Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,644,164
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(346,452)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,297,712
Acquisitions	39,360
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,111)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,682,413
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(346,452)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,335,961
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,128,699
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	797,548
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,111)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,127,588
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	796,437
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	583,424
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	583,424
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(1,182)
Goodwill, ending balance	582,242
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	582,242
Education [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	174,564
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(111,324)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	63,240
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	174,564
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(111,324)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	63,240
Education [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	166,920
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	64,661
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	166,920
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	64,661
Education [Member] | Professional (U.S.) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,791
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	86,223
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	71
Goodwill, ending balance	203,862
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	86,294
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	190,815
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	190,815
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	190,815
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	190,815
Healthcare [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	69,626
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	69,626
Acquisitions	239
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	69,865
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	69,865
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	255,024
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(15,301)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	239,723
Acquisitions	39,121
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	294,145
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(15,301)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 278,844