by our College Data Analytics TeamBelow is the data on what it actually costs to attend American Public University System, covering the cost range, projected degree costs, net price, debt at graduation, default rates, and aid distribution patterns.
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What it costs to attend American Public University System comes to about $16,358.00 per year.
Here the cost is broken out three ways: no aid, average aid, and the aid a low-income student typically receives.
| Tuition and fees | $8,400.00 |
| + Room, board & other expenses | $7,958.00 |
| Total cost | $16,358.00 |
| That is 50% below the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $16,358.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$9,171.00 |
| Net price | $7,187.00 |
| That is 78% below the national average net price. |
| Total cost | $16,358.00 |
| − Grants and scholarships | −$9,433.00 |
| Net price | $6,925.00 |
| That is 79% below the national average net price. | |
| For the full breakdown, see the tuition & fees page and room and board. |
Published costs have climbed year over year by roughly 4.7% annually, so the projections below total more than one year of attendance. The detailed projections below compare a degree for a low-income aided student, an average-aid student, and a no-aid student. The loan rows amortise the projected total over a ten-year, 6.8% repayment.
| Projected 4-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Freshman year | $7,251.00 | $7,526.00 | $17,128.00 |
| Senior year | $8,325.00 | $8,640.00 | $19,665.00 |
| Total 4-year net price | $31,119.00 | $32,296.00 | $73,508.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $11,855.00 | $12,304.00 | $28,004.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $358.00 | $372.00 | $846.00 |
| Total amount paid | $42,974.00 | $44,600.00 | $101,512.00 |
| Projected 2-year net costs | Low Income w/ Aid | w/ Average Aid | No Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual growth rate | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Freshman year | $7,251.00 | $7,526.00 | $17,128.00 |
| Senior year | $7,593.00 | $7,880.00 | $17,935.00 |
| Total 2-year net price | $14,844.00 | $15,405.00 | $35,064.00 |
| 10-year loan interest @ 6.8% | $5,655.00 | $5,869.00 | $13,358.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $171.00 | $177.00 | $404.00 |
| Total amount paid | $20,499.00 | $21,274.00 | $48,422.00 |
Read more in the net-price section.
The net price is the real out-of-pocket cost — what families pay after grant and scholarship aid is applied. For most students, this is the more useful number than published tuition because it reflects the real out-of-pocket cost.
| Average net price (on-campus) | $9,597.00 |
| Average net price (off-campus) | $9,104.00 |
Net price is far from uniform: lower-income families typically pay much less after aid. Below, average net price is broken out by family income:
| Family income | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $9,011.00 |
| $30,000 to $48,000 | $9,637.00 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $7,301.00 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $14,848.00 |
Get a tailored estimate from the American Public University System Net Price Calculator, or check with the financial aid office.
Curious how grants and scholarships are distributed? Explore the financial aid page.
The median amount borrowed by graduates of American Public University System stands at $10,282.00, placing the school in the Low ($10-20k) burden category.
The percentile breakdown reveals the full debt landscape:
| Percentile | Debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| 10th | $1,640.00 |
| 25th | $3,011.00 |
| Median (50th) | $10,282.00 |
| 75th | $16,198.00 |
| 90th | $30,620.00 |
The spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles reflects how variable debt outcomes are at this school.
Dig deeper into debt on the student loan debt page.
Median debt at graduation differs meaningfully across income brackets. Below the data splits borrowers across three income groups:
| Family income | Median debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| Low income | $9,500.00 |
| Middle income | $10,484.00 |
| High income | $13,280.00 |
Debt at graduation often differs for first-generation students.
| Student group | Median debt at graduation |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $10,425.00 |
| Continuing-generation students | $9,952.00 |
First-gen borrowers at American Public University System carry $473.00 more than continuing-generation graduates.
The Pell Grant is the main federal need-based award for undergraduates. The Pell vs non-Pell debt gap reveals how borrowing differs by need.
The median debt gap between Pell and non-Pell graduates of American Public University System comes to $1,117.00. This school carries a federal Pell-debt-inequity flag.
The Department of Education default-rate tier for American Public University System is Low (<5%).
| Window | Cohort default rate |
|---|---|
| 2-year | 10.4% |
For a sense of scale, Stafford disbursements at American Public University System amount to $1,908,731,420.00 distributed across 122,291 loan recipients.
Veteran and active-military students often access dedicated federal aid programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and DoD tuition assistance.
| GI Bill recipients | 16,688 |
| Avg GI Bill amount | $4,408.00 |
| DoD Tuition Assistance recipients | 53,969 |
| Avg DoD Tuition Assistance | $2,132.00 |
Dig into veteran education benefits on the veterans benefits detail.
The data above is a foundation; round it out by asking yourself about American Public University System, keep these questions in mind:
Each page below covers one part of paying for college in more detail:
Data sources. Figures on this page draw from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and MediaFactual editorial review. Net-price calculator and financial-aid office links are taken from the institution’s own published data.