Career Training Path › West Virginia › American Public University System
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia · Private for-profit university · Training programs available:
Address: 111 W Congress St, Charles Town, WV 25414 · Phone: (877) 755-2787 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
American Public University System is a private for-profit trade school in Charles Town, WV offering culinary & pastry programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Median graduate debt is $21,743 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,409, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; completion rate compared to the state average of 68.5% is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for American Public University System; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and 24.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefs and head cooks | $40,520 | $61,100 | $82,480 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in West Virginia (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
American Public University System is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia, in a fringe town locale. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and it participates in federal Title IV student aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants. Within its trade and career training offerings, the school's top program family is culinary and pastry schools, with 10 completers recorded in that program area.
Federal data shows a total undergraduate enrollment of 40,074 students, with 24.6% of students receiving Pell Grants. The completion rate for this campus compared to the state average of 68.5% is not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt among graduates is reported at $21,743, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $44,409. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
Given the scale of the institution and its identified culinary and pastry program, this campus may suit students seeking a short, focused credential in that trade area rather than a broad associate-degree pathway, though program length itself is not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students, including adult career changers, should verify accreditation status directly with the Higher Learning Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and review outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
American Public University System's top reported trade program is culinary & pastry schools, with 10 completers recorded. No other program families are listed in federal data for this campus.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited, per federal data, by the Higher Learning Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, and 24.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's completion rate compared to the West Virginia state average of 68.5% is not reported in federal data. Contact the school or check the College Scorecard for updates.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is reported at $21,743, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $44,409, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (877) 755-2787 or via https://www.apus.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
American Public University System is a private for-profit institution, which can affect tuition structure, ownership, and how federal aid and outcomes are reported compared with public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and review outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard page for this school: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?449339.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Fit for adult career changers cannot be confirmed from the data provided beyond the presence of a focused culinary & pastry program; contact the school to discuss scheduling and format options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements after completing a program are not reported for this campus in federal data; check with the school or relevant state licensing board.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact American Public University System at (877) 755-2787 or through its website at https://www.apus.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby culinary programs is not reported for this campus in federal data; use the College Scorecard to compare schools directly.
Nearby trade and career schools in West Virginia
- James Rumsey Technical InstituteMartinsburg, WV · 77% completion
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeMartinsburg, WV · 32% completion
- Martinsburg CollegeMartinsburg, WV · college
- Valley College-MartinsburgMartinsburg, WV · college
- International Beauty School 4Martinsburg, WV · 83% completion
- James Rumsey Technical InstitutedMartinsburg, WV
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · 42% completion
- Carver Career CenterCharleston, WV · 92% completion
See all trade and career schools in West Virginia or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.