Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		$ 1,481,489
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		(358,535)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		1,122,954
Acquisitions		138,000
Impairment		(7,616)
Dispositions		(412)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		26,968
Goodwill, ending balance		1,646,045
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		(366,151)
Goodwill, net, ending balance		1,279,894
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		1,111,003
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		(350,850)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		760,153
Acquisitions		18,986
Impairment		0
Dispositions		0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		26,968
Goodwill, ending balance		1,156,957
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		(350,850)
Goodwill, net, ending balance		806,107
Education [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		389,720
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		(248,591)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		141,129
Acquisitions		0
Impairment	$ (248,600)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		70
Goodwill, ending balance		389,790
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		(248,591)
Goodwill, net, ending balance		141,199
Education [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		63,839
Acquisitions		0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		0
Goodwill, ending balance		166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance		63,839
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		555,185
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		555,185
Acquisitions		18,986
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		26,898
Goodwill, ending balance		601,069
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		0
Goodwill, net, ending balance		601,069
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		168,345
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		168,345
Acquisitions		24,256
Impairment		0
Dispositions		0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		0
Goodwill, ending balance		192,601
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		0
Goodwill, net, ending balance		192,601
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance		202,141
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance		(7,685)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance		194,456
Acquisitions		94,758
Impairment		(7,616)
Dispositions		(412)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		0
Goodwill, ending balance		296,487
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance		(15,301)
Goodwill, net, ending balance		$ 281,186