Apollo Group, Inc. Announces the Opening of Five New Campuses/Learning Centers

Phoenix, Arizona, September 16, 1997 -- Apollo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:APOL) today announced at the BT Alex. Brown Education Conference in New York, the opening of four new University of Phoenix (University of Phoenix) campuses/learning centers and one new Institute for Professional Development (IPD) learning center. The University of Phoenix openings include a new campus in Portland, Oregon and learning centers in Livonia, Michigan; Henderson, Nevada; and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. In addition, IPD opened a new learning center in Wichita, Kansas in conjunction with its contract with Baker University, based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dr. John G. Sperling, Chairman and President, commented, "Apollo continues to see a high demand from working adult consumers for its educational programs and services. The University of Phoenix, now one of the largest private universities in the U.S., continues to demonstrate that it can provide high quality degree programs at an affordable cost. We believe that many states that are burdened by rising college enrollments and the lack of financial resources can relieve the pressure on their tax-supported university and community college systems by continuing to foster an environment that supports private sector participation in their higher education markets. Apollo Group is committed to the expansion of its campuses and learning centers, its Online/Internet campuses and its program offerings to address these increasing market needs."

Apollo Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries the University of Phoenix, the Institute for Professional Development and Western International University, is one of the largest providers of higher education programs for working adults in the United States. Educational programs and services are offered at more than 100 campuses and learning centers in 30 states, Puerto Rico and London, England.

For more information about Apollo Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, call 1-800-990-APOL.

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information may involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.