Revenue Recognition - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Major Source (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 157,853	$ 148,065
Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		150,848	142,196
Technology Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		5,827	4,714
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	553	600
Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		157,228	147,510
Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	625	555
University Group [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		157,836	147,728
University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		97,057	94,607
University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		60,779	53,121
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		92,618	90,734
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		58,230	51,131
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		3,449	2,874
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		2,378	1,840
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	424	500
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	129	100
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		96,491	94,108
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		60,737	53,071
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	566	499
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	42	50
Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[3],[4]	17	337
Corporate and Other [Member] | Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4]		331
Corporate and Other [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4]		331
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2],[4]	$ 17	$ 6

[1] Other miscellaneous fees include graduation fees and activity fees.

[2] Other revenue primarily includes contract training revenue and bookstore and laptop sales.

[3] Corporate and Other includes results of operations for closed campuses.

[4] Revenue recorded within Corporate and Other relates to closed campuses which are now reported within this category