Segment Reporting - Summary Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 174,780	$ 186,172	$ 357,082	$ 384,326
Percentage of total revenue		100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (9,332)	$ (11,251)	$ (33,933)	$ (33,200)
Total Assets	[1]	490,376		490,376		$ 573,534
CTU [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 86,174	$ 85,041	$ 171,301	$ 171,961
Percentage of total revenue		49.30%	45.70%	48.00%	44.70%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 24,263	$ 20,957	$ 38,879	$ 35,438
Total Assets	[1]	74,449		74,449		73,458
AIU [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 52,024	$ 49,685	$ 105,090	$ 102,258
Percentage of total revenue		29.80%	26.70%	29.40%	26.60%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 5,174	$ (1,331)	$ 2,287	$ (4,914)
Total Assets	[1]	53,071		53,071		51,755
University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 138,198	$ 134,726	$ 276,391	$ 274,219
Percentage of total revenue		79.10%	72.40%	77.40%	71.40%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 29,437	$ 19,626	$ 41,166	$ 30,524
Total Assets	[1]	127,520		127,520		125,213
Transitional Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 36,543	$ 51,408	$ 80,613	$ 109,969
Percentage of total revenue		20.90%	27.60%	22.60%	28.60%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (31,733)	$ (25,364)	$ (62,203)	$ (47,075)
Total Assets	[1]	21,123		21,123		37,355
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 39	$ 38	$ 78	$ 138
Percentage of total revenue		0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (7,036)	$ (5,513)	$ (12,896)	$ (16,649)
Total Assets	[1]	274,059		274,059		332,672
Subtotal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	422,702		422,702		495,240
Assets Held for Sale [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	66,541		66,541		76,846
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	$ 1,133		$ 1,133		$ 1,448

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