CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 961,783	$ 1,072,311	$ 1,286,633
Costs and expenses:
Cost of educational services	460,782	486,353	538,350
Student services and administrative expenses	389,116	397,541	400,856
Goodwill and asset impairment	2,454	0	15,166
Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters	32,008	6,923	873
Loss related to loan program guarantees	2,019	90,964	101,025
Provision for private education loan losses	14,150	29,349	0
Total costs and expenses	900,529	1,011,130	1,056,270
Operating income	61,254	61,181	230,363
Gain (loss) on consolidation of variable interest entities	16,631	(73,248)	0
Interest income	65	108	1,348
Interest (expense)	(28,300)	(25,277)	(3,723)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	49,650	(37,236)	227,988
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	20,397	(10,212)	89,018
Net income (loss)	$ 29,253	$ (27,024)	$ 138,970
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 1.25	$ (1.15)	$ 5.82
Diluted	$ 1.23	$ (1.15)	$ 5.79
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	23,474	23,412	23,880
Diluted	23,762	23,412	23,999