Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Changes In Carrying Amount Of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011 CTU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 CTU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 CTU [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 AIU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 AIU [Member]		Mar. 31, 2011 AIU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Health Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Health Education [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Culinary Arts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Culinary Arts [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Art & Design [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Art & Design [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 International [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] CTU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] AIU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] Health Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] Culinary Arts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] Art & Design [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 IUM [Member] International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Everblue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Everblue [Member] Art & Design [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 374,587	$ 370,292	[1]	$ 46,200	$ 46,148	$ 46,148	[1]	$ 41,418	$ 41,418	[1]	$ 41,400	$ 136,610	$ 136,610	[1]	$ 73,748	$ 75,148	[1]	$ 32,626	[1]	$ 41,479	$ 44,037	$ 38,342	[1]
Goodwill impairment	(168,697)	(1,400)		(200)	(210)			0				(94,739)			(73,748)	(1,400)
Acquisition																								8,360						8,360	8,853	8,853
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes	(2,117)	(2,665)																			(2,117)	(2,665)
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 212,626	$ 374,587			$ 45,938	$ 46,148		$ 41,418	$ 41,418		$ 41,400	$ 41,871	$ 136,610			$ 73,748		$ 32,626		$ 41,479	$ 41,920	$ 44,037

[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.