<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001577510</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001201792</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-33810</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>111 W CONGRESS STREET</com:street1>
        <com:city>CHARLES TOWN</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>WV</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>25414</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>(304) 724-3700</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>MacGibbon Craig S</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>6519</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>113113.40</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>17575065</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/22/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/04/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1531</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/04/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/22/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Option Granted - 08/08/2022</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2487</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/22/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2501</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Craig S. Macgibbon</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>111 West Congress Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Charles Town</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WV</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>25414</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>05/20/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1500</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>27605.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/22/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Gerardo Ibarra-Munoz, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Craig S. Macgibbon</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
