Goodwill And Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended																	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 01, 2006	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Curriculum and programs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Curriculum and programs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Curriculum and programs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Student contracts, application and relationships [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Student contracts, application and relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Student contracts, application and relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Favorable leases and other [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Favorable leases and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Favorable leases and other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Tradename-Art Institute [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Tradename-Art Institute [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Tradename-Art Institute [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Licensing, accreditation and Title IV program participation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Licensing, accreditation and Title IV program participation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Licensing, accreditation and Title IV program participation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 The Art Institutes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 The Art Institutes [Member] Rate	Mar. 31, 2013 The Art Institutes [Member] Rate	Jun. 30, 2013 Argosy University [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 South University [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reporting Unit, Percentage of Fair Value in Excess of Carrying Amount																									10.00%	15.00%
Indefinte-lived Intangible Assets, Licenses and Accreditations							1 year	10 years
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance			$ 669,090	$ 963,550	$ 963,550	$ 2,600,000																		$ 861,619			$ 63,445	$ 38,486
Goodwill impairment					294,460																			(294,460)			0	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	669,090	963,550	669,090	963,550	669,090	2,600,000																		567,159			63,445	38,486
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount - Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets																		190,000	190,000	218,000	95,862	95,862	95,862
Gross Carrying Amount - Finite-Lived Intangible Assets									45,315	43,575	41,172	39,511	39,511	39,511	19,403	19,424	19,435
Gross Carrying Amount - Intangible Assets, Net	390,091	413,980	390,091	413,980	388,372
Accumulated Amortization	(90,112)	(84,619)	(90,112)	(84,619)	(87,937)				(33,800)	(32,596)	(30,392)	(37,937)	(37,381)	(36,826)	(18,375)	(17,960)	(17,401)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	1,500	1,600	3,017	3,159
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
2014 (remainder)	2,882		2,882
2015	5,266		5,266
2016	3,910		3,910
2017	2,008		2,008
2018	$ 51		$ 51