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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-23</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-02-02</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001346178</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Landon Timothy J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 W. CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLES TOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>25414</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>This amendment is being filed to attach a Power of Attorney to the reporting person's Form 3 that was filed on February 2, 2009.

Exhibit List
Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney for Timothy J. Landon</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lisa G. Kessler, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
