Apollo Group, Inc. Reports FY99 Enrollment Results

Phoenix, Arizona, October 11, 1999 -- Apollo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:APOL) reported that there were 86,800 students enrolled in degree programs at August 31, 1999 compared to 71,355 students enrolled in degree programs at August 31, 1998 representing a 21.6% increase in degree enrollments.

The top five geographic markets (excluding Online) for Apollo’s University of Phoenix grew 18.6% to 39,874 degree-enrolled students at August 31, 1999 compared to 33,622 degree-enrolled students at August 31, 1998. The University of Phoenix’s Online campus grew 59.4% to 10,382 degree-enrolled students at August 31, 1999 compared to 6,512 degree enrolled students at August 31, 1998.

Dr. John G. Sperling, Chairman of the Board and CEO, said, "We are extremely pleased with the increase in degree-enrollments at August 31, 1999. During the fourth quarter we reached a milestone in the distance education market when degree enrollments at the University of Phoenix’s Online campus exceeded 10,000 students. To better service these students, we have merged our distance education and Online campuses and centralized the campus’ administrative offices in Phoenix, Arizona."

Dr. Sperling continued, "During the fourth quarter of 1999, the University of Phoenix opened a new campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the Institute for Professional Development entered into two new contracts with Benedictine University in Illinois and Gwynedd-Mercy College in Pennsylvania."

Apollo Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries the University of Phoenix, Inc., the Institute for Professional Development, the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corporation, Western International University, Inc. and Apollo Learning Group, Inc., is one of the largest providers of higher education programs for working adults in the United States, with total degree-seeking enrollment of approximately 86,800 students. Educational programs and services are currently offered at 49 campuses and 80 learning centers in 35 states, Puerto Rico and Vancouver, Canada.

Apollo Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Degree and Non-degree Enrollments

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.