American Public University System

What are the graduation rates for students at American Public University System?

Reported APUS completion figures vary by measure and time frame. In 2024-25 reporting, an overall graduation measure is 57%, while the reported four-year and six-year rates are 35% and 47%, respectively.

Those percentages should not be treated as interchangeable. Graduation-rate measures follow defined groups of entering students over specified periods, and traditional first-time, full-time cohorts can represent only a small part of an institution with many transfers and working adults. The reported four-year rate has risen from 23% in 2019 to 35% in the current figures; that trend describes the measure, not the prospects of any individual applicant.

A reported student-retention rate of 97% addresses continued enrollment rather than degree completion. For a transfer applicant, the more useful planning questions may be how many credits APUS will apply to the chosen program and how many courses remain at the student's realistic pace.

What is the earning potential for graduates at American Public University System?

Field-of-study earnings figures for APUS describe observed outcomes for particular groups of former students, not salaries promised by a degree. College Scorecard figures supplied for October 2026 report earnings measured one year after completion; they should be read with the Scorecard's field, credential, and population definitions in mind.

Among fields with a reported figure, registered nursing shows $74,655 and computer/information technology administration and management shows $63,468. Business administration, management and operations shows $54,183; criminal justice and corrections shows $49,354. These are field-level results, not starting-salary offers or predictions for everyone who completes those programs.

Many fields have no published one-year figure. Even where one exists, the result may reflect differences in prior work experience, location, occupation, hours worked, and the mix of students receiving federal aid. That context is particularly important at APUS, where some students may already be established in military or civilian careers before graduating. Earnings are best considered alongside program cost, completion prospects, and any licensing requirements.