Segment Reporting - Summary Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 167,625	$ 203,484	$ 549,137	$ 647,326
Percentage of total revenue		100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (706)	$ (43,989)	$ 23,563	$ (88,239)
Total Assets	[1]	551,473		551,473		$ 610,915
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[1]	8,810		8,810		9,065
University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 139,463	$ 136,121	$ 426,746	$ 412,512
Percentage of total revenue		83.20%	66.90%	77.70%	63.70%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 21,777	$ 20,311	$ 79,729	$ 61,477
Total Assets	[1]	127,216		127,216		129,664
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue			39		117
Operating (Loss) Income		(5,587)	(8,040)	(17,160)	(20,936)
Total Assets	[1]	332,902		332,902		372,405
Subtotal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 139,463	$ 136,160	$ 426,746	$ 412,629
Percentage of total revenue		83.20%	66.90%	77.70%	63.70%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ 16,190	$ 12,271	$ 62,569	$ 40,541
Total Assets	[1]	460,118		460,118		502,069
Culinary Arts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	$ 21,369	$ 41,410	$ 89,990	$ 128,170
Percentage of total revenue	[2]	12.70%	20.40%	16.40%	19.80%
Operating (Loss) Income	[2]	$ (1,801)	$ (33,195)	$ 1,666	$ (43,512)
Total Assets	[1]	61,425		61,425		71,197
Transitional Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 6,793	$ 25,914	$ 32,401	$ 106,527
Percentage of total revenue		4.10%	12.70%	5.90%	16.50%
Operating (Loss) Income		$ (15,095)	$ (23,065)	$ (40,672)	$ (85,268)
Total Assets	[1]	21,120		21,120		28,584
CTU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[3]	$ 90,921	$ 85,433	$ 274,623	$ 256,734
Percentage of total revenue	[3]	54.20%	42.00%	50.00%	39.70%
Operating (Loss) Income	[3]	$ 21,486	$ 18,616	$ 70,693	$ 57,495
Total Assets	[1]	73,695		73,695		76,577
AIU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[4]	$ 48,542	$ 50,688	$ 152,123	$ 155,778
Percentage of total revenue	[4]	29.00%	24.90%	27.70%	24.10%
Operating (Loss) Income	[4]	$ 291	$ 1,695	$ 9,036	$ 3,982
Total Assets	[1]	$ 53,521		$ 53,521		$ 53,087

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

[2] The prior year quarter and year to date included $33.4 million and $43.1 million of asset impairment charges, respectively.

[3] Bad debt increased approximately 2.0% and 2.3% as a percentage of revenue for the quarter and year to date ended September 30, 2016 as compared to the respective prior periods, primarily driven by students who are experiencing a greater time lag while completing the financial aid application process due to increased verification procedures implemented by ED.

[4] Bad debt remained relatively flat as a percentage of revenue for the quarter and increased approximately 1.1% as a percentage of revenue for the year to date ended September 30, 2016 as compared to the respective prior periods, primarily driven by students who are experiencing a greater time lag while completing the financial aid application process due to increased verification procedures implemented by ED.