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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of dividends on Series A Preferred Stock		$ 11,103	$ 0
Laureate Somed Education Holdings SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent		60.00%
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent		40.00%
Series A Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of dividends on Series A Preferred Stock		$ 11,103	$ 0
Affiliated Entity \| Transactions between Laureate and Noncontrolling Interest Holder of Laureate Somed Education Holding SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related party				$ 8,953
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| KKR
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)	60
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| Snow Phipps
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)	15
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| KKR And Snow Phipps
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividends declared and paid		$ 1,822