Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 claims	Feb. 13, 2013 Jajdelski case [Member] allegations	Jan. 28, 2013 EEOC case against KHEC in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 KHE's Broomall, PA location [Member] programs	Jul. 22, 2011 KHE's Broomall, PA location [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Higher Education [Member] OPEIDnumbers	Dec. 31, 2011 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Various KHE campus locations and Kaplan University [Member] programs	Dec. 31, 2012 Kaplan University [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kaplan University [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Education [Member] cases	Dec. 31, 2012 Other OPEID units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other OPEID units [Member]
Number of existing legal claims or proceedings that are likely to have a material effect on the Company's business	0
Amount payable under agreement					$ 1.6
Number of unsealed cases filed by former employees under the U.S. Federal False Claims Act												4
Number of allegations not dismissed		1
Amount of time EEOC has to file an appeal			60 days
Amount of OPEID numbers						30
DOE regulations for unearned Title IV funds	These funds must be returned in a timely manner, generally within 45 days of the date the school determines that the student has withdrawn. Under DOE regulations, failure to make timely returns of Title IV program funds for 5% or more of students sampled in a school’s annual compliance audit could result in a requirement that the school post a letter of credit in an amount equal to 25% of its prior-year returns of Title IV program funds.
Education division revenue derived from financial aid received by students under Title IV programs						$ 882	$ 1,110	$ 1,460
Number of pending DOE program reviews				1					4
Portion of regulations under 90/10 rule	a KHE school would lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs for a period of at least two fiscal years if the institution derives more than 90% of its receipts from Title IV programs, as calculated on a cash basis in accordance with the Higher Education Act and applicable DOE regulations, in each of two consecutive fiscal years, commencing with the institution’s first fiscal year that ends after August 14, 2008. An institution with Title IV receipts exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year ending after August 14, 2008, will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures.
Percentage of Title IV revenue received from largest OPEID reporting unit						65.00%
Percentage of receipts derived from Title IV										less than 80%	less than 82%		71% and 88%	between 71% and 88%
Management's estimated outcome absent proposed changes						20 of the KHE Campuses’ OPEID units, representing approximately 21% of KHE’s 2012 revenues, could have a 90/10 ratio over 90%