Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 1,130,808	$ 1,235,837	$ 3,279,050	$ 3,610,901
Costs and expenses:
Instructional and student advisory	470,112	458,145	1,356,409	1,335,601
Marketing	158,881	161,034	483,980	484,392
Admissions advisory	95,290	99,923	298,083	315,958
General and administrative	88,084	87,857	252,028	257,075
Depreciation and amortization	45,155	41,125	133,438	117,369
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	35,430	39,217	108,009	141,666
Restructuring and other charges	7,577	0	29,287	3,846
Litigation charge	4,725	2,048	4,725	4,503
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment	0	0	16,788	219,927
Total costs and expenses	905,254	889,349	2,682,747	2,880,337
Operating income	225,554	346,488	596,303	730,564
Interest income	219	867	1,085	2,635
Interest expense	(2,830)	(2,383)	(6,618)	(6,207)
Other, net	(402)	(1,862)	(44)	(1,603)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	222,541	343,110	590,726	725,389
Provision for income taxes	(88,159)	(130,385)	(247,889)	(376,016)
Income from continuing operations	134,382	212,725	342,837	349,373
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	540	0	2,487
Net income	134,382	213,265	342,837	351,860
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(348)	(825)	4,393	31,955
Net income attributable to Apollo	$ 134,034	$ 212,440	$ 347,230	$ 383,815
Earnings per share - Basic:
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.52	$ 2.79	$ 2.67
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.02
Basic income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.52	$ 2.79	$ 2.69
Earnings per share - Diluted:
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.51	$ 2.77	$ 2.66
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.02
Diluted income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.51	$ 2.77	$ 2.68
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	118,134	139,856	124,560	142,845
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	118,793	140,343	125,335	143,222