Head-to-head comparison
American Public University System vs Salem University: which has better ROI?
Option A Charles Town, WV
American Public University System
- Net price / year
- $9,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,409
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Salem, WV
Salem University
- Net price / year
- $12,303
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,642
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Public University System comes closer — median earnings $44,409 against a $38,388 total, vs $34,642 at Salem University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Public University System | Salem University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,597 | $12,303 |
| Total net cost | $38,388 | $49,212 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,409 | $34,642 |
| Median debt | $21,743 | $24,694 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$117,408 | -$323,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Public University System or Salem University?
American Public University System, at $9,597 a year after aid versus $12,303 — a gap of $2,706 a year, or $10,824 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do American Public University System or Salem University graduates earn more?
American Public University System graduates report a median $44,409 ten years after entry, $9,767 more than the $34,642 at Salem University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American Public University System or Salem University?
American Public University System: its completers carry a median $21,743 in federal loans versus $24,694 at Salem University, a difference of $2,951. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Public University System, against 20% at Salem University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.