Revenue Recognition - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Major Source (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	[1]	Jun. 30, 2019	[2]	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	[3]	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	[4]	Mar. 31, 2018	[5]	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 158,451	$ 154,959		$ 156,441		$ 157,853	$ 145,505		$ 145,690	$ 142,036		$ 148,065		$ 627,704	[6]	$ 581,296	[6]	$ 596,435	[6]
Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															595,682		557,191		573,445
Technology Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															27,256		19,150		17,966
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[7]														2,118		2,204		2,438
Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															625,056		578,545		593,849
Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[8]														2,648		2,751		2,586
University Group [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]														627,637		580,690		569,576
University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]														392,263	[9]	375,770		371,325
University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6]														235,374	[10]	204,920		198,251
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															370,318		359,929		356,091
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															225,364		196,712		190,739
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															17,844		11,560		11,175
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															9,412		7,590		6,791
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[7]														1,690		1,769		1,964
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[7]														428		416		451
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															389,852		373,258		369,230
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue															235,204		204,718		197,981
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[8]														2,411		2,512		2,095
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[8]														170		202		270
Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[6],[11],[13]														67	[12]	606	[14]	26,859	[15]
Corporate and Other [Member] | Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[13]																550		26,615
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[7],[13]																19		23
Corporate and Other [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[13]																569		26,638
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[8],[13]														$ 67		$ 37		$ 221

[1] Third quarter of 2019 net income included a $7.1 million significant legal settlement for the Oregon arbitrations matter.

[2] Second quarter of 2019 net income included a $30.0 million significant legal settlement for the FTC matter, of which $23.3 million was non-deductible for income tax purposes during the second quarter of 2019.

[3] Fourth quarter of 2018 net income included a $5.0 million significant legal settlement for the multi-state AG matter.

[4] Second quarter of 2018 net income included a $6.0 million significant legal settlement for the Surrett matter.

[5] First quarter of 2018 net income included a $3.5 million significant legal settlement for the Surrett matter.

[6] The statement of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) balances including revenue, operating income (loss), depreciation and amortization and capital expenditures are presented above on a continuing operations basis. Total assets are presented on a consolidated basis including continuing and discontinued operations and do not include intercompany receivable or payable activity between institutions and corporate and investments in subsidiaries.

[7] Other miscellaneous fees include student activity fees and graduation fees.

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

[9] CTU: a $18.6 million charge related to the FTC settlement.

[10] AIU: a $11.4 million charge related to the FTC settlement.

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

[12] Corporate and Other: a charge of $7.1 million for the Oregon arbitrations matter related to previously closed campuses.

[13] Revenue recorded within Corporate and Other relates to certain bookstore sales for the year ended December 31, 2019 and to closed campuses which are now reported within this category for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

[14] Corporate and Other: $14.6 million of charges related to significant legal settlements for the Surrett and multi-state AG matters and $9.4 million of charges related to remaining lease obligations of vacated space.

[15] Corporate and Other: $6.5 million charge related to a significant legal settlement for the Surrett matter and $14.8 million of charges related to remaining lease obligations of vacated space.