anti-plagiarism screening required for essay assignments: Depends
Anti-plagiarism screening required for essay assignments: Depends
During the first required course in all bachelors degree programs, students are taught how to use Turnitin.com as a tool for avoiding plagiarism. Students also engage in a dialogue during the Week 4 Forum with their classmates and instructors on the topic of academic integrity in which students research a current event that illustrates how being dishonest in academia may impact ones public, professional reputation. Faculty ask students to sign the honor code when submitting an assignment and/or make a statement that this is their original work. Turnitin is embedded in all identified courses in Sakai LMS. Assignments are automatically uploaded and assessed with assessments of originality reported in the grade book for the assignment.
Standardized copyright policy for course materials: Yes
Standardized copyright policy for course materials: Yes
End-of-course evaluations: Always
End-of-course evaluations: Always
Course evaluation response rate: 11%
Course evaluation response rate: 11%
ETS Proficiency Profile: Yes
ETS Proficiency Profile: Yes
ETS Proficiency Profile results publicly available: Yes
ETS Proficiency Profile results publicly available: Yes
Major Field Test (ETS): Yes
Major Field Test (ETS): Yes
Major Field Test results publicly available: Yes
Major Field Test results publicly available: Yes
Peregrine Academic Services: Yes
Peregrine Academic Services: Yes
Peregrine Academic Services results publicly available: Yes
Peregrine Academic Services results publicly available: Yes
Credits needed to graduate: 120
Credits needed to graduate: 120
Credits that must be earned through school: 30
Credits that must be earned through school: 30
Total program graduates (2016-2017): 5,542
Total program graduates (2016-2017): 5,542
Limited time to complete degree: Yes
Limited time to complete degree: Yes
Maximum time to earn final 25% of credits: 10 years
Maximum time to earn final 25% of credits: 10 years
Total enrollment: 53,796 ?
Total enrollment: ? 53,796
Female enrollment: 17,869
Female enrollment: 17,869
Male enrollment: 35,927
Male enrollment: 35,927
Enrolled students with military experience: 38,250
Enrolled students with military experience: 38,250
Enrolled students who are active service members: 29,754
Enrolled students who are active service members: 29,754
Enrolled students who are veterans: 8,496
Enrolled students who are veterans: 8,496
Average credits held by (2016-2017) graduates when starting program: 35
Average credits held by (2016-2017) graduates when starting program: 35
New entrants who are first-time freshmen: 9%
New entrants who are first-time freshmen: 9%
New entrants who are employed: N/A
New entrants who are employed: N/A
Students 22 and younger: 12%
Students 22 and younger: 12%
Students ages 23-39: 73%
Students ages 23-39: 73%
Students 40 or older: 15%
Students 40 or older: 15%
Average student age: 31 years
Average student age: 31 years
Region from which most U.S. students come: South Atlantic
Region from which most U.S. students come: South Atlantic
Number of countries represented by international students: 80
Number of countries represented by international students: 80
Facebook: N/A
Facebook: N/A
LinkedIn: N/A
LinkedIn: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Apple: Yes
Apple: Yes
PC: Yes
PC: Yes
Recommended internet speed: Broadband
Recommended internet speed: Broadband
Live streaming video: Yes
Live streaming video: Yes
Live streaming audio: No
Live streaming audio: No
Recorded video: Yes
Recorded video: Yes
Recorded audio: Yes
Recorded audio: Yes
Software-based readers: Yes
Software-based readers: Yes
Application for display on tablet computer: Yes
Application for display on tablet computer: Yes
Mobile Platform by Modo Labs: https://www.modolabs.com/products-youll-love/ Build custom Native Mobile Apps. Use RWD to resize/reshape content.
Application for display on smartphone: Yes
Application for display on smartphone: Yes
APUS uses APUS Mobile, it's proprietary mobile application for both students and faculty. APUS Mobile is supported on both iOS and Android.
Bulletin boards: Yes
Bulletin boards: Yes
Simulations: Yes
Simulations: Yes
Online labs: Yes
Online labs: Yes
Learning management system: Yes
Learning management system: Yes
Online course development: In-house
Online course development: In-house
Courses designed by certified instructional designers: Yes ?
Courses designed by certified instructional designers: ? Yes
Adobe Connect: Yes
Adobe Connect: Yes
Sakai: Yes
Sakai: Yes
Academic advising: Yes
Academic advising: Yes
Bookstore: Yes
Bookstore: Yes
Career placement assistance: No
Career placement assistance: No
Email address: Yes
Email address: Yes
Financial aid office/services: Yes
Financial aid office/services: Yes
Access to digitized library materials: Yes
Access to digitized library materials: Yes
Access to live librarian: Yes
Access to live librarian: Yes
Local area network: No
Local area network: No
Mentoring: Yes
Mentoring: Yes
Technical support: Yes
Technical support: Yes
Live tutoring: Yes
Live tutoring: Yes
Writing workshops: Yes
Writing workshops: Yes
Weekly office hours (available remotely): 2
Weekly office hours (available remotely): 2
Expectation that instructors will respond to questions within specific timeframe: Yes
Expectation that instructors will respond to questions within specific timeframe: Yes
Instructor response expected within (hours): 24
Instructor response expected within (hours): 24
24-7 live tech support: No
24-7 live tech support: No
ADA compliance: Central office reviews each course
ADA compliance: Central office reviews each course
Weekend days (7:00 am - 5:59 pm): Always
Weekend days (7:00 am - 5:59 pm): Always
Weekend nights (6:00 pm - 9:59 pm): Always
Weekend nights (6:00 pm - 9:59 pm): Always
Weekend overnights (10:00 pm - 6:59 am): Sometimes
Weekend overnights (10:00 pm - 6:59 am): Sometimes
Weekdays (7:00 am - 5:59 pm): Always
Weekdays (7:00 am - 5:59 pm): Always
Weeknights (6:00 pm - 9:59 pm): Always
Weeknights (6:00 pm - 9:59 pm): Always
Weekday overnights (10:00 pm - 6:59 am): Sometimes
Weekday overnights (10:00 pm - 6:59 am): Sometimes
Tuition for U.S. students (per credit): $270 ?
Tuition for U.S. students (per credit): ? $270
In-state, in-district tuition for U.S. students (per credit): N/A ?
In-state, in-district tuition for U.S. students (per credit): ? N/A
Tuition for international students (per credit): N/A ?
Tuition for international students (per credit): ? N/A
In-state tuition for all military veterans: N/A
In-state tuition for all military veterans: N/A
Financial aid available: Both institutional and federal aid are available
Financial aid available: Both institutional and federal aid are available
Institution is GI Bill certified: Yes
Institution is GI Bill certified: Yes
New students who use GI Bill benefits: 18%
New students who use GI Bill benefits: 18%
Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program: Yes
Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program: Yes
Average indebtedness of 2016-2017 graduates: $28,614 ?
Average indebtedness of 2016-2017 graduates: ? $28,614
Proportion of 2016-2017 graduates with debt: 32%
Proportion of 2016-2017 graduates with debt: 32%
School tracks alumni: No
School tracks alumni: No
APUS programs are regularly reviewed by Industry Advisory Councils to help ensure career relevancy in a changing marketplace, with some offering specialized certifications. Career services resources include virtual career fairs and resume workshops.
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