American Public University System

What is the history of American Public University System?

American Public University System (APUS) grew out of American Military University, which was founded in 1991 to provide distance education for military learners. Today, APUS operates two university brands - American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) - within one accredited institution headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Its early focus on people whose service or work made conventional campus attendance difficult helps explain its present-day model: predominantly online instruction, frequent course starts, and policies for evaluating military training and other prior learning. The addition of American Public University broadened that audience beyond the military. Applicants may encounter different AMU and APU websites or program pages, but they should understand that both are part of APUS rather than separately accredited universities.

What are the faculties and departments at American Public University System?

APUS organizes its online programs into schools spanning liberal arts, business, health, public service, security, and STEM fields. Its academic offerings include certificates and associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees; the credential and admission rules depend on the program.

The institution's academic schools include Arts, Humanities and Education; Business; Health Sciences; Public Service; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; and Security and Global Studies. Representative subjects include business administration, cybersecurity, nursing, criminal justice, emergency management, history, and international relations. Military studies and intelligence-related programs reflect the institution's origins, while education, health, and business programs serve a broader student population.

Students comparing programs should use the current academic catalog to check required courses, prerequisites, any hands-on or clinical components, and whether a particular credential meets requirements in the state where they intend to work. An online degree in a regulated field can carry location-specific obligations even when its coursework is delivered remotely.

What is the location of American Public University System?

APUS is headquartered in Charles Town, in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, but its students generally attend online rather than traveling to a residential campus. The headquarters location is therefore less important to most applicants than their access to reliable internet, their time zone, and any in-person requirements attached to a specific program.

Charles Town is near the Maryland and Virginia borders and within reach of the Washington, DC, region. Washington Dulles International Airport is a regional travel option, although routine travel to Charles Town is not part of the standard online student experience. Applicants considering nursing or another program with practical requirements should check where those activities can be completed before enrolling.

What is the mission and vision of American Public University System?

APUS describes its mission in terms of accessible, affordable online higher education for military, public-service, and other learners. Its educational approach emphasizes flexibility for adults balancing coursework with jobs, service, and family responsibilities.

That purpose is reflected in online delivery, multiple course start dates, and consideration of qualifying prior learning. These are institutional priorities, not evidence that every student will find a particular schedule or program affordable. Prospective students should judge the fit against their own weekly study time, technology needs, transfer-credit evaluation, and total cost.