Business Segments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended										3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 segments	Dec. 31, 2012 Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Education [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Education [Member] campus	Dec. 31, 2012 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Higher Education [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Test Preparation [Member]	Jan. 02, 2011 Test Preparation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Test Preparation [Member] Severance and other closure costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Test Preparation [Member] Lease and severance obligations and accelerated depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Test Preparation [Member] Lease and severance obligations and accelerated depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kaplan International [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kaplan International [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Kaplan International [Member] Related to certain items recorded in 2011 and 2010 [Member]
Number of reportable segments	7
Restructuring costs						$ 23,400,000	$ 13,200,000	$ 9,300,000	$ 12,500,000	$ 18,200,000	$ 7,800,000	$ 12,500,000	$ 10,400,000	$ 16,400,000	$ 1,000,000
Number of campuses announced to close or consolidate					13
Accrued restructuring costs		17,600,000	10,500,000
Prior periods adjustments																3,900,000
Foreign Revenues		644,000,000	594,000,000	507,000,000
Foreign long-lived assets		$ 58,000,000	$ 71,000,000
Number Of Television Broadcast Stations	6