William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

222 West Adams Street

Chicago, Illinois 60606

November 6, 2007

VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION
VIA FACSIMILE

Larry Spirgel, Assistant Director
Division of Corporation Finance
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Mail Stop 3720
Washington, DC 20549-3720

          Re: American Public Education, Inc.
Registration Statement No. 333-145185

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Pursuant to Rule 460 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we, as Representative of the several underwriters, wish to advise you that the following preliminary prospectuses dated October 29, 2007 (contained in the above-named Registration Statement) have been distributed between October 29, 2007 and the date hereof:

Class	Quantity
Underwriters		125
Domestic Institutional Investors		1256
International Institutional Investors		196
Retail		3206
Total		4783

          In accordance with Rule 461 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act, we hereby join in the request of American Public Education, Inc. for acceleration of the effective date of the above-named Registration Statement so that it becomes effective under Rule 430A at 3:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on November 8, 2007 or as soon as possible thereafter.

          Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Very Truly Yours,
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
As Representative of the Several Underwriters
By:	WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:	/s/ Scott Patterson
Name:	Scott Patterson
Title:	Principal