CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 214,231	$ 238,096	$ 444,206	$ 476,019
Costs and expenses:
Cost of educational services	101,865	116,276	205,418	236,391
Student services and administrative expenses	91,408	97,547	181,660	196,785
Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters	6,005	8,380	13,291	13,927
Provision for private education loan losses	3,313	9,071	4,557	9,071
Total costs and expenses	202,591	231,274	404,926	456,174
Operating income	11,640	6,822	39,280	19,845
Interest income	22	15	35	34
Interest (expense)	(9,991)	(6,263)	(20,379)	(13,164)
Income before provision for income taxes	1,671	574	18,936	6,715
Provision for income taxes	955	182	7,773	2,701
Net income	$ 716	$ 392	$ 11,163	$ 4,014
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.47	$ 0.17
Diluted	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.47	$ 0.17
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	23,621	23,459	23,591	23,453
Diluted	24,086	23,785	23,953	23,815