Commitments and Contingencies - Activity With Respect to Claims and Contingencies (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims and contingencies, Balance at beginning of period	$ 125,880	$ 126,074	$ 38,725	$ 125,880	$ 126,978
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers		0	(2,502)	(1,832)	(7,647)
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		14,494	44,860	14,494	44,860
PEAKS Trust [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers	(1,832)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		52,517	2,560	96,150	6,835
2009 RSA [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims and contingencies, Balance at beginning of period	116,923			116,923
Additional accruals		2,019	4,826	2,019	8,629
Payments, net		(1,809)	(458)	(4,556)	(738)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		(114,861)	0	(114,861)	0
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		0	36,535	0	36,535
Other claims and contingencies [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims and contingencies, Balance at beginning of period	8,957			8,957
Additional accruals		11,603	5,484	27,816	12,415
Payments, net		(8,532)	(3,717)	(21,804)	(8,924)
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		14,494	8,325	14,494	8,325
PEAKS Program Guarantee [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments, net		(52,517)	(58)	(94,318)	(574)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		0	0	0	(46,114)
2007 RSA [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments, net		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (46,000)