Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 99,142	$ 100,756	$ 320,777	$ 329,971
Costs and expenses:
Instruction and educational support	55,281	55,927	174,223	174,839
Marketing	21,593	20,514	52,944	50,188
Admissions advisory	4,089	4,071	12,144	12,623
General and administration	10,925	11,028	33,424	33,198
Total costs and expenses	91,888	91,540	272,735	270,848
Income from operations	7,254	9,216	48,042	59,123
Investment income	44	42	222	45
Interest expense	1,144	1,311	3,689	3,945
Income before income taxes	6,154	7,947	44,575	55,223
Provision for income taxes	2,431	2,994	17,593	21,810
Net income	$ 3,723	$ 4,953	$ 26,982	$ 33,413
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.47	$ 2.55	$ 3.17
Diluted	$ 0.35	$ 0.46	$ 2.52	$ 3.15
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	10,593	10,571	10,586	10,555
Diluted	10,736	10,663	10,726	10,622