Back to Colleges
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV 40,074 Undergrads 30.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,691
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,116
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,500
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,116
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,500Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+63%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$41,320Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate30.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average starting age (2015-17)32.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time9.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$588k
+$118k
+$102k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$548k
+$78k
+$62k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$517k
+$47k
+$31k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
39
154%
Full Cost$20k/yr
47
43%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return178%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return2%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,677
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Computer Programming
CertCIP: 1102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,217
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications
CertCIP: 1106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,405
Natl Median: $39,476
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$33,911
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CertCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,169
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Security Science and Technology
CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
CertCIP: 0306
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,537
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,378
Earnings (4yr)
$65,318
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,313
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Communication and Media Studies
AssocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$16,937
Earnings (4yr)
$42,077
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$11,111
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,726
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,673
Natl Median: $51,859
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,650
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,500
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
AssocCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$7,517
Earnings (4yr)
$51,579
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,696
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,213
Natl Median: $58,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$18,882
Earnings (4yr)
$38,583
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $51,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$21,144
Earnings (4yr)
$39,259
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$7,360
Earnings (4yr)
$63,895
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Military Systems and Maintenance Technology
AssocCIP: 2904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,449
Earnings (4yr)
$39,409
Natl Median: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Real Estate
AssocCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,534
Natl Median: $40,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,411
Earnings (4yr)
$62,358
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (4yr)
$73,845
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,511
Earnings (4yr)
$75,722
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,622
Earnings (4yr)
$80,417
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Median Debt
$20,192
Earnings (4yr)
$86,275
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$15,863
Earnings (4yr)
$69,546
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
BachCIP: 3026
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,318
Earnings (4yr)
$43,415
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,830
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$21,516
Earnings (4yr)
$87,428
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,756
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,419
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$21,438
Earnings (4yr)
$59,793
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,122
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$27,933
Earnings (4yr)
$46,000
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Median Debt
$32,597
Earnings (4yr)
$47,294
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Median Debt
$14,124
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,510
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$13,165
Earnings (4yr)
$86,599
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,734
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$17,166
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,661
Earnings (4yr)
$63,469
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
$23,399
Earnings (4yr)
$89,871
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Military Science and Operational Studies
BachCIP: 2805
Median Debt
$24,765
Earnings (4yr)
$103,706
Natl Median: $101,117
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,170
Earnings (4yr)
$57,618
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$26,325
Earnings (4yr)
$61,532
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,098
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,766
Earnings (4yr)
$81,056
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,231
Earnings (4yr)
$54,707
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,815
Earnings (4yr)
$59,240
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$94,768
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,336
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$20,153
Earnings (4yr)
$57,237
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,599
Earnings (4yr)
$54,432
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$18,845
Earnings (4yr)
$60,134
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$38,234
Earnings (4yr)
$82,725
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,561
Earnings (4yr)
$91,167
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
$31,979
Earnings (4yr)
$111,755
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$32,536
Earnings (4yr)
$89,135
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$31,626
Earnings (4yr)
$57,967
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
MastCIP: 5207
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$30,849
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$40,465
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$40,212
Earnings (4yr)
$63,247
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$37,617
Earnings (4yr)
$96,527
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Median Debt
$26,052
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$100,647
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$35,980
Earnings (4yr)
$108,940
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,806
Earnings (4yr)
$99,729
Natl Median: $117,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,714
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$40,192
Earnings (4yr)
$67,802
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$37,456
Earnings (4yr)
$74,802
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
-$70
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$39,295
Earnings (4yr)
$66,047
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$36,586
Earnings (4yr)
$85,238
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$32,667
Earnings (4yr)
$79,601
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Public Policy Analysis
MastCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$29,926
Earnings (4yr)
$70,509
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,370
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,800
Earnings (4yr)
$87,252
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Business/Commerce, General
Gr-CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Gr-CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Gr-CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Gr-CertCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$70,490
Earnings (4yr)
$61,512
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,417
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Human Resources Management and Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 2902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,274
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,322
Natl Median: $91,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Gr-CertCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Gr-CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.