American Military University (AMU) ranks a close second only to University Maryland University College (UMUC) in Military Times Edge magazine’s list of the 50 most popular colleges chosen by active duty service members. AMU is a member institution of American Public University System, an online university system that educates more than 50,000 working adults studying worldwide. Founded to serve the unique educational needs of military members, AMU has become one of the nation’s largest providers of higher education to the armed forces – preparing them for service and leadership in a diverse and global society.

According to Military Times Edge, the Defense Department’s chief of continuing education, Carolyn Baker, noted that online learning outpaces classroom-based courses in all four of the military service branches. Five online schools made the top 50 and three of those schools, including AMU, were in the top 10. The rankings are based on the number of enrollments at colleges and universities of students using tuition assistance funds.

Daniel Zent, currently an installation emergency manager for the Montana Air National Guard, received a bachelor’s in emergency and disaster management from AMU in 2007. He feels his courses at AMU enhanced his military experience. “AMU is the ‘unofficial official’ standard for emergency managers in the Air Force,” said Zent.

AMU continues to serve and attract military students who study from more than 100 countries, including Afghanistan, Korea and Turkey. AMU has unique mission-related degree programs, affordable tuition, an undergraduate book grant, monthly class starts and a staff that understands the military community. AMU offers 75 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Approximately 40,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and veterans are enrolled in those programs.

“American Military University puts an emphasis on meeting service members’ needs and helping them continue their education throughout the world,” said Jim Sweizer, vice president of military programs for AMU. “Our breadth of degree programs, from homeland security and emergency and disaster management to English and history, give students unparalleled opportunity to advance their military careers or to prepare for a new, post-service career.”

American Military University

American Military University is a member institution of American Public University System, which also includes American Public University and educates more than 50,000 adult learners worldwide. AMU’s relevant curriculum, affordability and flexibility allows working adults to pursue degrees that will help them advance in a variety of career fields, including business, information technology, education and management. AMU also provides specialized education in homeland security, national security and emergency and disaster management. A university book grant provides textbooks at no cost for eligible undergraduate students.