Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 983,394	$ 929,855	$ 3,116,766	$ 3,068,299
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	924,091	864,203	2,719,569	2,697,820
General and administrative expenses	64,999	53,150	221,909	158,566
Operating (loss) income	(5,696)	12,502	175,288	211,913
Interest income	5,840	3,437	14,994	13,305
Interest expense	(76,454)	(104,781)	(278,049)	(314,383)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(15,682)	(8,425)	(17,363)
Gain (loss) on derivatives	(19,930)	516	19,187	(8,235)
Other expense, net	(718)	353	(667)	(964)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	7,327	26,329	(109)	80,263
Gain (loss) on sales of subsidiaries, net	0	155,151	(172)	398,412
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	(89,631)	77,825	(77,953)	362,948
Income tax (expense) benefit	(13,859)	3,105	(28,793)	(35,246)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax			1	20
Net (loss) income	(103,490)	80,930	(106,745)	327,722
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,531	5,387	2,365	2,817
Net (loss) income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(97,959)	86,317	(104,380)	330,539
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(84,060)	2,160	(192,141)	3,233
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ (182,019)	$ 88,477	$ (296,521)	$ 333,772
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (1.02)	$ 0.66	$ (1.77)	$ 2.50
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (1.02)	$ 0.66	$ (1.77)	$ 2.49