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

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.

No definition available.

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

The amount of payments made to satisfy guarantee obligations under the PEAKS Program with respect to the minimum required Asset/Liability Ratio.

No definition available.

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

The amount of funds maintained in a restricted bank account to secure a guarantee obligation.

No definition available.

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

The amount of outstanding principal owed under a debt agreement.

No definition available.

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

Decrease in guarantee obligations regular payments.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_DecreaseInGuaranteeObligationsRegularPayments
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Deferred payment obligation accrued interest rate.

No definition available.

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

The total amount of the contingent obligation under the ED Letter of Credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

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

The amount of recoveries of PEAKS Guarantee Payments estimated to be received by the reporting entity from the PEAKS Trust.

No definition available.

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

Payments made to third parties to discharge outstanding balances under guarantee obligations.

No definition available.

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

Total amount paid during the period for guarantee obligations, net of amounts recovered.

No definition available.

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

Regular Payments made to third parties under guarantee obligations.

No definition available.

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

Payments made under the Guarantee related to the PEAKS Program.

No definition available.

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

Total estimated initial principal balance of the loans subject to the reporting entity's guarantee.

No definition available.

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

Date on which a letter of credit will terminate.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_LetterOfCreditTerminationDate
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum potential payments that entity could be required to reimburse issuer of surety bonds in the event that the issuer is required to make payment.

No definition available.

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

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

No definition available.

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

The period of time over which the contingency liability is estimated which approximates the repayment period of the private education loans.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_PeriodOfEstimateAndLoans
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The potential increase in the amount of funds required to be maintained in a restricted bank account to secure a guarantee obligation if certain covenants are not met.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_PotentialIncreaseToCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Recoveries from charged off loans owed related to regular payments obligation.

No definition available.

Name:	esi_RecoveriesFromChargedOffLoansOwedRelatedToRegularPaymentsObligation
Namespace Prefix:	esi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Recoveries of loans previously charged off.

No definition available.

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

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

No definition available.

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

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Amount of payments made reducing loss contingency liability.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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

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. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note 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. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

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

No definition available.

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

The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit of a position taken for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount thereof will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=esi_RevolvingNoteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=esi_LetterOfCreditIssuedToInsurersAndAgenciesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=esi_CusoProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=esi_PeaksGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=esi_LetterOfAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=esi_CusoRiskShareAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=esi_PeaksSeniorDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=esi_FourthAmendmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=esi_FifthAmendmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=esi_SixthAmendmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreationDateAxis=esi_PeriodFromAprilOneTwoThousandFifteenThroughDecemberThirtyOneTwoThousandFifteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreationDateAxis=esi_Year2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreationDateAxis=esi_Year2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_CreationDateAxis=esi_Year2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: