Applying for Another APUS Program after Graduation

We are always excited to learn of students who wish to pursue other degree programs at American Public University System. To enroll in another APUS program, we recommend that students contact their Academic Advisor for assistance during or after the completion of their final course in their current academic program or whenever they are ready to return.

The Process

If a student is currently in an APUS program, they may apply for a new program as soon as they have final clearance for graduation from their current program with APUS. In addition, if a student reaches their program deadline, a program add can move a student to the new program and the program deadline starts over again. For students in violation of the Progress Towards Program Completion policy, a program add is not allowed into the same level unless they are within 12 months of their program deadline. If a student is 90% complete in their program, a program deadline extension would be considered instead. 

It is very important that students do NOT register for any courses in their new program until their Degree Change form has been processed and the new program is displayed for the student as their online academic plan.

Certificate to Degree

If a student completes a certificate from the University and then decides to pursue a related degree, they may transfer any applicable courses that apply to the subsequent degree program. The courses transferred directly from a certificate completed will NOT count towards their maximum transfer credit cap.

Degree to Certificate

If a student completed a degree and would like to enroll in a related certificate, all previously completed APUS courses for which they earned a passing grade, as well as any outside course credit, where applicable, will be applied as residential or transfer credit.

Degree to Degree

If a student completes a degree and would like to enroll in a subsequent program, the Transfer Credit department will automatically review their completed residential credit to determine what courses can be applied to the new program within 21 days from when they enroll in the new program. All applicable APUS credits for which a student earned a passing grade will be considered residential credit and will not count toward the transfer credit maximums.

If a student has previous transfer credit applied to their initial degree, it will also be reviewed when they enroll in the new degree program and completed within 21 days. Undergraduate credit with a grade of ‘C’ or higher is only applicable to undergraduate degree programs and graduate credit with a grade of ‘B’ or higher is only applicable to graduate degree programs.

To be eligible for a subsequent degree at the same level, students must meet these residential requirements:

• Associate students can pursue a subsequent associate program as long as they have five (5) unique courses to complete (based on a 60 semester hours degree) making 25% of the program unique.
• Bachelor’s students can pursue a subsequent bachelor’s program as long as they have ten (10) unique courses to complete (based on 120 semester hour degree) making 25% of the program unique.
• Master’s students can pursue a subsequent master’s program as long as they have five (5) unique courses left to complete (based on a 36 semester hour degree) making 40%+ unique.

This policy holds true for any degree program completed at the same level, even after the second degree.

Residential Credit Policy

All courses completed at APUS, either through a conferred degree or an expired program, will be considered Residential Credit for the student’s current program as well as future programs where the courses are applicable.  Residential Credit will not be counted towards transfer credit maximums and will not carry previously earned course grades, thus not impacting the grade point average in the subsequent program.  The Initial Enrollment Date and Program Deadline for subsequent programs will be reset based on the first course completed in the new program.

Students wishing to earn an Associate’s degree where all completed courses overlap with the requested Bachelor's requirements may not enroll in the requested program unless they enroll in a program where credentials may be earned along the way. If a student requests a change to an Associate’s program, where all courses from a conferred Bachelor's degree or from an expired program overlap with the Associate's degree, then they may not be eligible. Additionally, students may not earn duplicative degrees (for example – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice to Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice or vice versa or Masters in Business Administration-General concentration to Masters in Business Administration-Accounting concentration or vice versa).

To enroll in a subsequent degree program at the same level, students must meet the residential requirements mentioned in the Degree to Degree section.