Retention Rate

Each year, American Public University System reports its retention rate to the U.S. Department of Education. These rates measure the percentage of first time, Bachelor’s degree seeking undergraduate students who were still enrolled at American Public University System the following fall semester. Because the majority of American Public University System’s students are transfer students who have previously attended an institution of higher education, this rate only represents approximately less than one percent of the University’s student body in the Fall 2021.

The percentage of students who began their studies in Fall 2021 and were still enrolled in Fall 2022 following the Department of Education method was 90 percent for first-time, full-time Bachelor’s seeking students.

Additionally, the Department of Education requires publication of additional retention measures, specifically for first-time, full-time Associates and Undergraduate Certificate seeking students. Using the same Department of Education methodology, the rate for Associates seeking students was 95 percent and for Undergraduate Certificate seeking students was N/A.

 

Enrollment Demographics

Fall 2022 Full Time Undergraduate Student Demographics (from IPEDS 2022-2023 reporting)
Race/Ethnicity
Non Resident Alien2%
Hispanic or Latino14%
American Indian or Alaskan Native1%
Asian2%
Black or African American17%
Native Hawaiian1%
White50%
Multiple6%
Unknown8%
Gender 
Male53%
Female47%

Cohort Default Rate

American Public University's latest available (FY2019) cohort default rate, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Education, is 2.4 percent.

HEA/HEOA and PELL

PELL Grant Recipients: 68% of full-time, first-time undergraduates in academic year 2021-2022 received the PELL grant. (From College Navigator/IPEDS reporting) 

Calculation of Graduation Rates by Student Demographics
Cohort Year 2016
 CohortTotal ExclusionsTotal Completers within 150%Graduation Rate
Overall rates will be displayed on College Navigator
Cohort includes only undergraduate first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students.
Men
Nonresident Alien202100%
Hispanic/Latino3902256%
American Indian or Alaska Native3000%
Asian404100%
Black or African American5503055%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander30133%
White284015655%
Two or more races181953%
Race and Ethnicity Unknown4002358%
Total Men448124755%
  
Women
Nonresident Alien40125%
Hispanic/Latino2901862%
American Indian or Alaska Native20150%
Asian505100%
Black or African American6302743%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander2000%
White169010260%
Two or more races1701059%
Race and Ethnicity Unknown120542%
Total Women303016956%
 
Total (Men & Women)
Nonresident Alien60367%
Hispanic/Latino6804059%
American Indian or Alaska Native50120%
Asian909100%
Black or African American11805748%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander50120%
White453125857%
Two or more races3511956%
Race and Ethnicity Unknown5202854%
Total751141655%
Calculation of Graduation Rates
Cohort Year 2016
  CohortTotal ExclusionsRevised CohortTotal Completers within 150%Graduation Rate
Cohort includes only undergraduate first-time, full-time degree-seeking students.
By Aid Received
Pell Grant Recipients390138919951%
Stafford Loan (non-Pell) Recipients540543463%
All Others307030718360%
Total751175041655%