Shareholders' Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011
Shareholders' Equity (Details 2) [Abstract]
Apollo Group ownership in Apollo Global	85.60%			85.60%
Treasury stock reissued, shares	100,000		200,000	600,000	400,000
Aggregate share repurchase program		$ 300,000,000
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Treasury stock purchases, cost				742,016,000	420,022,000
Unsettled share repurchases	10,244,000			10,244,000		0
Share Repurchases [Member]
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Treasury stock purchases, shares	9,000,000		4,100,000	17,100,000	10,600,000
Treasury stock purchases, cost	329,000,000		167,300,000	736,000,000	418,700,000
Treasury stock purchases, average price per share	$ 36.41		40.26	$ 43.02	$ 39.48
Unsettled share repurchases	10,244,000			10,244,000
Amount remaining on repurchase authorization				63,500,000
Repurchases Related To Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Treasury stock purchases, shares	21,000		18,000	126,000	32,000
Treasury stock purchases, cost	$ 800,000		800,000	$ 6,000,000	$ 1,300,000