Revenue - Schedule of Revenue by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 3,250,326	$ 3,290,213
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 3,865,224	$ 3,837,883
Percent of net revenues	119.00%	117.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 261,798	$ 251,210
Percent of net revenues	8.00%	7.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 4,127,022	$ 4,089,093
Percent of net revenues	127.00%	124.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 876,696	$ 798,880
Percent of net revenues	(27.00%)	(24.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 578,449	$ 654,300
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	997,130	1,024,019
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	9,935	11,585
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,007,065	1,035,604
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	428,616	381,304
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	652,846	646,134
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	715,817	701,223
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	101,224	99,015
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	817,041	800,238
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	164,195	154,104
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,189,701	1,155,691
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,242,508	1,202,944
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	87,479	85,519
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,329,987	1,288,463
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	140,286	132,772
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	190,136	177,995
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	201,806	186,049
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	7,934	8,725
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	209,740	194,774
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	19,604	16,779
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	634,125	664,226
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	707,963	723,648
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	50,157	54,499
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	758,120	778,147
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	123,995	113,921
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,069	(8,133)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,069	(8,133)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	5,069	(8,133)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0