American Public University System vs Appalachian Bible College
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
American Public University System has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Appalachian Bible College at 100.0%. Average median debt: American Public University System at $34,303 vs Appalachian Bible College at $23,632. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $59,100 vs $40,000.
| Metric | American Public University System | Appalachian Bible College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Wv | Wv |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $34,303 | $23,632* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $59,100* | $40,000 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 1 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (93/100)* | Bible/Biblical Studies (60/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $28,941 | $23,632* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000* | $40,000 |
American Public University System has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Appalachian Bible College at 100.0%. Average median debt: American Public University System at $34,303 vs Appalachian Bible College at $23,632. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $59,100 vs $40,000.
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American Public University System and Appalachian Bible College graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $23,632 versus $34,303. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.
First-year earnings differ meaningfully: $59,100 at American Public University System versus $40,000 at the lower-earning option. That gap usually traces back to the program mix being measured rather than a uniform school-wide premium; the comparison is more useful when you drill into the specific major you're considering at each school.
Both schools sit in Wv, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.