Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 885,288	$ 855,933
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	865,446	853,232
General and administrative expenses	47,301	65,567
Operating loss	(27,459)	(62,866)
Interest income	6,129	4,694
Interest expense	(69,465)	(102,633)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(7,481)	(1,515)
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(19,340)	12,147
Other income, net	2,406	436
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(8,754)	2,290
Gain on sales of subsidiaries, net	298,041	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	174,077	(147,447)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,532)	27,094
Net income (loss)	171,545	(120,353)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,666)	(2,454)
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	168,879	(122,807)
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(57,403)	(38,876)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 111,476	$ (161,683)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ (1.05)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ (1.05)