Revenue - Schedule of Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 773,699	$ 778,255	$ 2,367,174	$ 2,397,762
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 909,545	$ 897,438	$ 2,821,327	$ 2,809,930
Percent of net revenues	118.00%	115.00%	119.00%	117.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 66,292	$ 60,819	$ 185,638	$ 174,136
Percent of net revenues	9.00%	8.00%	8.00%	7.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 975,837	$ 958,257	$ 3,006,965	$ 2,984,066
Percent of net revenues	126.00%	123.00%	127.00%	124.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 202,138	$ 180,002	$ 639,791	$ 586,304
Percent of net revenues	(26.00%)	(23.00%)	(27.00%)	(24.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 114,055	$ 121,089	$ 421,129	$ 469,480
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	200,876	196,670	735,889	741,945
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	2,384	2,272	6,751	7,974
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	203,260	198,942	742,640	749,919
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	89,205	77,853	321,511	280,439
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	145,790	148,325	464,709	463,868
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	156,123	158,602	499,013	499,876
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	27,539	23,676	75,201	68,905
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	183,662	182,278	574,214	568,781
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	37,872	33,953	109,505	104,913
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	307,270	299,613	869,207	844,213
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	322,918	312,274	909,292	889,290
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	23,767	22,594	62,377	59,523
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	346,685	334,868	971,669	948,813
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	39,415	35,255	102,462	104,600
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	52,585	47,701	137,204	131,412
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	56,277	49,829	145,143	137,138
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,720	2,204	5,662	6,652
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	57,997	52,033	150,805	143,790
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,412	4,332	13,601	12,378
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	155,501	165,221	476,991	498,207
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	173,351	180,063	531,990	541,681
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	12,384	13,767	37,713	40,500
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	185,735	193,830	569,703	582,181
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	30,234	28,609	92,712	83,974
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,502)	(3,694)	(2,066)	(9,418)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,502)	(3,694)	(2,066)	(9,418)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,502)	(3,694)	(2,066)	(9,418)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0