Variable Interest Entities - Schedule of Revenue and Expenses of CUSO (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Student services and administrative expenses	$ 77,899	$ 90,252
Provision for private education loan losses	1,878	1,244
Interest expense	7,099	10,388
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	7,189	17,265
CUSO [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	1,082	1,064
Student services and administrative expenses	360	396
Provision for private education loan losses	395	441
Interest expense	3,167	3,641
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	$ (2,840)	$ (3,414)