History

In 1991, retired Marine Corps officer James P. Etter founded American Military University (AMU) and broke new ground by offering career-relevant, distance education for a mobile population of military learners with unique needs. Over the next 10 years, many more undergraduate and graduate programs were added to help prepare students for leadership roles both within the military and for transition into post-military careers.

In 2002, AMU was reorganized into the American Public University System (APUS), and American Public University (APU) was founded to provide the same quality, affordable, and flexible education to a broader audience of motivated working adults.

Today the university system is one of the largest providers of online higher education offering more than 200 academic programs to students enrolled worldwide. The student body is full of ambitious professionals from all fields sharing a common motivation for continuing their education and preparing to reach their career potential.