They are two separate institutions that are both part of the American Public University System and share many resources.  Both schools are open to military and civilian students. 

Tuition is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and $275 per credit hour for graduate courses.  Most courses are 3 credit hour courses.  To determine the full cost of your program, multiply the number of credits needed to complete your degree by $250 for the undergraduate level or $275 for the graduate level.

During an average week, an undergraduate student should expect:

• 9 - 10 hours completing coursework for a 16-week course
• 15 - 18 hours completing coursework for an 8-week course. 

A graduate student should expect:

• 10 - 15 hours completing coursework for a 16-week course
• 18 - 22 hours completing coursework for an 8-week course.

Everything is done online.  Exams are posted inside the classroom; students open and complete them within the time allotted.  Sometimes a professor will require a proctor.  A proctor might be a local college or university administrator or faculty member, a school superintendent or principal, a school or public librarian, a military base education officer, or any other professional who accepts the task and is approved by the University. If a proctor is required, the student must choose a proctor who will be able to give the student access to a computer for 3-4 hours, and who has an e-mail address.

Prior to exam day, the Professor will e-mail a password to your proctor. On the day of your exam, your proctor will provide the password and monitor you as you take your final exam online.

Students must enter proctor information in the EXAMS section of the online classroom. Additional information on the exam process is located inside each classroom.

No, you will never have to travel to a physical campus.  All coursework and administrative tasks can be completed online. 

The answer to this question varies from student to student.  It all depends on how many credits you transfer into your degree program and the pace of study you choose.  Our classes are offered in both 8- and 16-week semesters, so you can choose the pace that best meets your needs.  For example, a student who successfully completes 2 courses every 8 weeks for a year can earn 36 credit hours in a year, but a student who takes the same courses over 16 weeks will earn 18 credit hours.

All of our academic programs have deadlines.  Students are free to work as slowly as they like towards their degree as long as they complete at least one class per calendar year and stay within these deadlines:

Students should use the chronological or functional resume format when writing a resume. 

The chronological resume is most suitable when:

1. You have a steady and consistent employment history with no major gaps in employment and have not changed career tracks recently.
2. Your employment history has been one of progressively responsible positions.
3. Your titles have been impressive and/or you have been recently employed at well-known companies.
4. Your major accomplishments have been achieved in your most recent positions.
5. You are seeking a career in a field where this format is expected.

We do not allow students to enroll in two majors.

Graduate students are responsible for buying their own books and can purchase them directly from our provider, MBS Direct at www.mbsdirect.net.  On the MBS site, choose American Public University System as your school and follow the prompts on the screen to order your books.

I'd like to know how many of my previously earned credits will transfer into my program at APUS. Is this possible?

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We will accept up to 45 credits towards an associate degree, 90 credits towards a bachelor’s degree and 15 credits towards a master’s degree.  To start the evaluation process you first need to apply for admission and complete your orientation

Next, log into the Electronic Campus with your student ID# and password; click on Transfer Credit Application from the left menu.  This form should be filled out, printed, and submitted online.  There is a $100 fee you can pay via credit card.   

Lastly, we need documentation of your previous education.  You can give us permission to request your academic transcripts for you at no extra charge by signing and faxing us the Transcript Release Authorization form, found by printing out the Transfer Credit Application.  Once we have all of your documents the evaluation will be started and the results e-mailed to you in 4-6 weeks. Click here for more details about the TCE process and sources of transfer credit.

Please mail your official, academic transcripts to this address:

APUS
Attn: Transcripts
10110 Battleview Parkway
Suite 114
Manassas VA 20109

Yes.  You can either fax high school diplomas or transcripts and military documents to 304-724-3788 or e-mail scanned copies to documents@apus.edu.

You do not have to be seeking a degree to take classes at AMU or APU.  We have many students who take just a class or two.  Some enroll in courses for personal interest, and some for transfer into a degree program at another school.   If you are planning to transfer credits earned at AMU or APU into a degree program elsewhere, we recommend that you contact the Registrar’s Office at your “home” school prior to registration to make sure the AMU and APU classes you choose will fit into your degree plan.  When you’re ready to enroll, just choose Undergraduate or Graduate Courses for Transfer as your academic program on your application for admission.

Yes, AMU and APU students who qualify can use Federal Student Aid as their payment option or to apply for deferment of current Federal Student Loans.  Students should complete their financial aid application process at least six weeks before their intended start date.

Note:  Students pursuing certificates at this time may not use Federal Student Aid to finance their program.  Also, students pursuing an Associate Degree in General Studies (regardless of the concentration) does not qualify as an eligible program for FSA funds.  However, our two new Associate of Science degrees qualify as eligible programs.  

Check out our Fact Sheet for complete information on Federal Student Aid.

Yes.  We conduct a graduation ceremony once a year, in May or June, in the Washington D.C. area. Students who graduate between June 30th of the previous year and March 31st of the current year are invited to attend the commencement ceremony along with family members.  Students who do not wish to participate in the ceremony will have their diploma and transcripts mailed to them.

APUS offers a variety of tutorial help through the Online Library.  Smarthinking, for example, is licensed to provide students with 5 hours of free sessions and with additional time available on request. The service brings individual tutors to your side.  They can help you focus on basic writing and math skills—but will also deal with Science, Accounting, Statistics, Economics, Spanish, and much more.  Simply click on Smarthinking in the Tutorial Column of the Library to:

• Connect with an e-structor and interact with a live tutor.
• Submit your writing for any class to their Online Writing Lab.
• Submit a math problem for analysis.
• Look for assistance in other courses and receive a reply from a tutor.