Commitments and Contingencies - Activity With Respect to Claims and Contingencies (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Claims and contingencies, Balance at beginning of period	$ 125,880	$ 125,880	$ 126,978
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers		(1,832)	(11,499)
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		15,574	125,880
PEAKS Trust [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers	(1,832)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		161,087	11,118
CUSO [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Elimination of intercompany transactions		4,583	0
CUSO 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	90,964
Payments, net		(9,139)	(2,600)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		(114,861)	0
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		0	116,923
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		36,634	18,768
Payments, net		(29,542)	(14,730)
Claims and contingencies, Balance at end of period		15,574	8,957
PEAKS Program Guarantee [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments, net		(159,255)	(1,005)
Elimination of intercompany transactions		0	(46,114)
2007 RSA [Member]
Schedule of Claims and Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments, net		$ 0	$ (46,000)