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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WVP5OmnNbEV7lo93JHKwjjFpDXv1+6aiBMSYSjcWb8ZtvVvgInOsY47qopjO2fE3
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-11-004446.txt : 20110121
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-11-004446.hdr.sgml : 20110121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110121165951
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-11-004446
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPERLING JOHN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237503

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		11541931

	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>c11290_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-20</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237503</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPERLING JOHN G</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>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec Chrmn of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.0380</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11817886</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>John Sperling Revocable Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85772</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1503036</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Aurora Foundation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>John Sperling 1994 Irrevocable Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported transaction was effected by the John Sperling Revocable Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the weighted average sale price per share. The actual sale prices ranged from a low of $42.67 to a high of  $43.67. 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">By self as trustee and beneficiary of the John Sperling Revocable Trust dated November 26, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes (i) 42,996 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units (RSUs) granted July 6, 2010, (ii) 23,889 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to RSUs granted July 2, 2009, (iii) 12,500 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to RSUs granted July 3, 2007 and (iv) 3,417 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to RSUs granted October 31, 2008. The 42,996 shares underlying the July 6,2010 RSUs will be issued when 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, 2011, July 6, 2012, July 6, 2013, and July 6, 2014 vesting dates. The 23,889 shares underlying the July 2, 2009 RSUs will be issued when those units vest in three successive equal installments upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer (footnote continued below)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">(continued from footnote 4 above) through each of the July 2, 2011, July 2, 2012, and July 2, 2013 vesting dates. The 12,500 shares underlying the July 3, 2007 RSUs will be issued when those units vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through August 31, 2011.  The 3,417 shares underlying the October 31, 2008 RSUs will be issued when those units vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in service with the Issuer through August 31, 2011. All of the RSUs are subject to accelerated vesting upon certain changes in ownership or control of the Issuer.  Does not include the performance share award made to the Reporting Person on July 6, 2010 for 15,174 target shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock that will not actually convert into any such shares unless the applicable performance goal is attained at threshold level or above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">By self as trustee of the Aurora Foundation dated May 22, 1997.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The Reporting Person's indirect ownership of the shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock directly owned by this entity has been reduced by 75,0000 shares as a result of such entity's sale of those shares on  January 20, 2011.  Since such entity is a private foundation and the Reporting Person does not have any pecuniary interest in any of the shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock owned by such entity, the Reporting Person was not required to report such sale transaction under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">By self as co-trustee and beneficiary of the John Sperling 1994 Irrevocable Trust dated April 27, 1994.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by Joseph L. D'Amico for John G. Sperling</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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