$APEI
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC Stock $apei

$apei Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000120179221000003 Filed on March 09, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
Revenue	$85.91M	$79.13M	$82.13M
YoY Change	15.5%	16.56%	16.39%
Cost Of Revenue	$31.10M	$31.08M	$30.74M
YoY Change	11.03%	13.99%	7.03%
Gross Profit	$54.81M	$48.05M	$51.38M
YoY Change	18.2%	18.29%	22.82%
Gross Profit Margin	63.8%	60.72%	62.57%
Selling, General & Admin	$41.95M	$41.10M	$38.79M
YoY Change	23.78%	8.45%	20.44%
% of Gross Profit	76.54%	85.53%	75.5%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$3.020M	$3.230M	$3.390M
YoY Change	-21.35%	-14.32%	-13.96%
% of Gross Profit	5.51%	6.72%	6.6%
Operating Expenses	$44.98M	$41.10M	$38.79M
YoY Change	19.22%	8.45%	20.44%
Operating Profit	$9.830M	$3.308M	$9.041M
YoY Change	13.77%	-213.56%	59.23%
Interest Expense	$90.00K	$121.0K	$179.0K
YoY Change	-87.14%	-88.13%	-84.23%
% of Operating Profit	0.92%	3.66%	1.98%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$9.805M	$3.429M	$9.220M
YoY Change	5.32%	-281.05%	35.33%
Income Tax	$2.730M	$785.0K	$2.532M
% Of Pretax Income	27.84%	22.89%	27.46%
Net Earnings	$7.071M	$2.642M	$6.689M
YoY Change	23.64%	-261.29%	35.93%
Net Earnings / Revenue	8.23%	3.34%	8.14%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.48	$0.18	$0.45
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.47	$0.18	$0.45
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	14.81M shares	14.80M shares	14.79M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		15.01M shares	14.95M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$227.7M	$228.0M	$216.0M
YoY Change	12.33%	8.52%	-2.17%
Cash & Equivalents	$227.7M	$228.0M	$216.0M
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets	$6.500M	$7.600M	$9.400M
YoY Change	-8.45%	20.63%	18.99%
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses	$6.472M	$7.563M	$9.426M
Receivables	$17.65M	$9.560M	$6.922M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$2.500M	$2.600M
Total Short-Term Assets	$251.8M	$247.6M	$235.0M
YoY Change	12.97%	7.66%	-2.07%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$68.43M	$70.93M	$74.08M
YoY Change	-12.82%	-9.84%	-9.29%
Goodwill	$26.56M	$26.56M	$26.56M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	-5.28%
Intangibles	$3.721M
YoY Change	0.0%
Long-Term Investments	$10.50M	$10.50M	$10.50M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	101.92%
Other Assets	$11.75M	$5.197M	$5.087M
YoY Change	146.27%	2.93%	-1.36%
Total Long-Term Assets	$119.2M	$122.6M	$126.7M
YoY Change	-9.68%	-6.51%	-6.92%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$251.8M	$247.6M	$235.0M
Total Long-Term Assets	$119.2M	$122.6M	$126.7M
Total Assets	$371.0M	$370.2M	$361.7M
YoY Change	4.54%	2.52%	-3.82%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$3.757M	$4.489M	$5.034M
YoY Change	5.95%	13.22%	2.25%
Accrued Expenses	$10.97M	$10.56M	$8.551M
YoY Change	32.61%	33.07%	26.44%
Deferred Revenue	$22.10M	$25.50M	$20.80M
YoY Change	27.01%	23.74%	9.16%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$0.00
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$55.06M	$59.79M	$53.85M
YoY Change	21.6%	30.85%	27.64%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$6.500M	$7.000M	$8.300M
YoY Change	-31.58%	-19.54%	-9.78%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$0.00	$7.000M	$8.300M
YoY Change	-100.0%	-19.54%	-9.78%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$55.06M	$59.79M	$53.85M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$0.00	$7.000M	$8.300M
Total Liabilities	$64.09M	$72.16M	$68.09M
YoY Change	10.19%	19.6%	18.15%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$111.2M	$104.1M	$101.5M
YoY Change	4.93%	-6.15%	-22.14%
Common Stock	$195.7M	$193.9M	$192.1M
YoY Change	2.61%	2.15%	2.13%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$306.9M	$298.0M	$293.6M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$371.0M	$370.2M	$361.7M
YoY Change	4.54%	2.52%	-3.82%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$7.071M	$2.642M	$6.689M
YoY Change	23.64%	-261.29%	35.93%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$3.020M	$3.230M	$3.390M
YoY Change	-21.35%	-14.32%	-13.96%
Cash From Operating Activities	$80.00K	$12.98M	$20.23M
YoY Change	-98.76%	57.91%	27.88%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$760.0K	$1.278M	$1.024M
YoY Change	-75.56%	7.04%	-25.36%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$360.0K	$410.0K
YoY Change
Cash From Investing Activities	-$400.0K	-$870.0K	-$1.020M
YoY Change	-87.14%	-26.89%	-25.55%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	0.000	-160.0K	0.000
YoY Change	-100.0%	-99.1%	-100.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	80.00K	12.98M	20.23M
Cash From Investing Activities	-400.0K	-870.0K	-1.020M
Cash From Financing Activities	0.000	-160.0K	0.000
Net Change In Cash	-320.0K	11.95M	19.21M
YoY Change	-95.66%	-211.47%	292.04%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$80.00K	$12.98M	$20.23M
Capital Expenditures	-$760.0K	$1.278M	$1.024M
Free Cash Flow	$840.0K	$11.70M	$19.21M
YoY Change	-91.19%	66.55%	32.93%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001201792
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2020
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2020	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2017	us-gaap	Accounting Standards Update Extensible List AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member
CY2020	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2020	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2020-12-31
CY2020	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2020	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33810
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	American Public Education, Inc.
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	01-0724376
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	111 West Congress Street,
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Charles Town,
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	WV
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	25414
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	304
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	724-3700
CY2020	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
CY2020	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	APEI
CY2020	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2020	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
CY2020	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2020	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Accelerated Filer
CY2020	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2020	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2020	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2020	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2020Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	424000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	25639000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	10013000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	18822000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	17501000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	15596000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	12984000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	7180000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	5960000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	7075000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-515000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-1464000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-7000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-917000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-1973000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	859000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-811000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-882000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-556000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-851000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	7336000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-302000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-145000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-24000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	6923000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-2734000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	6327000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	560000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	1149000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-320000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	898000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-1757000	USD
CY2019	apei	Increase Decrease In Operating Leases Net IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeasesNet	-120000	USD
CY2020	apei	Increase Decrease In Operating Leases Net IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeasesNet	16000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-71000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-550000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	165000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	266000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-5564000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-86000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	3298000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	653000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	1907000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	875000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	3672000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	3612000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-1710000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	178000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-1342000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-884000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	4678000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	44179000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	38370000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	44810000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	9430000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	7255000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4926000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Buildings ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Buildings ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Buildings ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings	767000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-9430000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-7255000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-4159000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	1823000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	40506000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	15705000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-1823000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-40506000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-15705000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	32926000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-9391000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	24946000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	179205000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	212131000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	202740000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	212131000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	202740000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	227686000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	12712000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	8019000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	5898000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	Nature of Business<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> American Public Education, Inc., or APEI, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Company,” is a provider of online and campus-based postsecondary education to approximately 92,500 students through two subsidiary institutions:</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">American Public University System, Inc., or APUS, which provides online postsecondary education directed primarily at the needs of the military, military-affiliated, public service and service-minded communities through American Military University, or AMU, and American Public University, or APU. APUS is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.</span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">National Education Seminars, Inc., which is referred to herein as Hondros College of Nursing, or HCN, which provides nursing education to students enrolled at five campuses in Ohio, and, beginning in April 2020, to students enrolled at a campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, to serve the needs of the nursing and healthcare communities. In April 2021, HCN will begin offering classes at a new campus in Akron, Ohio. HCN is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau for Health Education Schools, or ABHES. In March 2020, in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic, HCN shifted to a blended model with online delivery of its courses and on campus delivery of certain labs. HCN later fully reopened its campuses, using smaller in person classes with screening, social distancing, and masking requirements. There can be no assurance that HCN will not need to further limit campus interactions or close its campuses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or as a result of local regulations. </span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> The Company’s institutions are licensed or otherwise authorized, or are in the process of obtaining such licenses or authorizations, to offer postsecondary education programs by state authorities to the extent the institutions believe such licenses or authorizations are required, and are certified by the U.S. Department of Education, or ED, to participate in student financial aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, or Title IV programs.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> The Company’s operations are organized into two reportable segments:</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">American Public Education Segment, or APEI Segment.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">This segment reflects the operational activities at APUS, other corporate activities, and minority investments.</span></div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:14.5pt">Hondros College of Nursing Segment, or HCN Segment. </span>This segment reflects the operational activities of HCN.
CY2020	apei	Number Of Students NumberOfStudents	92500	student
CY2020	apei	Number Of Subsidiaries NumberOfSubsidiaries	2	subsidiary
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	2	segment
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Use of estimates.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> In preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company evaluates these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis and bases its estimates on experience, current and expected future conditions and various other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and the impact of such differences may be material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.</span>
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	1300000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	1200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	7300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2018	apei	Amountof Scholarship Assistance Provided AmountofScholarshipAssistanceProvided	26700000	USD
CY2019	apei	Amountof Scholarship Assistance Provided AmountofScholarshipAssistanceProvided	26100000	USD
CY2020	apei	Amountof Scholarship Assistance Provided AmountofScholarshipAssistanceProvided	45600000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	37400000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	40900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	51300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Vesting Period1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1	P3Y
CY2020	apei	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Accelerated Service Period SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedServicePeriod	P1Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	Concentration of credit risk. The Company maintains its cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in bank deposit accounts with various financial institutions. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances may exceed the FDIC insurance limit. The Company has historically not experienced any losses in such accounts.
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	297687000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	286270000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	321785000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	17400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	15000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	17000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	0	USD
CY2020	apei	Revenue From Contract With Customer Monthly Payment Extension Term RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMonthlyPaymentExtensionTerm	P6M
CY2020Q1	apei	Revenue From Contract With Customer Monthly Tuition Grant Award RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMonthlyTuitionGrantAward	200	USD
CY2020Q1	apei	Revenue From Contract With Customer Monthly Tuition Grant Award RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMonthlyTuitionGrantAward	200	USD
CY2020Q1	apei	Revenue From Contract With Customer Semester Tuition Grant Award RevenueFromContractWithCustomerSemesterTuitionGrantAward	600	USD
CY2020	apei	Revenue From Contract With Customer Grant Payment Awarded RevenueFromContractWithCustomerGrantPaymentAwarded	200000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	198413000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	195998000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	119918000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	127564000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	78495000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	68434000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-600000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	-900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	16900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	15300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	13000000.0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	600000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments Investments	9400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments Investments	9400000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	33899000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	7336000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	26563000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	26563000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	4361000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	4361000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	4361000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	4361000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	3721000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	3721000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	3721000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	3721000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	8082000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	8082000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	4361000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	4361000	USD
CY2020Q4	apei	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Net IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillNet	3721000	USD
CY2019Q4	apei	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Net IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillNet	3721000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Payment VariableLeasePayment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	2600000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	2900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	2800000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	2900000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	2791000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	2465000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	1709000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	928000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	498000	USD
CY2020Q4	apei	Lessee Operating Lease Liability To Be Paid Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityToBePaidDueAfterYearFive	1742000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	10133000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	1286000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	8847000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	2392000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	6455000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	8847000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P4Y10M28D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.051
CY2020	apei	Number Of Campuses NumberOfCampuses	6	campus
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	8034000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	5803000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	5685000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	2170000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	1425000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	2146000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10204000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7228000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7831000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-776000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1766000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-608000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-141000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-275000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-203000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-917000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-2041000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-811000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9287000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5187000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7020000	USD
CY2019Q4	apei	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseLiability	2912000	USD
CY2020Q4	apei	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseLiability	2187000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Allowance For Doubtful Accounts DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccounts	1528000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Allowance For Doubtful Accounts DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccounts	1487000	USD
CY2019Q4	apei	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensationand Benefits Restricted Stock DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationandBenefitsRestrictedStock	1232000	USD
CY2020Q4	apei	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensationand Benefits Restricted Stock DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationandBenefitsRestrictedStock	1573000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Severance Payments DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsSeverancePayments	660000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Severance Payments DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsSeverancePayments	695000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Investments DeferredTaxAssetsInvestments	304000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Investments DeferredTaxAssetsInvestments	564000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	232000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	596000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	1000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	63000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	6869000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	7165000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	536000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	6869000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	6629000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	3330000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	2468000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	2882000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Leasing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements	2161000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1670000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1867000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Prepaid Expenses DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPrepaidExpenses	1607000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Prepaid Expenses DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPrepaidExpenses	1294000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	771000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	1419000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	10260000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	9209000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	3391000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	2580000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	7320000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.2100
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	3192000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.2100
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	5427000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.2100
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	1575000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.0451
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	852000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.0560
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	1156000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.0448
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	433000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.0124
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	244000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.0161
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	491000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.0190
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-126000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	-0.0036
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	371000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.0244
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-305000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	-0.0118
CY2018	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsAmount	0	USD
CY2018	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsPercent	0
CY2019	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsAmount	345000	USD
CY2019	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsPercent	0.0227
CY2020	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsAmount	-67000	USD
CY2020	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Postemployment Benefits Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPostemploymentBenefitsPercent	-0.0026
CY2018	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionAmount	154000	USD
CY2018	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionPercent	0.0044
CY2019	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionAmount	93000	USD
CY2019	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionPercent	0.0061
CY2020	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionAmount	49000	USD
CY2020	apei	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Uncertain Tax Position Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositionPercent	0.0019
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	213000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.0140
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	287000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.0111
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-69000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.0019
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-123000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.0080
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-18000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.0007
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9287000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.2664
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5187000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.3413
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7020000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.2717
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee Percent DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent	0.60
CY2020	apei	Defined Contribution Plan Employee Immediately Vesting Percentage DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeImmediatelyVestingPercentage	1
CY2018	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	3700000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	3700000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	4200000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	109616	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	37.52
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	109616	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	37.52
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	0	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	0	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	0	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	43134	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	156000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	33.11
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	23.77
CY2019	apei	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Granted Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantedWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	P10Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	0	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	0	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	43134	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	23.77
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P9Y8M23D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	156000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	43134	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	23.77
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P9Y8M23D
CY2020	apei	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Granted Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantedWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	P10Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	0	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	0	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	60504	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	26.45
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P8Y11M15D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	264000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	14378	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	23.77
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P8Y8M23D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	88000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.4737
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.4874
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1	P0Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1	P10Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1	P10Y
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.0174
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.0068
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Expected Dividend ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageExpectedDividend	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Expected Dividend ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageExpectedDividend	13.91	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Expected Dividend ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageExpectedDividend	18.99	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	7180000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	5960000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	7075000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	1900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	2000000.0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	1900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	1416304	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2019Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	148008	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2019Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	283876	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	148008	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2019Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	283876	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	148008	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2019Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	283876	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	148008	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2019Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	284252	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	148008	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	129973	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	29.38
CY2019Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	129973	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	299060	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	31181393	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	197488	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	29.03
CY2019Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	197488	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	299060	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	25448317	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	218699	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	30.79
CY2019Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	218699	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	299436	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	18714574	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	220000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	28.16
CY2019Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	220000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	299436	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	12519374	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	199921	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	24.12
CY2019Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	199921	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	352104	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	7697280	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	229849	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	22.34
CY2019Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	229849	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	352480	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	2562453	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	110374	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	23.21
CY2019Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	110374	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	352480	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	673	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	110000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	27.23
CY2019Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	110000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	352480	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	22004700	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	1416304	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	26.83
CY2019	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	1416304	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	352480	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	22004700	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	547563	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	0	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	22004700	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	198300	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	27.10
CY2020Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	198300	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	284723	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	16630770	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	179263	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	24.51
CY2020Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	179263	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	284723	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	12237034	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	170000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	22.59
CY2020Q1	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	170000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	284723	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	284723	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	299843	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q2	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	312816	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	317924	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q3	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	0
CY2020Q4	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Shares StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares	547563	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	24.85
CY2020	apei	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares Publicly Announced Plans StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodSharesPubliclyAnnouncedPlans	547563	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	331841	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	8396734	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	35000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	25000000.0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	66088	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	83214	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	78847	shares
CY2020Q4	apei	Percentage Of Students Served In Military On Active Duty At Time Of Initial Enrollment PercentageOfStudentsServedInMilitaryOnActiveDutyAtTimeOfInitialEnrollment	0.61
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	2	segment
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	297687000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	286270000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	321785000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	17501000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	15596000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	12984000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	32526000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	12756000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	24757000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Nonoperating Net InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet	2915000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Nonoperating Net InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet	3908000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Nonoperating Net InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet	1092000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9287000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5187000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7020000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	9430000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	7255000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4926000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	354897000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	371018000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	73441000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	70560000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	67888000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	74381000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2435000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	6813000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-1894000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	9310000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1011000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4921000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-1638000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	5719000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.06
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.30
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.10
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.37
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.06
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.30
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.10
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.37
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	74616000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	82127000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	79133000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	85909000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	3395000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	9220000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	3429000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	9805000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2420000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6689000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2642000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	7071000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.16
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.45
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.18
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.48
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.16
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.45
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.18
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.47

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001201792-21-000003-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001201792-21-000003-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001201792-21-000003.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001201792-21-000003-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
apei-20201231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
apei-20201231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
apei-20201231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
apei-20201231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
apei-20201231_g1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
apei-20201231_g2.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
apei-20201231_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
apei-20201231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
apei-20201231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
apei2020123110kexh1017.htm	Edgar Link	pending
apei2020123110kexh211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
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MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
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report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

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$APEI
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC Stock $apei

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000120179221000003 Filed on March 09, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$APEI AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC Stock $apei

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000120179221000003 Filed on March 09, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$APEI
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC Stock $apei