-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UVCuYyQ/j36zepEbwbB3Y9AXuREvfpPvjYVvRLVxtNd9jaCboqoY/ZWTfYNvwCXI
 6yhH/OlPeB+fGtas5HMzyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-037857.txt : 20100708
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-037857.hdr.sgml : 20100708
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100708163900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-037857
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100706
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100708
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100708

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:		10944567

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4025 S RIVERPOINT PKWY
		STREET 2:		CF-KX01
		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>c03236_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-06</periodOfReport>

    <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 and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40220</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>102259</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14196</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>116455</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </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>42.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100044</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-07-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100044</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100044</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock underlying restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) awarded to the Reporting Person. The RSUs are subject to both performance-vesting and service-vesting requirements. Should the performance objective be attained, then 25% of the RSUs will vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through August 31, 2011, and the balance will vest in a series of three successive equal annual installments on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the July 6, 2010 award date, subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer. The Reporting Person will also be entitled to certain vesting continuation/vesting acceleration benefits in the event his employment should terminate under certain specified circumstances during the service-vesting period. The shares of Class A common stock will, in general, be issued as the RSUs vest. (footnote continued below)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(continued from Note 1 above) The RSUs also include dividend equivalent rights pursuant to which the Reporting Person will be credited with the same dividends on the shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock underlying the RSU award that the Reporting Person would have received had those shares been actually outstanding at the time any dividends are paid on the Issuer's outstanding Class A common stock. The credited dividends will be paid to the Reporting Person at the same time the vested shares of Class A common stock are issued under the RSU award.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes (i) 40,220 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to the reported RSU award, and (i) 11,968 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to RSUs granted July 2, 2009.  The 11,968 shares underlying the July 2, 2009 RSUs will be issued as those units vest (subject to an initial performance-vesting requirement) in four successive equal installments upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through each of the August 31, 2010, July 2, 2011, July 2, 2012, and July 2, 2013 vesting dates. All of the RSUs are subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents the target number of shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock underlying the performance share award made to the Reporting Person. The performance shares are subject to both performance-vesting and service-vesting requirements. The performance goal is tied to the average of the annual growth rates in the Issuer's adjusted free cash flow for each of the three fiscal years comprising the performance period (the Issuer's 2011, 2012 and 2013 fiscal years). The level at which the performance goal is attained will determine the actual number of shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock into which the performance shares will be converted. The conversion percentage will range from 40% at threshold level attainment to 100% at target level and 200% at maximum level attainment or above. The Reporting Person will vest in one-third of the shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock into which the performance shares are so converted for each fiscal year within the performance peri
od that the Reporting Person remains in the Issuer's employ.  However, the Reporting Person will be entitled to certain service-vesting credits should his employment terminate under certain specified circumstances during the performance period.  In addition, the performance shares will immediately convert into fully-vested shares of Class A common stock at target level or above upon certain changes in control or ownership of the Issuer. When the vested shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock become issuable following the completion of the performance period, a portion of those shares will be withheld by the Issuer to cover the applicable withholding taxes. The performance share award does not include any dividend equivalent rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 14,196 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to the reported performance share award.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option will vest and become exercisable for the underlying shares of Class A common stock in a series of four successive equal annual installments on each of the first four one-year anniversaries of the July 6, 2010 grant date upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through each such annual vesting date, subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer. In addition, the Reporting Person will be entitled to certain vesting continuation/vesting acceleration benefits in the event his employment should terminate under certain specified circumstances during the service-vesting period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by Brian L. Swartz for Joseph L. D'Amico</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----