Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (includes VIE amounts of $231,940 and $169,074, see Note 2)	$ 468,733	$ 464,965
Restricted cash and investments	224,934	189,319
Receivables:
Accounts and notes receivable	535,176	494,646
Other receivables	20,676	23,758
Related party receivables	875	6,931
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(198,802)	(190,499)
Receivables, net	357,925	334,836
Income tax receivable	41,178	29,447
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	93,461	97,234
Current assets held for sale	102,623	0
Total current assets (includes VIE amounts of $407,315 and $322,210, see Note 2)	1,288,854	1,115,801
Notes receivable, net	4,116	61,157
Property and equipment:
Land	397,153	396,821
Buildings	1,026,656	1,219,783
Furniture, equipment and software	1,188,211	1,160,350
Leasehold improvements	423,658	399,555
Construction in-progress	84,520	103,205
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,185,294)	(1,128,081)
Property and equipment, net	1,934,904	2,151,633
Land use rights, net	2,713	45,275
Goodwill	1,954,666	1,934,464
Other intangible assets:
Tradenames	1,295,614	1,307,633
Other intangible assets, net	35,927	46,700
Deferred costs, net	64,128	57,748
Deferred income taxes	156,006	142,130
Derivative instruments	48,186	4,464
Other assets	214,218	195,465
Long-term assets held for sale	392,391	0
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,419,579 and $1,309,113, see Note 2)	7,391,723	7,062,470
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	79,568	86,699
Accrued expenses	291,216	368,973
Accrued compensation and benefits	247,575	239,495
Deferred revenue and student deposits	312,422	362,891
Current portion of long-term debt	154,234	178,989
Current portion of due to shareholders of acquired companies	40,140	118,679
Income taxes payable	29,857	30,371
Derivative instruments	4,458	5,218
Other current liabilities	38,560	48,917
Current liabilities held for sale	176,719	0
Total current liabilities (includes VIE amounts of $341,147 and $320,922, see Note 2)	1,374,749	1,440,232
Long-term debt, less current portion	3,207,064	3,629,375
Due to shareholders of acquired companies, less current portion	39,429	92,269
Deferred compensation	14,470	14,128
Income taxes payable	112,576	135,140
Deferred income taxes	278,215	452,084
Derivative instruments	9,390	7,750
Other long-term liabilities	260,144	270,267
Long-term liabilities held for sale	94,407	0
Total liabilities (includes VIE amounts of $449,561 and $424,297, see Note 2)	5,390,444	6,041,245
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share – 49,488 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	0	0
Common stock	0	534
Additional paid-in capital	3,446,206	2,721,432
Accumulated deficit	(946,236)	(1,037,701)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(925,556)	(1,052,055)
Total Laureate Education, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,575,164	632,210
Noncontrolling interests	12,118	32,182
Total stockholders' equity	1,587,282	664,392
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	7,391,723	7,062,470
Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	400,276	332,957
Puttable Arrangements - Common and Preferred Stock
Current liabilities:
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	13,721	23,876
Class A Common Stock
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	220	0
Class B Common Stock
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 530	$ 0