CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 238,096	$ 260,459	$ 476,019	$ 545,521
Costs and expenses:
Cost of educational services	116,276	123,541	236,391	247,717
Student services and administrative expenses	97,547	98,335	196,785	200,056
Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters	8,380	213	13,927	1,713
Loss related to loan program guarantees	0	0	0	3,803
Provision for PEAKS Trust student loan losses	9,071	4,319	9,071	4,319
Total costs and expenses	231,274	226,408	456,174	457,608
Operating income	6,822	34,051	19,845	87,913
(Loss) on consolidation of PEAKS Trust	0	0	0	(73,248)
Interest income	15	25	34	59
Interest (expense)	(7,211)	(7,369)	(19,023)	(10,943)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(374)	26,707	856	3,781
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(222)	6,503	249	849
Net income (loss)	$ (152)	$ 20,204	$ 607	$ 2,932
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.86	$ 0.03	$ 0.13
Diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.86	$ 0.03	$ 0.12
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	23,459	23,414	23,453	23,406
Diluted	23,459	23,550	23,651	23,516