Profile: American Public Education, Inc. (APEI.O)

American Public Education, Inc., incorporated in May 2002, is a provider of online postsecondary education directed at the needs of the military and public service communities. The Company operates through two universities: American Military University (AMU), and American Public University (APU), which together constitute the American Public University System. The Company’s universities share a common faculty and curriculum that includes 74 degree programs and 51 certificate programs in disciplines related to national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, criminal justice, technology, business administration, education and liberal arts.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company served over 45,000 students living in all 50 states and more than 130 foreign countries. Its university system is regionally and nationally accredited. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had approximately 120 full-time and over 620 adjunct faculty, all of whom have advanced degrees and many of whom are practitioners in their fields. Its adjunct faculty also includes professors who teach at national and state universities. The Company has developed its own information systems and processes to support what it refers to as partnership at a distance (PAD). PAD is its approach to how the Company interacts with its students, and at its center is the PAD system. The PAD system allows students to interact online, on their schedule. The PAD system also allows it to manage on an automated basis the complex administrative tasks resulting from offering monthly starts for over 1,100 classes in over 700 courses to its over 45,000 students taught by over 740 faculty members.

American Public Education, Inc. offers over 125 degree and certificate programs. These programs contain more than 1,200 courses, designated as core, major or elective courses. It offer terms beginning on the first Monday of each month, with approximately 1,100 classes in over 700 courses starting each month in either eight- or 16-week formats. Semesters and academic years are established to manage requirements for participation in Title IV programs and to assist students who are utilizing Title IV programs in meeting eligibility requirements.

At the graduate level, the Company offers degree programs in disciplines, which include Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Disaster Management, History, Homeland Security, Humanities, International Relations and Conflict Resolution, Management, Military History, Military Studies, National Security Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Security Management, Transportation Management and Logistics; Master of Business Administration; Master of Education in Guidance Counseling, Teaching and Administration and Supervision; Master of Public Healt, and Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management, Space Studies, Sports Management. At the undergraduate level, the Company offers degree programs in disciplines, which include Bachelor of Arts in Child and Family Development, Criminal Justice, Emergency and Disaster Management, English, History, Homeland Security, Hospitality Management, Intelligence Studies, International Relations, Management, Marketing, Middle Eastern Studies, Military History, Military Management and Program Acquisition, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Security Management, Sociology and Transportation and Logistics Management; Bachelor of Business Administration; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with Concentration in Forensics, Environmental Studies, Fire Science Management, Information Technology, Information Technology Management, Information System Security, Legal Studies, Public Health, Space Studies, Sports and Health Sciences; Associate of Arts in Accounting, Business Administration, Communication, Counter-Terrorism Studies, Early Childhood Care and Education, General Studies, History, Hospitality, Military History, Personnel Administration, Real Estate Studies and Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness; Associate of Science in Computer Applications, Database Application Development, Fire Science, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Web Publishing, Paralegal Studies and Public Health. The Company’s certificate programs generally consist of minimum of 18 semester hours of required courses focusing on a particular component of the degree program. Students may earn discrete certificates or in combination with work toward a degree program.

The Company competes with University of Maryland University College (UMUC), the University of Phoenix, Park University, Touro International University, Central Texas College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.