Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 102,156	$ 99,142	$ 321,809	$ 320,777
Costs and expenses:
Instruction and educational support	56,295	55,281	176,175	174,223
Marketing	25,388	21,593	61,434	52,944
Admissions advisory	4,691	4,089	13,171	12,144
General and administration	10,952	10,925	33,211	33,424
Total costs and expenses	97,326	91,888	283,991	272,735
Income from operations	4,830	7,254	37,818	48,042
Investment income	115	44	327	222
Interest expense	161	1,144	481	3,689
Income before income taxes	4,784	6,154	37,664	44,575
Provision for income taxes	1,906	2,431	14,580	17,593
Net income	$ 2,878	$ 3,723	$ 23,084	$ 26,982
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.27	$ 0.35	$ 2.18	$ 2.55
Diluted	$ 0.27	$ 0.35	$ 2.14	$ 2.52
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	10,616	10,593	10,608	10,586
Diluted	10,828	10,736	10,803	10,726