Variable Interest Entities - Schedule of Revenue and Expenses of PEAKS Trust (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Student services and administrative expenses	$ 99,238	$ 101,721
Interest expense	11,812	3,574
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	1,230	(22,926)
PEAKS Trust [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	3,133	1,360
Student services and administrative expenses	1,416	519
Interest expense	11,017	2,422
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	$ (9,300)	$ (1,581)