Segment Reporting - Summary Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 198,886	$ 227,014
Percentage of total revenue		100.00%	100.00%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 6,979	$ (24,358)
Total Assets	[1]	550,236		$ 610,915
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	8,976		9,065
University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 144,939	$ 138,193
Percentage of total revenue		72.90%	60.90%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 21,144	$ 11,729
Total Assets	[1]	$ 127,411		129,664
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			$ 39
Percentage of total revenue		0.00%	0.00%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (5,812)	$ (5,860)
Total Assets	[1]	320,554		372,405
Subtotal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 144,939	$ 138,232
Percentage of total revenue		72.90%	60.90%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 15,332	$ 5,869
Total Assets	[1]	447,965		502,069
Culinary Arts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 38,623	$ 44,712
Percentage of total revenue		19.40%	19.70%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 3,106	$ 243
Total Assets	[1]	67,948		71,197
Transitional Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 15,324	$ 44,070
Percentage of total revenue		7.70%	19.40%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (11,459)	$ (30,470)
Total Assets	[1]	25,347		28,584
CTU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	$ 91,966	$ 85,127
Percentage of total revenue	[2]	46.20%	37.50%
Operating (Loss) Income	[2]	$ 19,237	$ 14,616
Total Assets	[1]	72,164		76,577
AIU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 52,973	$ 53,066
Percentage of total revenue		26.60%	23.40%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 1,907	$ (2,887)
Total Assets	[1]	$ 55,247		$ 53,087

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

[2] First quarter of 2016 operating income included an adjustment of $2.4 million related to increased bad debt expense for a specific group of students. These students are experiencing greater time lags while completing the financial aid application process due to increased verification procedures implemented by ED, thus management updated its estimates regarding collectability.