Revenue Recognition - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Major Source (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 156,441	$ 142,036	$ 314,294	$ 290,101
University Group [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		156,428	141,845	314,264	289,573
University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	96,555	93,266	193,612	187,873
University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	59,873	48,579	120,652	101,700
Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[3],[4]	13	191	30	528
Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		148,244	136,105	299,092	278,301
Tuition [Member] | University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		90,903	89,291	183,521	180,025
Tuition [Member] | University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		57,341	46,654	115,571	97,785
Tuition [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4]		160		491
Technology Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		6,981	4,641	12,808	9,355
Technology Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		4,590	2,857	8,039	5,731
Technology Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		2,391	1,784	4,769	3,624
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[5]	554	598	1,107	1,198
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[5]	463	489	887	989
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[5]	91	90	220	190
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4],[5]		19		19
Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		155,779	141,344	313,007	288,854
Tuition and Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		95,956	92,637	192,447	186,745
Tuition and Fees [Member] | University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		59,823	48,528	120,560	101,599
Tuition and Fees [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4]		179		510
Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]	662	692	1,287	1,247
Other [Member] | University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]	599	629	1,165	1,128
Other [Member] | University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]	50	51	92	101
Other [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[4],[6]	$ 13	$ 12	$ 30	$ 18

[1] A reserve of $18.6 million was recorded within CTU related to the FTC settlement during the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

[2] A reserve of $11.4 million was recorded within AIU related to the FTC settlement during the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

[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.

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

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