<?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>0001552411</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>ANDERSEN ERIC C.</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Ex-Board</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Merrill Lynch</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>724 West Lancaster Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 100</com:street2>
          <com:city>Wayne</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>19087</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>56620</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>1660222.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>18067134</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>08/08/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>03/20/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>25000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>03/20/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/17/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>12738</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/17/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/19/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5956</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/19/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>issuer</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/19/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4350</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/19/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/21/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2845</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/21/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/15/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2520</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/15/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/10/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>restricted Stock Unit Lapse</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3211</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/10/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>08/14/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>Eric C Andersen</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
