<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Statement of Operations and the Consolidated Balance Sheet and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.


<CIK> 0000929887
<NAME> APOLLO GROUP, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1998             AUG-31-1998             AUG-31-1998             AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1997             FEB-28-1998             MAY-31-1998             AUG-31-1998
<CASH>                                          73,227                  77,319                  80,031                  75,039
<SECURITIES>                                    31,851                  30,704                  32,273                  27,538
<RECEIVABLES>                                   49,204                  54,986                  55,548                  67,910
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,021                   7,989                   7,631                   6,628
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               155,319                 163,173                 169,825                 174,007
<PP&E>                                          46,064                  50,222                  59,536                  71,541
<DEPRECIATION>                                  18,341                  20,194                  22,319                  24,923
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 252,809                 265,718                 290,867                 305,160
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           83,233                  85,658                  90,378                  95,574
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                            68                      68                     102                     102
<OTHER-SE>                                     154,851                 165,305                 185,943                 199,706
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   252,809                 265,718                 290,867                 305,160
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                87,875                 172,953                 278,154                 384,877
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   62,429                 126,635                 201,336                 281,627
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,906                   4,633                   4,823                   5,479
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   3                      26                      48                     119
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,565                  30,363                  56,070                  76,272
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,956                  12,024                  22,209                  29,975
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,609                  18,339                  33,861                  46,297
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,609                  18,339                  33,861                  46,297
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .14                     .24                     .44                     .60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .13                     .23                     .43                     .59