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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington , D.C. 20549 ( Mark One ) Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2020 Form 10 - K Transition report pursuant to Section 13 OR 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from Delaware ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization ) apei Title of each class Common Stock , $ 0.01 par value or Commission file number : 001-33810 111 West Congress Street , Charles Town , West Virginia ( Address of principal executive offices ) American Public Education , Inc. ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter ) to AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION , INC . APEI 01-0724376 ( I.R.S. Employer Identification No. ) Registrant's telephone number , including area code : ( 304 ) 724-3700 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Trading Symbol ( s ) 25414 ( Zip Code ) Name of each exchange on which registered Nasdaq Global Select Market Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes o No p Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes o No p Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes þ No o