"At APUS, we believe in the transformative power of education. Our mission is to break down barriers, embrace innovation, and provide unparalleled access to quality learning experiences for every student, everywhere."
Nuno Fernandes
President
Letter From the President
Critical thinking, leadership, and inspiration. In today’s fast-changing digital world, these traits define the American Public University System’s commitment to our diverse students.
Founded in 1991 by a visionary retired Marine Corps officer, APUS was established to provide high-quality and affordable education to U.S. servicemembers. From these humble beginnings, we have evolved into a global institution, serving nearly 90,000 military, military-affiliated, and non-military professionals worldwide through American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU).
"As a leading provider of affordable, career-relevant, and accessible high-quality online education, we cater to learners of all backgrounds. Our community boasts over 141,000 alumni from more than 80 countries and all 50 states."
At American Public University System, we pride ourselves on digital learning for real life. As a leading provider of affordable, career-relevant, and accessible high-quality online education, we cater to learners of all backgrounds. As the No. 1 provider of higher education to U.S. military and veterans*, we offer over 200 online degree and certificate programs. Our community boasts over 141,000 alumni from more than 80 countries and all 50 states.
Recognized for our innovative approach to online learning, APUS has received numerous accolades from the prestigious Online Learning Consortium (OLC) for best practices.** Our accredited programs (accreditation), designed for working professionals, uphold the highest standards. APUS ranks in the top 11% for students’ return on educational investment compared to 4,500 colleges and universities nationwide, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (2022).*** We are committed to keeping tuition and fees affordable to ensure that a high-quality education remains accessible to underserved populations and first-generation learners.
What sets us apart from other universities? We collaborate closely with industry leaders to continuously assess and innovate our curriculum based on market needs and best practices, always striving for continuous improvement. We offer outstanding programs, dynamic student services, and robust career services (career services), all designed with our students’ future in mind. This includes recent initiatives like free access to 24/7 mental health support via apps and instant messaging (TalkCampus), certified career coaching (LifeRamp), and an AI-powered resume-building platform (Hiration).
Our nearly 1,700 full- and part-time faculty members are forward-thinking scholar-practitioners who bring best practices into the classroom across various disciplines, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, supply chain logistics, and business management. Our faculty comprises successful executives in government, business, and non-profit organizations. Our students, highly motivated and often balancing family, school, and careers, discover a diverse, vibrant, and supportive university community that drives enriching and engaging classroom experiences and helps build professional networks.
Nuno Fernandes President, APUS
*Based on FY2019 Department of Defense tuition assistance data, as reported by Military Times, 2020, and Veterans Administration student enrollment data as of 2023.
**APUS has been honored with the Online Learning Consortium’s Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and is a five-time recipient of the consortium’s Effective Practice Award (awards).
***Ranking based on 20-year net present value (NPV).
About President Fernandes
APUS President Nuno Fernandes is a visionary leader who has been successful in making online higher education more affordable and accessible, while delivering top-quality education and favorable student outcomes. As the fifth President of APUS, he is focused on a global digital journey that integrates personalized, collaborative, technology-driven learning experiences to prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Mr. Fernandes has a wealth of experience driving innovation across higher education, technology, and business. He has been serving as APUS President since September 2022.
Previously, Mr. Fernandes was president and CEO of Ilumno, the largest online program manager in Latin America, and among the top 3 globally (in terms of managed students, which numbered 300,000). He served in several roles with increasing responsibilities at the company for over a decade. Mr. Fernandes was instrumental in improving student retention, student satisfaction, graduation rates, and reputation at the company’s owned and partner universities. He also led efforts to expand access to higher education in several countries.
Prior to his roles in higher education, Mr. Fernandes accumulated over a decade of experience in the consumer goods industry at Bosch, where he undertook numerous international assignments and held various leadership roles.
Born in Porto, Portugal, Mr. Fernandes holds a Master of Business Administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Porto. He has also participated in several executive education programs at Harvard Business School and Carnegie Mellon University, among others.
Mr. Fernandes is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Office of the President
Mr. Nuno Fernandes
President
APUS President Nuno Fernandes is a visionary leader who has been successful in making online higher education more affordable and accessible, while delivering top-quality education and favorable student outcomes. As the fifth President of APUS, he is focused on a global digital journey that integrates personalized, collaborative, technology-driven learning experiences to prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Together, we are creating a Global Digital University that transcends traditional paradigms and paves the way for a brighter tomorrow, on a global scale.
The time has come for a holistic reevaluation of our educational approach. By prioritizing the cultivation of essential skills, embracing technology, and fostering a culture of innovation, we can create a model that not only prepares students for success but also empowers them to shape an exciting future.
This is not representative of a current state but a global digital journey to the future of higher education that we will foster over the next three years.
The world is changing, and you will be the ones driving some of these changes. My message to you is to never stop learning, stay hungry, embrace change, innovation, and critical thinking. Always try to use your incredible talent to positively impact your communities. And, while doing all of this, always try to have fun and choose a career path that fulfills you. In the famous words of Steve Jobs, ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’.
Commencement marks an extraordinary milestone, a rite of passage if you will, and you should all be very proud of it. But your new professional career really starts today. Today you start writing your future, forging your path, and building your life with the degree you’ve worked so hard for.
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The volunteer effort is part of National Wreaths Across America Day, which unites communities to honor veterans by laying wreaths at thousands of cemeteries across the country.
