Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012 Segments2	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	5
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 1,055,183	$ 1,171,900
Operating income	230,946	261,668
Interest income	549	506
Interest expense	(2,042)	(1,999)
Other, net	1,799	140
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	231,252	260,315
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment	0	16,788
Litigation credit	(16,850)	0
Total assets	2,368,917		2,868,322
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	939,890	1,057,069
Operating income	242,319	292,038
Total assets	877,612		938,104
Apollo Global [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	96,791	95,967
Operating income	(9,143)	(14,953)
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment		16,788
Total assets	410,343		389,509
Other [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	18,502	18,864
Operating income	(2,230)	(15,417)
Litigation credit	(16,850)
Total assets	$ 1,080,962		$ 1,540,709