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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ARclrKuwWrAzrIC8nImW6JPegKfehn1hszIpWz/Ex1mrvyDSW1WSnQsWK2GbUAjt
 BUQnVcsjs21XcSIIvfNOUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001478420-10-000002.txt : 20100728
<SEC-HEADER>0001478420-10-000002.hdr.sgml : 20100728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100728132837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001478420-10-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100728
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100728

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Di Piazza Samuel A Jr.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001478420

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		10973834

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4025 S. RIVERPOINT PKWY
		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>2010-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478420</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Di Piazza Samuel A Jr.</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>2010-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2085</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.7984</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7085</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 $47.77 to a high of $47.83.  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 (i) 3,313 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted July 6, 2010 and (ii) 1,687 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to RSUs granted December 9, 2009. The 3,313 shares underlying the July 6, 2010 RSUs will vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in Board service with the Issuer through August 31, 2011 and will be issued in one or more installments following the Reporting Person's cessation of Board service.   The 1,687 shares underlying the December 9, 2009 RSUs will be issued when those units vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in Board service with the Issuer through August 31, 2010. All of the RSUs are subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Brian L. Swartz  For: Samuel Anthony DiPiazza Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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