Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of American Public Education, Inc. of our report dated March 28, 2007, except for Note 15 which is as of September 19, 2007, relating to our audits of the consolidated financial statements, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in such Prospectus.

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

Vienna, Virginia
October 25, 2007