Stockholders' Equity - Narrative (Details)				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares shares	May 20, 2020 shares	May 15, 2020 shares	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) shares	Dec. 05, 2019 USD ($)	May 02, 2019 USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period				3 years
Period of accelerated service				1 year
Total income tax benefit | $				$ 1,500,000	$ 2,300,000	$ 1,900,000
Stock repurchase program | $							$ 25,000,000	$ 35,000,000
Stock repurchased (in shares) | shares						547,563
Stock repurchased (in shares) | shares						13,600,000
Remaining purchase amount | $				$ 8,400,000
Deemed repurchased (in shares) | shares				80,764	99,469	78,847
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Restricted by Consent of Shareholders
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program | $				$ 30,000,000
Repurchase of common stock, subject to stockholder approval, minimum percentage				60.00%
Series A Preferred Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Preferred stock value issued | shares	40,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01
Preferred stock dividend rate percentage	14.55%
Increase to annual preferred stock dividend rate	2.00%
Increase to quarterly preferred stock dividend rate	0.50%
Preferred stock liquidation preference | $				$ 62,235,000
Preferred stock, liquidation preference, dividend rate spread				6.00%
Percentage of outstanding shares with certain exceptions	60.00%
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital	0.75
Payments for repurchase of common stock | $	$ 30,000,000
Series A Preferred Stock | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Equipment Trust Certificate
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend, interest rate spread	10.00%
Series A Preferred Stock | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Equipment Trust Certificate | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend, interest rate spread	6.00%
Series A Preferred Stock | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Equipment Trust Certificate | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend, interest rate spread	25.00%
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) | shares				133,588	101,520	60,504
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) | shares				490,127	3,233	48,434
Total unrecognized compensation expense | $				$ 8,500,000
Weighted average period				1 year 9 months 18 days
Shares forfeited (in shares) | shares				181,801	89,944	73,808
Dollar amount for shares forfeited | $				$ 4,339,191	$ 2,581,284	$ 1,855,784
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period				3 years
Total unrecognized compensation expense | $				$ 600,000
Weighted average period				2 years 2 months 12 days
Award expiration period				10 years
2017 Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized to grant (up to) (in shares) | shares				1,675,000
Award vesting period				3 years
Period of accelerated service				1 year
Amended American Public Education, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance (in shares) | shares		1,125,000	1,425,000