Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 787,102	$ 2,436,514
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 905,377	$ 2,846,984
Percent of net revenues	115.00%	117.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 61,727	$ 175,834
Percent of net revenues	8.00%	7.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 967,104	$ 3,022,818
Percent of net revenues	123.00%	124.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (180,002)	$ (586,304)
Percent of net revenues	(23.00%)	(24.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 121,089	$ 469,480
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	196,670	741,945
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,272	7,974
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	198,942	749,919
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(77,853)	(280,439)
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	148,325	463,868
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	158,602	499,876
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	23,676	68,905
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	182,278	568,781
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(33,953)	(104,913)
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	299,613	844,213
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	312,274	889,290
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	22,594	59,523
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	334,868	948,813
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(35,255)	(104,600)
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	56,548	170,164
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	57,768	174,192
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	3,112	8,350
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	60,880	182,542
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(4,332)	(12,378)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	165,221	498,207
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	180,063	541,681
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,767	40,500
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	193,830	582,181
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(28,609)	(83,974)
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,694)	(9,418)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,694)	(9,418)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,694)	(9,418)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0