-----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,
 VUMOjx/Fgo9hcP/ZYWDZVjbS/F8mmJH3lWfc6K7Qz6PDDIY0pwSc8GhhrfUhUCju
 PPIYbDCFqvvOwqD7948CKQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001237503-09-000002.txt : 20090114
<SEC-HEADER>0001237503-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090114193612
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001237503-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Reis James Richard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001303809

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25232
		FILM NUMBER:		09527328

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		972-629-4410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3333 LEE PARKWAY, SUITE 1200
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75219

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>2009-01-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001303809</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Reis James Richard</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>2009-01-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6265</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 2,015 shares of the Issuer's Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted on October 31, 2008 that will be issued when those units vest upon the Reporting Person's continuation in Board service with the Issuer through August 31, 2009, subject to accelerated vesting of the entire award upon certain changes in control of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Joseph L. D'Amico  For: James R. Reis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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