Massachusetts Probing University of Phoenix

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is investigating the recruiting and financial aid tactics used by the University of Phoenix and has asked the school to produce documents dating back to 2002, a Phoenix newspaper reports.

The Arizona Republic said the probe was disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing by the school's parent corporation, Apollo Group.

The report said the Massachusetts probe was thought to be part of a “coalition” of state agencies that are looking into the activities of for-profit universities and trade schools.

Apollo Group, among the largest education institutions in the world, has more than 405,000 students.

Florida's attorney general last year said the state was investigating several for-profit schools. Oregon officials sued Apollo Group last year for allegedly misleading investors in its financial statements.

Congress has also been investigating and holding hearings after the Obama Administration floated a proposal to regulate federal aid to for-profit schools and their students.

The General Accountability Office (GAO) was sharply critical of recruiting practices at some for-profit colleges, saying recruiters lie and urge aid applicants to committee fraud.