Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments | Segment	4
Loans disbursed under credit agreement secured by cash, percentage	100.00%
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 10.0	$ 49.8
Certificates of deposit, at carrying value	8.6	10.4
Securitization of letters of credit	1.4	1.4
Restricted cash for securitization		38.0
Costs of other goods and services included in educational services and facilities expense	12.9	20.0	$ 26.0
Advertising costs	154.9	$ 220.5	$ 253.0
Title IV Programs [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Student fund portion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short term investments	$ 3.5
Minimum [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of days past due to write off student receivables	90 days
Maximum [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maturity period of cash equivalents including short-term investments	90 days
Student Loans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Student receivables period	1 year
Student Loans [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Student receivables period	1 year
Student Loans [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Current Assets [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Student receivables period	1 year
Student Loans [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Student receivables period	4 years
Cash Receipts [Member] | Credit Concentration Risk [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of cash receipts from Title IV Program funding	76.00%	77.00%	78.00%