Student Receivables - Changes in Current and Non-Current Receivables Allowance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
Balance, Beginning of Period	$ 39,044	$ 30,730	$ 31,964	$ 24,836
Beginning balance related to business acquisition			2,174
Provision for credit losses	11,519	8,888	36,706	32,042
Amounts Written-off	(10,479)	(11,202)	(32,213)	(29,888)
Recoveries	637	581	2,090	2,007
Balance, End of Period	$ 40,721	$ 28,997	$ 40,721	$ 28,997

Amount of increase in allowance for credit loss on student receivable, from recovery.

No definition available.

Name:	prdo_AllowanceForCreditLossReceivableRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	prdo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of direct write-downs of student receivable charged against the allowance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	prdo_AllowanceForCreditLossReceivableWriteOffs
Namespace Prefix:	prdo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Allowance for Credit Loss balance related to business acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	prdo_ContractWithCustomerReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossRelatedToBusinessAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	prdo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit loss for right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right to consideration is unconditional.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556615&loc=SL49130534-203044

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599878&loc=SL82895884-210446

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerReceivableAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense (reversal of expense) for expected credit loss on accounts receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121599337&loc=SL82919249-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration