Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended |
6 Months Ended |
|
Jun. 30, 2017 |
Jun. 30, 2016 |
Jun. 30, 2017 |
Jun. 30, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
$ 193,077
|
$ 186,252
|
$ 376,901
|
$ 378,269
|
|
Interest expense |
113,236
|
94,052
|
220,135
|
184,460
|
|
Net interest income |
79,841
|
92,200
|
156,766
|
193,809
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
(2,000)
|
(2,000)
|
(3,000)
|
(4,500)
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
77,841
|
90,200
|
153,766
|
189,309
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
56,899
|
54,402
|
111,128
|
106,732
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
34,224
|
30,483
|
77,844
|
69,140
|
|
Communications revenue |
5,719
|
4,478
|
10,826
|
8,824
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
4,326
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
442
|
0
|
5,421
|
101
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
(363)
|
(5,495)
|
(1,741)
|
(12,031)
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
(27,547)
|
(35,207)
|
(31,000)
|
(57,361)
|
|
Other income |
12,485
|
9,765
|
25,118
|
23,559
|
|
Total other income |
81,859
|
58,426
|
197,596
|
143,290
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
74,628
|
60,923
|
146,491
|
124,165
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
9,038
|
8,183
|
17,636
|
15,823
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
5,620
|
7,216
|
11,645
|
14,144
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
2,203
|
1,681
|
4,157
|
3,384
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
3,623
|
|
Other expenses |
27,528
|
29,409
|
54,075
|
57,783
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total operating expenses |
119,017
|
107,412
|
234,004
|
218,922
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
40,683
|
41,214
|
117,358
|
113,677
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(16,032)
|
(15,036)
|
(44,787)
|
(39,469)
|
|
Net income (loss) |
24,651
|
26,178
|
72,571
|
74,208
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
4,086
|
(28)
|
6,192
|
(97)
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
28,737
|
26,150
|
78,763
|
74,111
|
|
Total assets |
25,323,087
|
28,715,798
|
25,323,087
|
28,715,798
|
$ 27,180,108
|
Loan Systems and Servicing [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
120
|
22
|
214
|
43
|
|
Interest expense |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income |
120
|
22
|
214
|
43
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
120
|
22
|
214
|
43
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
56,899
|
54,402
|
111,128
|
106,732
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
9,952
|
11,408
|
20,275
|
23,415
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
66,851
|
65,810
|
131,403
|
130,147
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
40,506
|
31,380
|
78,497
|
64,346
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
546
|
445
|
1,095
|
883
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
8,879
|
11,380
|
18,015
|
22,850
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
8,324
|
6,102
|
15,722
|
12,343
|
|
Total operating expenses |
58,255
|
49,307
|
113,329
|
100,422
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
8,716
|
16,525
|
18,288
|
29,768
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(4,918)
|
(6,280)
|
(9,473)
|
(11,312)
|
|
Net income (loss) |
3,798
|
10,245
|
8,815
|
18,456
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
4,226
|
0
|
6,641
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
8,024
|
10,245
|
15,456
|
18,456
|
|
Total assets |
99,841
|
71,403
|
99,841
|
71,403
|
|
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
3
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
|
Interest expense |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income |
3
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
3
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
34,224
|
30,483
|
77,844
|
69,140
|
|
Communications revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
34,224
|
30,483
|
77,844
|
69,140
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
16,901
|
15,444
|
33,553
|
29,880
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
2,346
|
2,511
|
4,737
|
4,782
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
4,853
|
4,815
|
9,847
|
8,973
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
2,136
|
1,562
|
4,210
|
3,074
|
|
Total operating expenses |
26,236
|
24,332
|
52,347
|
46,709
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
7,991
|
6,154
|
25,502
|
22,436
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(3,037)
|
(2,338)
|
(9,690)
|
(8,526)
|
|
Net income (loss) |
4,954
|
3,816
|
15,812
|
13,910
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
4,954
|
3,816
|
15,812
|
13,910
|
|
Total assets |
230,145
|
230,308
|
230,145
|
230,308
|
|
Communications [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
Interest expense |
1,104
|
205
|
1,816
|
352
|
|
Net interest income |
(1,103)
|
(205)
|
(1,815)
|
(352)
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
(1,103)
|
(205)
|
(1,815)
|
(352)
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications revenue |
5,719
|
4,478
|
10,826
|
8,824
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
5,719
|
4,478
|
10,826
|
8,824
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
3,411
|
1,377
|
6,390
|
2,467
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
2,600
|
1,378
|
4,735
|
2,507
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
2,203
|
1,681
|
4,157
|
3,384
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
1,772
|
813
|
3,144
|
1,566
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
496
|
187
|
1,002
|
331
|
|
Total operating expenses |
10,482
|
5,436
|
19,428
|
10,255
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
(5,866)
|
(1,163)
|
(10,417)
|
(1,783)
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
2,229
|
442
|
3,959
|
678
|
|
Net income (loss) |
(3,637)
|
(721)
|
(6,458)
|
(1,105)
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
(3,637)
|
(721)
|
(6,458)
|
(1,105)
|
|
Total assets |
150,809
|
78,578
|
150,809
|
78,578
|
|
Asset Generation and Management [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
191,367
|
184,966
|
373,692
|
375,689
|
|
Interest expense |
113,073
|
92,769
|
219,824
|
182,647
|
|
Net interest income |
78,294
|
92,197
|
153,868
|
193,042
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
(2,000)
|
(2,000)
|
(3,000)
|
(4,500)
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
76,294
|
90,197
|
150,868
|
188,542
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
442
|
0
|
981
|
101
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
(165)
|
(5,264)
|
(1,339)
|
(11,568)
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
(27,412)
|
(31,411)
|
(30,823)
|
(51,308)
|
|
Other income |
3,057
|
3,834
|
6,399
|
8,097
|
|
Total other income |
(24,078)
|
(32,841)
|
(24,782)
|
(54,678)
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
363
|
499
|
763
|
1,018
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
5,620
|
7,216
|
11,645
|
14,144
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
1,827
|
1,481
|
2,819
|
2,997
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
10,043
|
11,539
|
20,455
|
23,646
|
|
Total operating expenses |
17,853
|
20,735
|
35,682
|
41,805
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
34,363
|
36,621
|
90,404
|
92,059
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(13,057)
|
(13,916)
|
(34,354)
|
(34,983)
|
|
Net income (loss) |
21,306
|
22,705
|
56,050
|
57,076
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
21,306
|
22,705
|
56,050
|
57,076
|
|
Total assets |
24,433,881
|
27,856,952
|
24,433,881
|
27,856,952
|
|
Corporate and Other Activities [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
3,362
|
2,064
|
6,123
|
4,157
|
|
Interest expense |
835
|
1,881
|
1,630
|
3,087
|
|
Net interest income |
2,527
|
183
|
4,493
|
1,070
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
2,527
|
183
|
4,493
|
1,070
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
4,326
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
0
|
0
|
4,440
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
(198)
|
(231)
|
(402)
|
(463)
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
(135)
|
(3,797)
|
(177)
|
(6,053)
|
|
Other income |
9,429
|
5,931
|
18,719
|
15,462
|
|
Total other income |
9,096
|
1,903
|
22,580
|
13,272
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
13,447
|
12,222
|
27,287
|
26,454
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
3,547
|
3,848
|
7,069
|
7,650
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
3,623
|
|
Other expenses |
10,195
|
10,920
|
20,249
|
21,397
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
(11,046)
|
(7,981)
|
(21,114)
|
(15,978)
|
|
Total operating expenses |
16,143
|
19,009
|
33,491
|
43,146
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
(4,520)
|
(16,923)
|
(6,418)
|
(28,804)
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
2,751
|
7,057
|
4,772
|
14,674
|
|
Net income (loss) |
(1,769)
|
(9,866)
|
(1,646)
|
(14,130)
|
|
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(141)
|
(28)
|
(450)
|
(97)
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
(1,910)
|
(9,894)
|
(2,096)
|
(14,227)
|
|
Total assets |
684,840
|
730,122
|
684,840
|
730,122
|
|
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
(1,776)
|
(802)
|
(3,135)
|
(1,625)
|
|
Interest expense |
(1,776)
|
(802)
|
(3,135)
|
(1,625)
|
|
Net interest income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income (loss) after provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Loan systems and servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
(9,952)
|
(11,408)
|
(20,275)
|
(23,415)
|
|
Tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Enrollment services revenue |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Gain from debt repurchases |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
(9,952)
|
(11,408)
|
(20,275)
|
(23,415)
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing fees |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide communications services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost to provide enrollment services |
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
(9,952)
|
(11,408)
|
(20,275)
|
(23,415)
|
|
Total operating expenses |
(9,952)
|
(11,408)
|
(20,275)
|
(23,415)
|
|
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 (Loss) Attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total assets |
$ (276,429)
|
$ (251,565)
|
$ (276,429)
|
$ (251,565)
|
|