CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 191,499	$ 229,975
Costs and expenses:
Cost of educational services	92,631	103,553
Student services and administrative expenses	77,899	90,252
Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters	4,871	7,286
Provision for private education loan losses	1,878	1,244
Total costs and expenses	177,279	202,335
Operating income	14,220	27,640
Interest income	68	13
Interest (expense)	(7,099)	(10,388)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	7,189	17,265
Provision for income taxes	3,082	6,818
Net income	$ 4,107	$ 10,447
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.17	$ 0.44
Diluted	$ 0.17	$ 0.44
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	23,742	23,560
Diluted	23,856	23,819