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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VObdv3mHWRuRC5HOYE8PpWaN5sXBilRAsoNt8TnNo9SuisIaNqmfqMpnoFgGTNmM
 7NRVSPROq4qozO83aFRr/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213124-04-000009.txt : 20040831
<SEC-HEADER>0001213124-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040831
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040831151436
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213124-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040831
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040831

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTON JOHN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213124

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		041008219

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 E CAMELBACK RD #389
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85018
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6028408806

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 E CAMELBACK RD #389
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85018
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213124</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORTON JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3200 E CAMELBACK RD #389</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85018</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.5022</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21531</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-03-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-09-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>21531</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21531</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On August 6, 2004, the Board of Directors (&quot;Board&quot;) of Apollo Group, Inc. (&quot;Apollo&quot;) exercised its right under Apollo's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to convert all outstanding shares of University of Phoenix Online common stock (&quot;UOPX Stock&quot;) to shares of Apollo Education Group Class A common stock (&quot;APOL Stock&quot;).  The Board set August 27, 2004, as the effective date for the conversion (&quot;Conversion&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In connection with the Conversion, each outstanding option of UOPX Stock was converted into options of APOL Stock based on the ratio of the closing stock price of APOL Stock and UOPX Stock on August 12, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John R. Norton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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