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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KV786d6ZcH/ZNY1c5dKTz8XPO6+yX2KDgn2zZq/s/DrSRKLx5D8RMH33BTz3M3cX
 Ia7i92HkOuhWpAxPgSGx+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001244237-09-000008.txt : 20091102
<SEC-HEADER>0001244237-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20091102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091102173045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001244237-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GIUSTO STEPHEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218776

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		091152077

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RESOURCES CONNECTION
		STREET 2:		695 TOWN CENTER DR
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APOLLO GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929887
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				860419443
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			AZ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4615 EAST ELWOOD ST
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85040
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6029665394

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4615 E ELWOOD STREET
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85040
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APOLLO GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APOL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GIUSTO STEPHEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4025 S. RIVERPOINT PKWY.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85040</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.1905</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3825</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average purchase price per share. The actual purchase prices ranged from a low of $58.12 to a high of $58.255.  The Reporting Person will provide upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer or any security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 2,062 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to the restricted stock units (RSUs) awarded to the Reporting Person on July 2, 2009 that will be issued when those RSUs vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in Board service with the Issuer through August 31, 2010, subject to accelerated vesting of the entire award upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Joseph L. D'Amico  For: Stephen J. Giusto</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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