Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (621,796)	$ (632,216)
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (738,589)	$ (738,937)
Percent of net revenues	118.00%	117.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (59,945)	$ (58,217)
Percent of net revenues	10.00%	9.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (798,534)	$ (797,154)
Percent of net revenues	128.00%	126.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (176,738)	$ (164,938)
Percent of net revenues	(28.00%)	(26.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (109,969)	$ (122,792)
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(201,254)	(202,103)
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,926)	(2,859)
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(203,180)	(204,962)
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(93,211)	(82,170)
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(156,464)	(155,899)
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(164,802)	(166,310)
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(26,496)	(25,279)
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(191,298)	(191,589)
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(34,834)	(35,690)
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(138,942)	(135,054)
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(137,403)	(135,964)
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(15,847)	(15,542)
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(153,250)	(151,506)
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(14,308)	(16,452)
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(54,156)	(52,274)
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(54,080)	(53,315)
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,177)	(2,189)
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(57,257)	(55,504)
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(3,101)	(3,230)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(161,774)	(168,031)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(181,050)	(181,245)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(12,008)	(14,182)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(193,058)	(195,427)
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(31,284)	(27,396)
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(491)	1,834
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(491)	1,834
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(491)	1,834
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0