<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.26.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>142</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>254</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>50</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>8</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000001 - Document - Cover</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Cover</Role>
      <ShortName>Cover</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952151 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952152 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952153 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952154 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952155 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952156 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952157 - Disclosure - Nature of the Business</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/NatureoftheBusiness</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of the Business</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952158 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952159 - Disclosure - Revenue</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Revenue</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952160 - Disclosure - Leases</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Leases</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952161 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952162 - Disclosure - Income Per Common Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/IncomePerCommonShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Per Common Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952163 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952164 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952165 - Disclosure - Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Contingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9952166 - Disclosure - Concentration</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Concentration</Role>
      <ShortName>Concentration</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>995445 - Disclosure - Insider Trading Arrangements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://xbrl.sec.gov/ecd/role/InsiderTradingArrangements</Role>
      <ShortName>Insider Trading Arrangements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955511 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955512 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955513 - Disclosure - Revenue (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/RevenueTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Revenue</ParentRole>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955514 - Disclosure - Leases (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LeasesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Leases</ParentRole>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955515 - Disclosure - Income Per Common Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/IncomePerCommonShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Per Common Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/IncomePerCommonShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955516 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebt</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955517 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955518 - Disclosure - Concentration (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConcentrationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Concentration (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/Concentration</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955519 - Disclosure - Nature of the Business (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/NatureoftheBusinessDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of the Business (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/NatureoftheBusiness</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955520 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Consolidation Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesConsolidationNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Consolidation Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955521 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Restricted Cash (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesRestrictedCashDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Restricted Cash (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955522 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Assets Held for Sale (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesAssetsHeldforSaleDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Assets Held for Sale (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955523 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Series A Senior Preferred Stock (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSeriesASeniorPreferredStockDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Series A Senior Preferred Stock (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955524 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Stock-based Compensation Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesStockbasedCompensationNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Stock-based Compensation Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955525 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Cost Charged Against Income (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesScheduleofStockbasedCompensationCostChargedAgainstIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Cost Charged Against Income (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955526 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Incentive-based Compensation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesIncentivebasedCompensationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Incentive-based Compensation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955527 - Disclosure - Revenue - Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/RevenueScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue - Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955528 - Disclosure - Revenue - Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/RevenueNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue - Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955529 - Disclosure - Leases - Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LeasesNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases - Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955530 - Disclosure - Leases - Schedule of Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LeasesScheduleofMaturitiesofOperatingLeaseLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases - Schedule of Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955531 - Disclosure - Leases - Schedule of Information Related to Leases (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LeasesScheduleofInformationRelatedtoLeasesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases - Schedule of Information Related to Leases (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955532 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets</ParentRole>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955533 - Disclosure - Income Per Common Share - Schedule of Income Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/IncomePerCommonShareScheduleofIncomePerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Per Common Share - Schedule of Income Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955534 - Disclosure - Income Per Common Share - Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/IncomePerCommonShareNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Per Common Share - Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955535 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebtNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955536 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebtScheduleofLongtermDebtInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955537 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/LongTermDebtScheduleofMaturitiesofLongtermDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955538 - Disclosure - Segment Information - Narrative (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformationNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information - Narrative (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955539 - Disclosure - Segment Information - Schedule of Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofFinancialInformationbyReportableSegmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information - Schedule of Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955540 - Disclosure - Segment Information - Schedule of Financial Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofFinancialInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information - Schedule of Financial Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="apei-20260331.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9955541 - Disclosure - Concentration (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConcentrationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Concentration (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/ConcentrationTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File doctype="10-Q" isDefinitelyFs="true" isUsgaap="true" original="apei-20260331.htm">apei-20260331.htm</File>
    <File>apei-20260331.xsd</File>
    <File>apei-20260331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>apei-20260331_def.xml</File>
    <File>apei-20260331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>apei-20260331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles>
    <File>apei-20260331_g1.jpg</File>
  </SupplementalFiles>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="562">http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2025</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="29">http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="11">http://xbrl.sec.gov/ecd/2025</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
