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  <xs:element id="apei_Building2Member" abstract="true" name="Building2Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AmericanPublicUniversitySystemSegmentMember" abstract="true" name="AmericanPublicUniversitySystemSegmentMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AssetsHeldForSaleEstimatedCostToSell" abstract="false" name="AssetsHeldForSaleEstimatedCostToSell" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AssetHeldForSaleSalesPrice" abstract="false" name="AssetHeldForSaleSalesPrice" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AccreditationLicensingAndTitleFourMember" abstract="true" name="AccreditationLicensingAndTitleFourMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_GoodwillImpairmentLossStatementOfIncomeOrComprehensiveIncomeExtensibleEnumerationNotDisclosedFlag" abstract="false" name="GoodwillImpairmentLossStatementOfIncomeOrComprehensiveIncomeExtensibleEnumerationNotDisclosedFlag" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_GoodwillImpairmentLossTaxEffect" abstract="false" name="GoodwillImpairmentLossTaxEffect" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetIndefiniteLivedExcludingGoodwillStatementOfIncomeOrComprehensiveIncomeExtensibleEnumerationNotDisclosedFlag" abstract="false" name="ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetIndefiniteLivedExcludingGoodwillStatementOfIncomeOrComprehensiveIncomeExtensibleEnumerationNotDisclosedFlag" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AffiliatesMember" abstract="true" name="AffiliatesMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_LesseeOperatingLeaseExtensionTerm" abstract="false" name="LesseeOperatingLeaseExtensionTerm" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_NumberOfStates" abstract="false" name="NumberOfStates" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_LeaseTerminationFee" abstract="false" name="LeaseTerminationFee" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_NumberOfCampusesConsolidated" abstract="false" name="NumberOfCampusesConsolidated" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_NumberOfCampusesClosure" abstract="false" name="NumberOfCampusesClosure" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_FinanceLeaseLiabilityInterestRate" abstract="false" name="FinanceLeaseLiabilityInterestRate" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_LongTermAbstract" abstract="true" name="LongTermAbstract" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_LeaseLiability" abstract="false" name="LeaseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_SeniorSecuredTermLoanFacilityMember" abstract="true" name="SeniorSecuredTermLoanFacilityMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_SubfacilityForSwingLineLoansMember" abstract="true" name="SubfacilityForSwingLineLoansMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumFirstLienNetLeverageRatio" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumFirstLienNetLeverageRatio" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:pureItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumTotalNetLeverageRatio" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumTotalNetLeverageRatio" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:pureItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumSecuredNetLeverageRatio" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumSecuredNetLeverageRatio" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:pureItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumInterestCoverageRatio" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumInterestCoverageRatio" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:pureItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumUnrestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsUsedToCalculateNetLeverageRatio" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumUnrestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsUsedToCalculateNetLeverageRatio" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentFloorInterestRate" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentFloorInterestRate" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRatePastDueObligations" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRatePastDueObligations" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PaymentsOfInterestDebtIssuanceCostsAndCommitmentFees" abstract="false" name="PaymentsOfInterestDebtIssuanceCostsAndCommitmentFees" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseLiability" abstract="false" name="DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLeaseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationandBenefitsRestrictedStock" abstract="false" name="DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationandBenefitsRestrictedStock" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesStockCompensationExpense" abstract="false" name="DeferredTaxLiabilitiesStockCompensationExpense" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGainLossOnEquityInvestment" abstract="false" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGainLossOnEquityInvestment" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExecutiveCompensationAmount" abstract="false" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExecutiveCompensationAmount" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGainLossOnEquityInvestmentPercent" abstract="false" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationGainLossOnEquityInvestmentPercent" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExecutiveCompensation.Percentage" abstract="false" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseExecutiveCompensation.Percentage" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_IncomeTaxBenchmarkMember" abstract="true" name="IncomeTaxBenchmarkMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_MinnesotaFloridaIllinoisGeorgiaCaliforniaAndVirginiaMember" abstract="true" name="MinnesotaFloridaIllinoisGeorgiaCaliforniaAndVirginiaMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_GeorgiaFloridaMinnesotaIllinoisMarylandNorthCarolinaAndTexasMember" abstract="true" name="GeorgiaFloridaMinnesotaIllinoisMarylandNorthCarolinaAndTexasMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_FloridaMinnesotaIllinoisGeorgiaMississippiMarylandAndTexasMember" abstract="true" name="FloridaMinnesotaIllinoisGeorgiaMississippiMarylandAndTexasMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_AmericanPublicEducationIncEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember" abstract="true" name="AmericanPublicEducationIncEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_TwentySeventeenIncentivePlanMember" abstract="true" name="TwentySeventeenIncentivePlanMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_RestrictedStockandRestrictedStockUnitsMember" abstract="true" name="RestrictedStockandRestrictedStockUnitsMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensationValue" abstract="false" name="SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensationValue" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalAuthorizedAmount" abstract="false" name="StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalAuthorizedAmount" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantedWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm" abstract="false" name="SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantedWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_InstructionalCostsAndExpensesMember" abstract="true" name="InstructionalCostsAndExpensesMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PreferredStockBasisSpreadDividendRatePercentage" abstract="false" name="PreferredStockBasisSpreadDividendRatePercentage" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceMakeWholePayment" abstract="false" name="PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceMakeWholePayment" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PreferredStockVotingRightsPercentageRequiredForApproval" abstract="false" name="PreferredStockVotingRightsPercentageRequiredForApproval" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_RepurchaseOfCommonStockSubjectToStockholderApprovalMinimum" abstract="false" name="RepurchaseOfCommonStockSubjectToStockholderApprovalMinimum" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceSeniorIncludingAccruedAndUnpaidDividends" abstract="false" name="PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceSeniorIncludingAccruedAndUnpaidDividends" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceEarlyRedemptionPremium" abstract="false" name="PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceEarlyRedemptionPremium" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_PercentageOfStudentsServedInMilitaryOnActiveDutyAtTimeOfInitialEnrollment" abstract="false" name="PercentageOfStudentsServedInMilitaryOnActiveDutyAtTimeOfInitialEnrollment" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_DepartmentOfDefenseTuitionAssistanceProgramsMember" abstract="true" name="DepartmentOfDefenseTuitionAssistanceProgramsMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_VeteranEducationBenefitsMember" abstract="true" name="VeteranEducationBenefitsMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_TitleIVProgramsMember" abstract="true" name="TitleIVProgramsMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_CashAndOtherSourcesMember" abstract="true" name="CashAndOtherSourcesMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_CreditAgreementMember" abstract="true" name="CreditAgreementMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_TermLoanMember" abstract="true" name="TermLoanMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="apei_ThomasA.BeckettMember" abstract="true" name="ThomasA.BeckettMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
</xs:schema>
