Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
|
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Sep. 30, 2019 |
Sep. 30, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
$ 238,945
|
$ 239,948
|
$ 736,319
|
$ 671,995
|
|
Interest expense |
172,488
|
180,175
|
551,221
|
487,174
|
|
Net interest income |
66,457
|
59,773
|
185,098
|
184,821
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
10,000
|
10,500
|
26,000
|
18,000
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
56,457
|
49,273
|
159,098
|
166,821
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
13,439
|
16,673
|
38,658
|
44,808
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
7,298
|
22,324
|
39,306
|
51,018
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
(5,630)
|
(5,226)
|
(73,265)
|
49,909
|
|
Total other income |
219,114
|
216,577
|
607,391
|
671,699
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
30,907
|
23,397
|
77,697
|
55,979
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
116,670
|
114,172
|
338,942
|
321,932
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
27,701
|
22,992
|
76,398
|
62,943
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
3,382
|
3,087
|
9,431
|
9,428
|
|
Other expenses |
54,947
|
45,194
|
138,131
|
119,020
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total operating expenses |
202,700
|
185,445
|
562,902
|
513,323
|
|
Income before income taxes |
41,964
|
57,008
|
125,890
|
269,218
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(8,829)
|
(13,882)
|
(26,429)
|
(63,369)
|
|
Net income |
33,135
|
43,126
|
99,461
|
205,849
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
77
|
(199)
|
(38)
|
438
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
33,212
|
42,927
|
99,423
|
206,287
|
|
Total assets |
23,936,719
|
25,104,925
|
23,936,719
|
25,104,925
|
$ 25,220,968
|
Operating Segments | Loan Servicing and Systems |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
532
|
381
|
1,579
|
931
|
|
Interest expense |
51
|
0
|
70
|
0
|
|
Net interest income |
481
|
381
|
1,509
|
931
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
481
|
381
|
1,509
|
931
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
11,611
|
12,290
|
35,426
|
34,670
|
|
Other income |
2,291
|
1,948
|
6,642
|
5,196
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
127,188
|
126,817
|
384,237
|
367,131
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
69,209
|
70,440
|
201,924
|
198,411
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
8,565
|
8,957
|
26,236
|
23,237
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
16,686
|
19,638
|
52,732
|
51,591
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
12,955
|
15,029
|
40,317
|
43,968
|
|
Total operating expenses |
107,415
|
114,064
|
321,209
|
317,207
|
|
Income before income taxes |
20,254
|
13,134
|
64,537
|
50,855
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(4,861)
|
(3,152)
|
(15,489)
|
(12,399)
|
|
Net income |
15,393
|
9,982
|
49,048
|
38,456
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
808
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
15,393
|
9,982
|
49,048
|
39,264
|
|
Total assets |
222,606
|
276,153
|
222,606
|
276,153
|
|
Operating Segments | Education Technology, Services, and Payment Processing |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
3,499
|
1,513
|
7,175
|
2,927
|
|
Interest expense |
12
|
3
|
32
|
3
|
|
Net interest income |
3,487
|
1,510
|
7,143
|
2,924
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
3,487
|
1,510
|
7,143
|
2,924
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
74,251
|
58,409
|
213,753
|
167,372
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
25,671
|
19,087
|
62,601
|
44,087
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
23,826
|
19,972
|
69,656
|
58,552
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
2,997
|
3,435
|
9,832
|
10,062
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
5,325
|
4,943
|
16,440
|
14,950
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
3,194
|
2,494
|
9,642
|
7,630
|
|
Total operating expenses |
35,342
|
30,844
|
105,570
|
91,194
|
|
Income before income taxes |
16,725
|
9,988
|
52,725
|
35,015
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(4,014)
|
(2,397)
|
(12,654)
|
(8,404)
|
|
Net income |
12,711
|
7,591
|
40,071
|
26,611
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
12,711
|
7,591
|
40,071
|
26,611
|
|
Total assets |
413,076
|
243,497
|
413,076
|
243,497
|
|
Operating Segments | Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
0
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
|
Interest expense |
0
|
4,174
|
0
|
9,987
|
|
Net interest income |
0
|
(4,173)
|
3
|
(9,984)
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
0
|
(4,173)
|
3
|
(9,984)
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
532
|
950
|
1,019
|
950
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
17,002
|
12,768
|
47,789
|
32,277
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
5,236
|
4,310
|
15,096
|
11,892
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
5,763
|
4,554
|
15,692
|
13,284
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
10,926
|
6,167
|
26,025
|
16,585
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
3,842
|
3,151
|
11,184
|
8,811
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
701
|
598
|
2,081
|
1,802
|
|
Total operating expenses |
21,232
|
14,470
|
54,982
|
40,482
|
|
Income before income taxes |
(9,466)
|
(10,185)
|
(22,286)
|
(30,081)
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
2,272
|
2,444
|
5,349
|
7,220
|
|
Net income |
(7,194)
|
(7,741)
|
(16,937)
|
(22,861)
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
(7,194)
|
(7,741)
|
(16,937)
|
(22,861)
|
|
Total assets |
306,743
|
271,370
|
306,743
|
271,370
|
|
Operating Segments | Asset Generation and Management |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
233,225
|
236,039
|
723,388
|
662,881
|
|
Interest expense |
171,485
|
176,874
|
544,319
|
480,729
|
|
Net interest income |
61,740
|
59,165
|
179,069
|
182,152
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
10,000
|
10,500
|
26,000
|
18,000
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
51,740
|
48,665
|
153,069
|
164,152
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
3,384
|
3,267
|
11,796
|
9,391
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
7,298
|
22,448
|
39,306
|
51,428
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
(5,630)
|
(6,056)
|
(73,265)
|
47,070
|
|
Total other income |
5,052
|
19,659
|
(22,163)
|
107,889
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
394
|
424
|
1,153
|
1,183
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
3,382
|
3,087
|
9,431
|
9,428
|
|
Other expenses |
15,672
|
845
|
19,667
|
2,982
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
11,678
|
12,378
|
35,630
|
34,943
|
|
Total operating expenses |
31,126
|
16,734
|
65,881
|
48,536
|
|
Income before income taxes |
25,666
|
51,590
|
65,025
|
223,505
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(6,160)
|
(12,381)
|
(15,606)
|
(53,641)
|
|
Net income |
19,506
|
39,209
|
49,419
|
169,864
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
19,506
|
39,209
|
49,419
|
169,864
|
|
Total assets |
22,520,688
|
23,927,156
|
22,520,688
|
23,927,156
|
|
Operating Segments | Corporate and Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
2,859
|
6,860
|
7,170
|
17,673
|
|
Interest expense |
2,110
|
3,968
|
9,796
|
8,875
|
|
Net interest income |
749
|
2,892
|
(2,626)
|
8,798
|
|
Less provision for loan losses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net interest income after provision for loan losses |
749
|
2,892
|
(2,626)
|
8,798
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other income |
7,231
|
10,508
|
19,200
|
29,272
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
(124)
|
0
|
(410)
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
0
|
830
|
0
|
2,839
|
|
Total other income |
7,231
|
11,214
|
19,200
|
31,701
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
17,479
|
18,782
|
50,517
|
50,502
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
5,212
|
4,433
|
14,305
|
13,058
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
13,422
|
16,616
|
38,107
|
40,686
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
(16,917)
|
(18,208)
|
(52,244)
|
(53,672)
|
|
Total operating expenses |
19,196
|
21,623
|
50,685
|
50,574
|
|
Income before income taxes |
(11,216)
|
(7,517)
|
(34,111)
|
(10,075)
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
3,935
|
1,604
|
11,971
|
3,855
|
|
Net income |
(7,281)
|
(5,913)
|
(22,140)
|
(6,220)
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
77
|
(199)
|
(38)
|
(371)
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
(7,204)
|
(6,112)
|
(22,178)
|
(6,591)
|
|
Total assets |
685,998
|
723,985
|
685,998
|
723,985
|
|
Eliminations |
|
|
|
|
|
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
|
Total interest income |
(1,171)
|
(4,846)
|
(2,995)
|
(12,420)
|
|
Interest expense |
(1,171)
|
(4,846)
|
(2,995)
|
(12,420)
|
|
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: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment servicing revenue |
(11,611)
|
(12,290)
|
(35,426)
|
(34,670)
|
|
Other income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative settlements, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Derivative market value adjustments, net |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total other income |
(11,611)
|
(12,290)
|
(35,426)
|
(34,670)
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing fees to third parties |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Other expenses |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Intersegment expenses, net |
(11,611)
|
(12,290)
|
(35,426)
|
(34,670)
|
|
Total operating expenses |
(11,611)
|
(12,290)
|
(35,426)
|
(34,670)
|
|
Income before income taxes |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total assets |
(212,392)
|
(337,236)
|
(212,392)
|
(337,236)
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
113,286
|
112,579
|
342,169
|
327,265
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Operating Segments | Loan Servicing and Systems |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
113,286
|
112,579
|
342,169
|
327,265
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Operating Segments | Education Technology, Services, and Payment Processing |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Operating Segments | Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Operating Segments | Asset Generation and Management |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Operating Segments | Corporate and Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Loan servicing and systems revenue | Eliminations |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
74,251
|
58,409
|
213,753
|
167,372
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
25,671
|
19,087
|
62,601
|
44,087
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Operating Segments | Loan Servicing and Systems |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Operating Segments | Education Technology, Services, and Payment Processing |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
74,251
|
58,409
|
213,753
|
167,372
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
25,671
|
19,087
|
62,601
|
44,087
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Operating Segments | Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Operating Segments | Asset Generation and Management |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Operating Segments | Corporate and Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Education technology, services, and payment processing revenue | Eliminations |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
16,470
|
11,818
|
46,770
|
31,327
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
5,236
|
4,310
|
15,096
|
11,892
|
|
Communications | Operating Segments | Loan Servicing and Systems |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications | Operating Segments | Education Technology, Services, and Payment Processing |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications | Operating Segments | Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
16,470
|
11,818
|
46,770
|
31,327
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
5,236
|
4,310
|
15,096
|
11,892
|
|
Communications | Operating Segments | Asset Generation and Management |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications | Operating Segments | Corporate and Other Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Communications | Eliminations |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income: |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Cost of services: |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of services |
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
|