Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments	6
Revenue	$ 434,137,000	[1]	$ 531,700,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	46,631,000	[1]	108,875,000	[1]
Total Assets	1,279,260,000	[1],[2]			1,316,120,000	[1],[2]
Insurance recovery related to the settlement of claims under certain insurance policies	19,000,000		7,000,000
Gain on sale of real estate			1,400,000
CTU [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	99,915,000	[1]	118,065,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	19,045,000	[1]	36,288,000	[1]
Total Assets	73,709,000	[1],[2]			74,648,000	[1],[2]
AIU [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	88,940,000	[1]	104,274,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	14,661,000	[1]	27,617,000	[1]
Total Assets	70,566,000	[1],[2]			73,090,000	[1],[2]
Health Education [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	91,225,000	[1]	116,309,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	(11,844,000)	[1]	11,630,000	[1]
Total Assets	136,796,000	[1],[2]			149,444,000	[1],[2]
Culinary Arts [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	63,546,000	[1]	91,773,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	(8,000)	[1]	13,767,000	[1]
Total Assets	209,541,000	[1],[2]			215,318,000	[1],[2]
Art & Design [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	47,668,000	[1]	64,600,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	(889,000)	[1]	10,395,000	[1]
Total Assets	84,834,000	[1],[2]			88,869,000	[1],[2]
International [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	42,829,000	[1]	36,815,000	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	13,125,000	[1]	9,755,000	[1]
Total Assets	276,820,000	[1],[2]			277,140,000	[1],[2]
Corporate And Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	14,000	[1],[3]	(136,000)	[1],[3]
Operating Income (Loss)	12,541,000	[1],[3]	(577,000)	[1],[3]
Total Assets	406,686,000	[1],[2]			417,182,000	[1],[2]
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 20,308,000	[1],[2]			$ 20,429,000	[1],[2]

[1] Revenue and operating income (loss) are presented above on a continuing operation basis. Total assets are presented on a consolidated basis with continuing and discontinued operations.

[2] Total assets do not include the following intercompany activity: receivable or payable activity between schools and corporate and investments in subsidiaries.

[3] The first quarter of 2012 operating income includes a $19.0 million insurance recovery related to the settlement of claims under certain insurance policies. The first quarter of 2011 operating loss includes a $7.0 million insurance recovery related to previously settled legal matters and a $1.4 million gain on the sale of real estate.