Private Education Loans - Schedule of Information Regarding Changes in Allowance for Loan Losses (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016		Mar. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Provision for loan losses	$ 1,878		$ 1,244
PEAKS Trust Student Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	21,816		42,353
Loans charged off	(6,907)		(4,061)
Recoveries from charged off loans	730		501
Provision for loan losses	1,483		803
Balance at end of period	17,122		39,596
CUSO Student Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	1,796		2,039
Loans charged off	0		0
Recoveries from charged off loans	0		0
Provision for loan losses	616	[1]	441
Balance at end of period	$ 2,412		$ 2,480

[1] The provision for loan losses was reduced by $221 for recoveries from CUSO Student Loans that were not recognized on our consolidated balance sheet at the time of the CUSO Consolidation.