content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <!-- Field: Pseudo-Tag; ID: Name; Data: 325 CAPITAL LLC -->
            <cik>0001873893</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001201792</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-33810</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>111 W CONGRESS STREET</com:street1>
          <com:city>CHARLES TOWN</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WV</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>25414</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>304-724-3700</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>325 Capital LLC</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock, par value $0.01</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Jones Trading</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>900 Island Park Drive, Suite 200</com:street1>
            <com:city>Daniel Island</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>SC</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>29492</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>744000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>22037280.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1803966622</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/28/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock, par value $0.01</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/08/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open market purchases (3)</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Open market purchases (3)</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>744000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/08/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>(1) Shares of Common Stock to be sold were purchased by entities controlled by 325 Capital LLC between 08/08/2024 and 08/21/2024 in various open market transactions.</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/28/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Michael David Braner, Managing Member</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3086}]
text: 144
  0001873893
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001201792
  AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC
  001-33810
  111 W CONGRESS STREET
  CHARLES TOWN
  WV
  25414
  304-724-3700
  325 Capital LLC
  Director
  Common Stock, par value $0.01
  Jones Trading
  900 Island Park Drive, Suite 200
  Daniel Island
  SC
  29492
  744000
  22037280.00
  1803966622
  05/28/2025
  Nasdaq
  Common Stock, par value $0.01
  08/08/2024
  Open market purchases (3)
  Open market purchases (3)
  N
  744000
  08/08/2024
  Cash
  Y
  (1) Shares of Common Stock to be sold were purchased by entities controlled by 325 Capital LLC between 08/08/2024 and 08/21/2024 in various open market transactions.
  05/28/2025
  /s/ Michael David Braner, Managing Member