Restatement of Previously Issued Unaudited Financial Statements - Summary of Table Sets Forth the Effect of Consolidation and Correction of Errors on Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 20,204	$ 45,941	$ 2,932	$ 32,384	$ 106,586
Provision for doubtful accounts	14,924	13,434	30,229		24,088
Deferred income taxes	1,484	(6,490)	(13,899)		(10,714)
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	4,319	0	4,319		0
Loss on consolidation of PEAKS Trust	0	0	73,248		0
Restricted cash	874	842	(638)		485
Accounts receivable	(34,543)	(33,006)	(77,228)		(50,527)
PEAKS Trust student loans	3,392	0	4,579		0
Other operating assets and liabilities	(2,121)	(14,875)	(8,032)		8,761
Net cash flows from operating activities	8,802	(37,826)	(35,113)		(1,842)
Repayment of PEAKS Trust senior debt	(661)	0	(661)		0
Net cash flows from financing activities	(30,664)	(82,792)	(21,032)		(201,415)
PEAKS Trust Student Loans [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	(4,104)	0	(5,464)		0
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	4,319		4,319
Loss on consolidation of PEAKS Trust			73,248
PEAKS Trust senior debt [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	1,381	0	2,033		0
As Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	20,859	46,002	51,989		107,073
Provision for doubtful accounts	19,038	19,006	38,923		34,607
Deferred income taxes	3,123	(6,334)	16,334		(10,076)
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	0		0
Loss on consolidation of PEAKS Trust	0		0
Restricted cash	(57)	372	(175)		1,377
Accounts receivable	(38,037)	(38,270)	(84,686)		(60,176)
PEAKS Trust student loans	0		0
Other operating assets and liabilities	311	15,400	(11,004)		(6,766)
Net cash flows from operating activities	7,607	(38,296)	(35,811)		(950)
Repayment of PEAKS Trust senior debt	0		0
Net cash flows from financing activities	(30,003)		(20,371)
As Previously Reported [Member] | PEAKS Trust Student Loans [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	0		0
As Previously Reported [Member] | PEAKS Trust senior debt [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	0		0
Consolidation of PEAKS Trust [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(1,036)	(61)	(49,607)		(487)
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	(5,572)	0		(10,599)
Deferred income taxes	(1,639)	(156)	(26,902)		(638)
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	4,319		4,319
Loss on consolidation of PEAKS Trust	0		73,248
Restricted cash	397	470	(500)		(892)
Accounts receivable	0	5,264	0		9,649
PEAKS Trust student loans	3,392		4,579
Other operating assets and liabilities	2,049	(525)	(509)		(1,995)
Net cash flows from operating activities	661	470	661		(892)
Repayment of PEAKS Trust senior debt	(661)		(661)
Net cash flows from financing activities	(661)		(661)
Consolidation of PEAKS Trust [Member] | PEAKS Trust Student Loans [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	(4,104)		(5,464)
Consolidation of PEAKS Trust [Member] | PEAKS Trust senior debt [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	1,381		2,033
Other Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	381	45,941	550		106,586
Provision for doubtful accounts	(4,114)	13,434	(8,694)		24,008
Deferred income taxes	0	6,490	(3,331)		(10,714)
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	0		0
Loss on consolidation of PEAKS Trust	0		0
Restricted cash	534	842	37		485
Accounts receivable	3,494	(33,006)	7,458		(50,527)
PEAKS Trust student loans	0		0
Other operating assets and liabilities	(239)	14,875	3,482		(8,761)
Net cash flows from operating activities	534	(37,826)	0		(1,842)
Repayment of PEAKS Trust senior debt	0		0
Net cash flows from financing activities	0		0
Other Adjustments [Member] | PEAKS Trust Student Loans [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	0		0
Other Adjustments [Member] | PEAKS Trust senior debt [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Revision [Line Items]
Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust	$ 0		$ 0