<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001201792</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001933645</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Miyares Javier</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 WEST CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLES TOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>25414</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Acting President, Rasmussen</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <remarks>Exhibit List:  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard W. Sunderland, Jr., Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
