Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of cash receipts from Title IV Program funding	83.00%		82.00%	83.00%	82.00%	81.00%
Number of days past due to write off student receivables				greater than 90 days
Costs of other goods and services included in educational services and facilities expense				$ 82,700,000	$ 89,500,000	$ 84,300,000
Goodwill and asset impairment	188,800,000	2,700,000	71,500,000	191,524,000	71,829,000	2,500,000
Goodwill	212,626,000		374,587,000	212,626,000	374,587,000	370,292,000	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) included a comprehensive loss related to foreign currency translations	(4,800,000)		200,000	(4,800,000)	200,000
Advertising costs				287,200,000	300,400,000	288,700,000
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative unrealized losses				$ 700,000

[1] Goodwill balances as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 were restated to reflect goodwill reassigned to AIU and CTU in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350 as a result of the change in organizational structure which occurred in the first quarter of 2011. In addition, the goodwill balance for the International reporting unit as of December 31, 2009 reflects the amount of goodwill which remained within the International reporting unit following the sale of Istituto Marangoni; in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350.