Student Receivables (Changes In Current And Non-Current Receivables Allowance) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Student Receivables [Abstract]
Balance, Beginning of Period	$ 78,053,000		$ 68,681,000	[1]	$ 53,334,000	[1]	$ 90,944,000		$ 53,334,000	[1]
Charges to Expense	14,078,000	[2]	31,938,000	[1],[2]			40,926,000	[2]	77,870,000	[1],[2]
Amounts Written-off	(22,046,000)		(18,831,000)	[1]			(61,785,000)		(49,416,000)	[1]
Balance, End of Period	70,085,000		81,788,000	[1]			70,085,000		81,788,000	[1]
Recoveries of amounts previously written off	2,000,000		2,000,000				7,300,000		7,700,000
Pretax expense due to increase in reserve rates applied to outstanding receivables			$ 8,300,000		$ 8,100,000

[1] In the first and third quarters 2010, we increased the reserve rates applied to outstanding student receivables balances attributable to our extended payment plan programs and our previously terminated recourse loan program. As a result, we recorded pretax expense of $8.1 million and $8.3 million during the first and third quarters 2010, respectively. The bad debt reserve rates are continually reviewed for appropriateness based upon historical data as it becomes available.

[2] Charges to expense include an offset for recoveries of amounts previously written off of $2.0 million for both quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $7.3 million and $7.7 million for the years to date ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.