Massachusetts Investigating Apollo Group's University of Phoenix

Apollo Group Inc.'s (APOL) University of Phoenix has been asked by the Massachusetts Attorney General to hand over information on its recruitment and student financial-aid practices, joining at least two other publicly traded schools facing such a request.

Phoenix, which has three campuses in Massachusetts as well as an online operation, according to the school's website, said in a securities filing early Monday that it was asked to provide documents and information regarding a "broad spectrum" of its business from 2002 to the present. Last week, one of Washington Post Co.'s (WPO) Kaplan Career Institute campuses in Boston received a similar request, and Corinthian Colleges Inc. (COCO) disclosed late last month that its Everest Institute locations in Brighton and Chelsea also received investigative demands.

Apollo said in a securities filing Monday that it believes Massachusetts is part of a coalition of states investigating the for-profit college industry. The Huffington Post earlier this month reported that a group of 10 states is looking into the sector's business practices to see if any violated consumer protection statutes. It confirmed Kentucky, Florida, Illinois and Iowa as members.

Apollo said in the filing that it is "evaluating" the demand.

-Melissa Korn, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2271; Melissa.korn@dowjones.com

Apollo Education Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL)
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