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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 TzxaLoMPjxJk4BQZCO2Ueg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001387816-09-000002.txt : 20090120
<SEC-HEADER>0001387816-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090120162632
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001387816-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			D'Amico Joseph Lawrence
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001387816

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		09534497

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		480 557-1729

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4615 E. ELWOOD ST.
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85040

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>2009-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001387816</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>D'Amico Joseph Lawrence</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President  CFO Apollo Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>166667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>235141</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>166667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>87.3186</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68474</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>58.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>166667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>166667</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>333333</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 47,314 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted July 3, 2007 and October 31, 2008.  The 40,000 shares underlying the July 3, 2007 RSUs will be issued when those units vest in two successive equal annual installments upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through each of June 15, 2009 and June 15, 2010.  The 7,314 shares underlying the October 31, 2008 RSUs will be issued when those units vest in two successive equal installments upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through each of August 31, 2009 and June 15, 2010. All 47,314 RSUs are subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the weighted average sale price per share.  The actual sale prices ranged from a low of $87.01 to a high of $87.755.  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 sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vested and became exercisable for 33% of the option shares on June 15, 2008 and will become exercisable for the balance of the option shares in two successive equal annual installments upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through each of June 15, 2009 and June 15, 2010, subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph L D'Amico</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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