Name:	esi_AmountOfOffsetToRepay
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amounts due a third-party under risk-sharing agreements, net of recoveries, that have been claimed as an offset against a Note Receivable from the third party.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_AmountsClaimedAsOffsetsAgainstNoteReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of payments made to satisfy guarantee obligations under the PEAKS Program with respect to the minimum required Asset/Liability Ratio.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_AssetLiabilityRatioGuaranteePaymentsRelatedToPEAKSProgram
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of funds maintained in a restricted bank account to secure a guarantee obligation.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_CollateralMaintainedInRestrictedBankAccount
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of outstanding principal owed under a debt agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_DebtOutstandingPrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The total amount of the contingent obligation under the ED Letter of Credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_EDLetterOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The estimated amount of guarantee obligation payments to be made at a future date.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_EstimatedFutureGuaranteeObligationsDischargePaymentsFuturePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Estimated future guarantee obligations regular payments.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_EstimatedFutureGuaranteeObligationsRegularPayments
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

An estimate of the potential decrease in unrecognized tax benefits that could occur in the future resulting from resolutions of examinations with taxing authorities.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_EstimatedPotentialUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromTaxExaminations
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of recoveries of PEAKS Guarantee Payments estimated to be received by the reporting entity from the PEAKS Trust.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_FutureRecoveryOfPEAKSGuaranteePayments
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Payments made to third parties to discharge outstanding balances under guarantee obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_GuaranteeObligationsDischargePayments
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Total amount paid during the period for guarantee obligations, net of amounts recovered.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_GuaranteeObligationsPaymentsNetOfRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Regular Payments made to third parties under guarantee obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_GuaranteeObligationsRegularPayments
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Payments made under the Guarantee related to the PEAKS Program.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_GuaranteePaymentsRelatedToPEAKSProgram
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Total estimated initial principal balance of the loans subject to the reporting entity's guarantee.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_GuarantorObligationsInitialPrincipalOfLoansSubjectToGuarantee
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Date on which a letter of credit will terminate.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_LetterOfCreditTerminationDate
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum potential payments that entity could be required to reimburse issuer of surety bonds in the event that the issuer is required to make payment.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_OffBalanceSheetObligationSuretyBond
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Payments made on behalf of borrowers related to the PEAKS Program.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_PaymentsOnBehalfOfBorrowers
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The period of time over which the contingency liability is estimated which approximates the repayment period of the private education loans.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_PeriodOfEstimateAndLoans
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The potential increase in the amount of funds required to be maintained in a restricted bank account to secure a guarantee obligation if certain covenants are not met.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_PotentialIncreaseToCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Recoveries From Charged Off Loans Owed Related To Regular Payments Obligation

No definition available.

Name:	esi_RecoveriesFromChargedOffLoansOwedRelatedToRegularPaymentsObligation
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Recoveries of loans previously charged off.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_RecoveriesOfLoansPreviouslyChargedOff
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount the entity agreed to pay to settle obligations under an agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_SettlementPayment
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph 3

-Article 9

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The cash inflow from loans reinstated and recovered that were previously deemed uncollectible.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromRecoveriesOfLoanPreviouslyChargedOff
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=esi_TwoThousandNineEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=esi_RevolvingNoteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=esi_PeaksSeniorDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=esi_PeaksGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=esi_TwoThousandNineRiskShareAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=esi_EducationLoanUnderTwoThousandNineLoanProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=esi_FutureYearPeriodOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=esi_FutureYearPeriodThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: