Gross amount of advances made to a third party.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amounts related to election under risk-sharing agreements to discharge guarantee obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Discount Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	esi_DiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payments made under the Guarantee related to the PEAKS Program.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Liability in excess of asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Liability In Excess Of Asset At Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The imputed interest rate on a non-interest bearing note receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	esi_NotesAndLoansReceivableImputedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maturity date for note receivable held by the reporting entity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	esi_NotesReceivableMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Installments To Repay Loan

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	esi_NumberOfInstallmentsToRepayLoan
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

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

- Definition

An 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 more than one year from the balance sheet date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt 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. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The gain (loss) recognized on initial consolidation of a variable interest entity (VIE) when the VIE is not a business (as defined).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2014	Mar. 20, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Imputed interest rate									9.00%
Subordinated Note, maturity date									2026-03
Impairment charge	$ 2,454us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges								$ 2,454us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	$ 15,166us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Gain (loss) on consolidation	0	16,631	0	0	0	0	0	(73,248)	16,631	(73,248)	0
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers									1,832esi_PaymentsOnBehalfOfBorrowers	11,499esi_PaymentsOnBehalfOfBorrowers
Offset amounts under Revolving Note									0	8,472
Carrying value of Revolving note	80,292				76,479				80,292	76,479
PEAKS Trust [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Impairment charge											10,300
Gain (loss) on consolidation								(73,248)
Payments on Behalf of Borrowers												1,832
Carrying value of Revolving note	59,902				76,479				59,902	76,479					104,834
PEAKS Trust [Member] \| 2014 Payment [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Prepayment of Senior debt													40,000
PEAKS Trust [Member] \| Fair Value [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of liabilities exceeded assets															112,748
PEAKS Trust [Member] \| Carrying Value [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Reduction in excess of increase in fair value of liabilities over assets															39,500
CUSO [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Impairment charge														4,900
Gain (loss) on consolidation									16,631
Number of monthly payments									10
Discount rate									10.00%
Recoveries from charged-off loans									475	574
Offset amounts under Revolving Note										8,472
Amounts relating to discharge payments										6,786
Revolving note, amount owned to company	8,200				8,200				8,200	8,200
Carrying value of Revolving note	20,390	23,793			2,500				20,390	2,500
CUSO [Member] \| Fair Value [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of liabilities exceeded assets		94,970
CUSO [Member] \| Carrying Value [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of liabilities exceeded assets		$ 111,601