Website Spotlight: American Public University

As a teacher, I know the value of education - up through high school and beyond. I'm also required to take a certain number of continuing education credits in workshops and courses, so I am frequently involved with higher education.

I love taking classes online. I teach online, so I have no problem learning that way. As the mom of two small kids, the flexibility is wonderful. It also saves money on commute and (usually) books, since a lot of times the material is all online. To be able to learn while you're feeding your baby, for example, is a great way to multi-task. It's challenging - it can be really hard to separate personal life from other commitments, and it does require a lot of dedication and time management - but it's also worth it to further your education and open up more opportunities.

American Public University has a special page that is designed for moms. It has a recording of a live chat regarding going back to school as a parent, as well as some basic information. The curriculum is completely online, and there are over 100 degree programs. Classes start monthly, and they are 8 or 16 weeks long, with tuition at $750 per 3-credit course (which is a very reasonable rate compared to courses at traditional colleges) and $900 per 3-credit course for graduate students. You can also transfer courses that you've already completed at other colleges.

If you're interested, there are some virtual open houses coming up for some of the programs.

You may not have heard of APU before, but it does have a solid reputation. The American Public University system is regionally and nationally accredited, with the sister system (American Military University) as the number one education provider to the US Military. In 2009, APUS received the Sloan Consortium’s Ralph E. Gomory award for quality online education and is also a two-time winner of Sloan’s Effective Practice Award. And, in 2008, the National Survey of Student Engagement found that 97% of seniors enrolled at APUS had an extremely favorable view of the online learning system and would overwhelmingly attend again if they could start their college career over



“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”