CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 229,975	$ 237,923
Costs and expenses:
Cost of educational services	103,553	120,115
Student services and administrative expenses	90,252	99,238
Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters	7,286	5,547
Provision for private education loan losses	1,244	0
Total costs and expenses	202,335	224,900
Operating income	27,640	13,023
Interest income	13	19
Interest (expense)	(10,388)	(11,812)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	17,265	1,230
Provision for income taxes	6,818	471
Net income	$ 10,447	$ 759
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.44	$ 0.03
Diluted	$ 0.44	$ 0.03
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	23,560	23,447
Diluted	23,819	23,844