Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,001,802	$ 1,017,196	$ 1,623,598	$ 1,649,412
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,202,084	$ 1,202,671	$ 1,940,673	$ 1,941,607
Percent of net revenues	120.00%	118.00%	120.00%	118.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 60,634	$ 55,886	$ 120,578	$ 114,106
Percent of net revenues	6.00%	5.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,262,718	$ 1,258,557	$ 2,061,251	$ 2,055,713
Percent of net revenues	126.00%	124.00%	127.00%	125.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 260,916	$ 241,361	$ 437,653	$ 406,301
Percent of net revenues	(26.00%)	(24.00%)	(27.00%)	(25.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 197,106	$ 225,599	$ 307,074	$ 348,391
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	333,758	343,171	535,013	545,274
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,443	2,842	4,367	5,703
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	336,201	346,013	539,380	550,977
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	139,095	120,414	232,306	202,586
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	162,455	159,645	318,919	315,543
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	178,088	174,964	342,890	341,274
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	21,167	19,951	47,662	45,229
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	199,255	194,915	390,552	386,503
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	36,800	35,270	71,633	70,960
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	422,994	409,546	561,937	544,600
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	448,971	441,053	586,374	577,016
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	22,762	21,386	38,610	36,929
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	471,733	462,439	624,984	613,945
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	48,739	52,893	63,047	69,345
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	60,585	61,341	114,741	113,615
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	63,677	63,110	117,756	116,425
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,996	3,047	5,174	5,236
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	65,673	66,157	122,930	121,661
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,088	4,816	8,189	8,046
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	159,715	164,955	321,489	332,986
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	177,590	180,373	358,640	361,618
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,319	12,550	25,327	26,732
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	190,909	192,923	383,967	388,350
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	31,194	27,968	62,478	55,364
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,053)	(3,890)	(562)	(5,723)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,053)	(3,890)	(562)	(5,723)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,053)	(3,890)	(562)	(5,723)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0