Revenue - Schedule of Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 791,678	$ 992,403	$ 1,320,235	$ 1,593,475
Percent of net revenues	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 963,933	$ 1,192,684	$ 1,593,440	$ 1,911,783
Percent of net revenues	122.00%	120.00%	121.00%	120.00%
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 42,217	$ 60,636	$ 97,746	$ 119,345
Percent of net revenues	5.00%	6.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,006,150	$ 1,253,320	$ 1,691,186	$ 2,031,128
Percent of net revenues	127.00%	126.00%	128.00%	127.00%
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 214,472	$ 260,917	$ 370,951	$ 437,653
Percent of net revenues	(27.00%)	(26.00%)	(28.00%)	(27.00%)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 118,519	$ 197,106	$ 202,200	$ 307,074
Operating Segments | Brazil | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	212,674	333,758	367,818	535,013
Operating Segments | Brazil | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	511	2,442	2,494	4,367
Operating Segments | Brazil | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	213,185	336,200	370,312	539,380
Operating Segments | Brazil | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	94,666	139,094	168,112	232,306
Operating Segments | Mexico
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	114,864	162,455	269,071	318,919
Operating Segments | Mexico | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	136,408	178,088	300,573	342,890
Operating Segments | Mexico | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	12,137	21,166	39,354	47,662
Operating Segments | Mexico | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	148,545	199,254	339,927	390,552
Operating Segments | Mexico | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	33,681	36,799	70,856	71,633
Operating Segments | Andean
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	345,867	422,994	435,375	561,937
Operating Segments | Andean | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	384,171	448,971	473,431	586,374
Operating Segments | Andean | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,520	22,764	25,213	38,610
Operating Segments | Andean | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	397,691	471,735	498,644	624,984
Operating Segments | Andean | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	51,824	48,741	63,269	63,047
Operating Segments | Rest of World
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	62,559	51,186	106,135	84,618
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	69,657	54,277	116,237	88,866
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,356	1,997	3,126	3,941
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	71,013	56,274	119,363	92,807
Operating Segments | Rest of World | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	8,454	5,088	13,228	8,189
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	148,885	159,715	305,390	321,489
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	161,023	177,590	335,381	358,640
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	13,709	13,320	25,495	25,327
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	174,732	190,910	360,876	383,967
Operating Segments | Online & Partnerships | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	25,847	31,195	55,486	62,478
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	984	(1,053)	2,064	(562)
Corporate | Tuition and educational services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	984	(1,053)	2,064	(562)
Corporate | Gross revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	984	(1,053)	2,064	(562)
Corporate | Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0