Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock no par value
Preferred stock shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock shares issued	0	0
Apollo Group Class A treasury stock shares	58,003,000	40,714,000
Apollo Group Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Common stock no par value
Common stock authorized	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock issued	188,007,000	188,007,000
Common stock outstanding	130,004,000	147,293,000
Apollo Group Class B voting common stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Common stock no par value
Common stock authorized	3,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock issued	475,000	475,000
Common stock outstanding	475,000	475,000