Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 855,933	$ 906,534
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	853,232	869,823
General and administrative expenses	65,567	47,868
Operating loss	(62,866)	(11,157)
Interest income	4,694	5,806
Interest expense	(102,633)	(103,769)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(1,515)	0
Gain (loss) on derivatives	12,147	(10,750)
Other income (expense), net	436	(41)
Foreign currency exchange gain, net	2,290	27,682
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates	(147,447)	(92,229)
Income tax benefit (expense)	27,094	(9,958)
Equity in net loss of affiliates, net of tax	0	(259)
Net loss	(120,353)	(102,446)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,454)	(721)
Net loss attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(122,807)	(103,167)
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(38,876)	1,514
Net loss available to common stockholders	$ (161,683)	$ (101,653)
Basic and diluted earnings loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (1.05)	$ (0.76)