Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				$ 1,377,255			$ 1,481,489	$ 1,377,255
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(359,742)			(358,535)	(359,742)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				1,017,513			1,122,954	1,017,513
Measurement period adjustment								(20,024)
Acquisitions							143,149	184,118
Impairment	$ (1,603)	$ 0	$ 0	0			(7,616)	(1,603)
Dispositions							(412)	(2,800)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							41,635	(54,250)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,481,489				$ 1,377,255		1,665,861	1,481,489
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(358,535)				(359,742)		(366,151)	(358,535)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,122,954				1,017,513		1,299,710	1,122,954
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				1,006,096			1,111,003	1,006,096
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(350,850)			(350,850)	(350,850)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				655,246			760,153	655,246
Measurement period adjustment								(2,781)
Acquisitions							19,174	161,938
Impairment							0	0
Dispositions							0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							41,635	(54,250)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,111,003				1,006,096		1,171,812	1,111,003
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(350,850)				(350,850)		(350,850)	(350,850)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	760,153				655,246		820,962	760,153
Education [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				392,457			389,720	392,457
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(248,591)			(248,591)	(248,591)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				143,866			141,129	143,866
Measurement period adjustment								(2,781)
Acquisitions							0	0
Impairment						$ (248,600)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							133	44
Goodwill, ending balance	389,720				392,457		389,853	389,720
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(248,591)				(248,591)		(248,591)	(248,591)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	141,129				143,866		141,262	141,129
Education [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				166,098			166,098	166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(102,259)			(102,259)	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				63,839			63,839	63,839
Measurement period adjustment								0
Acquisitions							0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	166,098				166,098		166,098	166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)				(102,259)		(102,259)	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	63,839				63,839		63,839	63,839
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				447,541			555,185	447,541
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				0			0	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				447,541			555,185	447,541
Measurement period adjustment								0
Acquisitions							19,174	161,938
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							41,502	(54,294)
Goodwill, ending balance	555,185				447,541		615,861	555,185
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0				0		0	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	555,185				447,541		615,861	555,185
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				168,345			168,345	168,345
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				0			0	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				168,345			168,345	168,345
Measurement period adjustment								0
Acquisitions							22,470	0
Impairment							0	0
Dispositions							0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	168,345				168,345		190,815	168,345
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0				0		0	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	168,345				168,345		190,815	168,345
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance				202,814			202,141	202,814
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance				(8,892)			(7,685)	(8,892)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance				$ 193,922			194,456	193,922
Measurement period adjustment								(17,243)
Acquisitions							101,505	22,180
Impairment	(1,600)				(2,800)		(7,616)	(1,603)
Dispositions							(412)	(2,800)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes							0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	202,141				202,814		303,234	202,141
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(7,685)				(8,892)		(15,301)	(7,685)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 194,456				$ 193,922		$ 287,933	$ 194,456