Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
|
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2013
|
Sep. 30, 2012
|
Sep. 30, 2013
|
Sep. 30, 2012
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
$ 160,237 |
$ 151,668 |
$ 476,939 |
$ 457,864 |
Interest expense |
55,315 |
66,402 |
171,800 |
203,175 |
Net interest income |
104,922 |
85,266 |
305,139 |
254,689 |
Less provision for loan losses |
(5,000) |
(5,000) |
(15,000) |
(18,000) |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
99,922 |
80,266 |
290,139 |
236,689 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
64,582 |
53,285 |
180,261 |
155,164 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
19,927 |
17,928 |
61,694 |
56,675 |
Enrollment services revenue |
22,563 |
30,661 |
76,343 |
92,035 |
Other income |
8,613 |
12,699 |
30,317 |
32,453 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
2,138 |
195 |
10,900 |
1,130 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
(9,960) |
(26,224) |
47,841 |
(61,163) |
Derivative settlements, net |
(6,688) |
(5,051) |
(23,229) |
(6,910) |
Total other income (expense) |
101,175 |
83,493 |
384,127 |
269,384 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
48,712 |
46,395 |
144,049 |
144,193 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
14,668 |
20,151 |
51,097 |
62,203 |
Depreciation and amortization |
4,340 |
8,402 |
13,037 |
24,764 |
Other |
39,887 |
29,989 |
109,193 |
93,160 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total operating expenses |
107,607 |
104,937 |
317,376 |
324,320 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
93,490 |
58,822 |
356,890 |
181,753 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
93,490 |
58,822 |
356,890 |
181,753 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(30,444) |
(21,870) |
(123,637) |
(59,978) |
Net income (loss) |
63,046 |
36,952 |
233,253 |
121,775 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
216 |
124 |
1,101 |
412 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
62,830 |
36,828 |
232,152 |
121,363 |
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
10 |
12 |
29 |
44 |
Interest expense |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income |
10 |
12 |
29 |
44 |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
10 |
12 |
29 |
44 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
64,582 |
53,285 |
180,261 |
155,164 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
13,519 |
15,855 |
42,375 |
49,210 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Enrollment services revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative settlements, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other income (expense) |
78,101 |
69,140 |
222,636 |
204,374 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
29,719 |
27,716 |
86,254 |
85,663 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Depreciation and amortization |
2,677 |
4,691 |
8,197 |
13,629 |
Other |
19,752 |
16,775 |
56,173 |
52,980 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
1,457 |
1,262 |
3,243 |
3,832 |
Total operating expenses |
53,605 |
50,444 |
153,867 |
156,104 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
24,506 |
18,708 |
68,798 |
48,314 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
(1,822) |
(1,337) |
(4,332) |
(4,115) |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
22,684 |
17,371 |
64,466 |
44,199 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(8,620) |
(6,601) |
(24,498) |
(16,796) |
Net income (loss) |
14,064 |
10,770 |
39,968 |
27,403 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
14,064 |
10,770 |
39,968 |
27,403 |
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
0 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
Interest expense |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income |
0 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
0 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
19,927 |
17,928 |
61,694 |
56,675 |
Enrollment services revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative settlements, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other income (expense) |
19,927 |
17,928 |
61,694 |
56,675 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
9,229 |
8,578 |
28,015 |
25,771 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Depreciation and amortization |
1,117 |
1,703 |
3,387 |
5,174 |
Other |
1,908 |
2,285 |
6,387 |
7,557 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
1,431 |
1,379 |
4,350 |
4,042 |
Total operating expenses |
13,685 |
13,945 |
42,139 |
42,544 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
6,242 |
3,986 |
19,555 |
14,139 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
(607) |
(446) |
(1,443) |
(1,372) |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
5,635 |
3,540 |
18,112 |
12,767 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(2,141) |
(1,345) |
(6,882) |
(4,851) |
Net income (loss) |
3,494 |
2,195 |
11,230 |
7,916 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
3,494 |
2,195 |
11,230 |
7,916 |
Enrollment Services [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Interest expense |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Enrollment services revenue |
22,563 |
30,661 |
76,343 |
92,035 |
Other income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative settlements, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other income (expense) |
22,563 |
30,661 |
76,343 |
92,035 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
4,491 |
5,147 |
15,067 |
17,587 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
14,668 |
20,151 |
51,097 |
62,203 |
Depreciation and amortization |
57 |
1,633 |
179 |
4,867 |
Other |
1,556 |
1,782 |
4,450 |
5,483 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
1,139 |
1,000 |
3,418 |
2,824 |
Total operating expenses |
21,911 |
29,713 |
74,211 |
92,964 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
652 |
948 |
2,132 |
(929) |
Corporate overhead allocation |
(607) |
(446) |
(1,443) |
(1,372) |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
45 |
502 |
689 |
(2,301) |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(17) |
(191) |
(261) |
874 |
Net income (loss) |
28 |
311 |
428 |
(1,427) |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
28 |
311 |
428 |
(1,427) |
Total Fee-Based [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
10 |
15 |
29 |
52 |
Interest expense |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income |
10 |
15 |
29 |
52 |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
10 |
15 |
29 |
52 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
64,582 |
53,285 |
180,261 |
155,164 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
13,519 |
15,855 |
42,375 |
49,210 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
19,927 |
17,928 |
61,694 |
56,675 |
Enrollment services revenue |
22,563 |
30,661 |
76,343 |
92,035 |
Other income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative settlements, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other income (expense) |
120,591 |
117,729 |
360,673 |
353,084 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
43,439 |
41,441 |
129,336 |
129,021 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
14,668 |
20,151 |
51,097 |
62,203 |
Depreciation and amortization |
3,851 |
8,027 |
11,763 |
23,670 |
Other |
23,216 |
20,842 |
67,010 |
66,020 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
4,027 |
3,641 |
11,011 |
10,698 |
Total operating expenses |
89,201 |
94,102 |
270,217 |
291,612 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
31,400 |
23,642 |
90,485 |
61,524 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
(3,036) |
(2,229) |
(7,218) |
(6,859) |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
28,364 |
21,413 |
83,267 |
54,665 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(10,778) |
(8,137) |
(31,641) |
(20,773) |
Net income (loss) |
17,586 |
13,276 |
51,626 |
33,892 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
17,586 |
13,276 |
51,626 |
33,892 |
Asset Generation and Management [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
158,793 |
150,661 |
472,622 |
455,413 |
Interest expense |
56,100 |
64,829 |
170,502 |
199,675 |
Net interest income |
102,693 |
85,832 |
302,120 |
255,738 |
Less provision for loan losses |
(5,000) |
(5,000) |
(15,000) |
(18,000) |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
97,693 |
80,832 |
287,120 |
237,738 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Enrollment services revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income |
3,981 |
5,834 |
11,207 |
14,415 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
2,138 |
195 |
10,900 |
1,130 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
(12,660) |
(30,694) |
35,711 |
(62,351) |
Derivative settlements, net |
(6,432) |
(4,319) |
(21,816) |
(5,431) |
Total other income (expense) |
(12,973) |
(28,984) |
36,002 |
(52,237) |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
555 |
462 |
1,709 |
1,723 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Depreciation and amortization |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other |
7,939 |
3,451 |
23,375 |
10,203 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
13,705 |
16,064 |
42,955 |
49,842 |
Total operating expenses |
22,199 |
19,977 |
68,039 |
61,768 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
62,521 |
31,871 |
255,083 |
123,733 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
(1,302) |
(909) |
(3,095) |
(3,701) |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
61,219 |
30,962 |
251,988 |
120,032 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(23,263) |
(11,765) |
(95,755) |
(45,610) |
Net income (loss) |
37,956 |
19,197 |
156,233 |
74,422 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
37,956 |
19,197 |
156,233 |
74,422 |
Corporate Activity and Overhead [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
2,201 |
1,891 |
6,708 |
5,226 |
Interest expense |
(18) |
2,472 |
3,718 |
6,327 |
Net interest income |
2,219 |
(581) |
2,990 |
(1,101) |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
2,219 |
(581) |
2,990 |
(1,101) |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Enrollment services revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income |
4,632 |
6,865 |
19,110 |
18,038 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
2,700 |
4,470 |
12,130 |
1,188 |
Derivative settlements, net |
(256) |
(732) |
(1,413) |
(1,479) |
Total other income (expense) |
7,076 |
10,603 |
29,827 |
17,747 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
4,718 |
4,492 |
13,004 |
13,449 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Depreciation and amortization |
489 |
375 |
1,274 |
1,094 |
Other |
8,732 |
5,696 |
18,808 |
16,937 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
(4,213) |
(3,850) |
(11,591) |
(11,330) |
Total operating expenses |
9,726 |
6,713 |
21,495 |
20,150 |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
(431) |
3,309 |
11,322 |
(3,504) |
Corporate overhead allocation |
4,338 |
3,138 |
10,313 |
10,560 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
3,907 |
6,447 |
21,635 |
7,056 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
3,597 |
(1,968) |
3,759 |
6,405 |
Net income (loss) |
7,504 |
4,479 |
25,394 |
13,461 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
216 |
124 |
1,101 |
412 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
7,288 |
4,355 |
24,293 |
13,049 |
Eliminations [Member]
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
(767) |
(899) |
(2,420) |
(2,827) |
Interest expense |
(767) |
(899) |
(2,420) |
(2,827) |
Net interest income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Less provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment servicing revenue |
(13,519) |
(15,855) |
(42,375) |
(49,210) |
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Enrollment services revenue |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other income |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derivative settlements, net |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other income (expense) |
(13,519) |
(15,855) |
(42,375) |
(49,210) |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cost to provide enrollment services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Depreciation and amortization |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Intersegment expenses, net |
(13,519) |
(15,855) |
(42,375) |
(49,210) |
Total operating expenses |
(13,519) |
(15,855) |
(42,375) |
(49,210) |
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Corporate overhead allocation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |