Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012
Balance		$ 924,323,000		$ 924,323,000	$ 1,243,989,000
Treasury stock purchases					(742,016,000)
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				2,993,000	3,889,000
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	6,632,000
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				(23,278,000)	(3,937,000)
Share-based compensation				39,888,000	59,438,000
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(1,359,000)		(4,774,000)	(3,989,000)	(9,402,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				48,500,000
Net income (loss)	80,170,000		134,382,000	227,569,000	342,837,000
Balance	1,113,310,000		901,430,000	1,113,310,000	901,430,000
Net income attributable to Apollo	79,953,000		134,034,000	226,975,000	347,230,000
Change from net income attributable to Apollo and transfer to noncontrolling interest				178,432,000	347,230,000
Carlyle ownership in Apollo Global						14.40%
Purchase of noncontrolling interest		42,500,000.0		42,500,000	0
Contingent payment	6,022,000	6,000,000		6,022,000		0
Apollo Group Class A nonvoting common stock [Member] | Repurchases Related To Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Treasury stock purchases	(1,800,000)		(800,000)	(5,696,000)	(6,000,000)
Common stock [Member] | Apollo Group Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]
Balance		103,000		103,000	103,000
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				0	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				0
Net income (loss)				0	0
Balance	103,000		103,000	103,000	103,000
Common stock [Member] | Apollo Group Class B voting common stock [Member]
Balance		1,000		1,000	1,000
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				0	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				0
Net income (loss)				0	0
Balance	1,000		1,000	1,000	1,000
Additional paid-in capital [Member]
Balance		93,770,000		93,770,000	68,724,000
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				(4,443,000)	(1,037,000)
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				(28,113,000)	(19,660,000)
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				(23,278,000)	(3,937,000)
Share-based compensation				39,888,000	59,438,000
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				0	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				48,543,000	0
Net income (loss)				0	0
Balance	29,281,000		103,528,000	29,281,000	103,528,000
Apollo Group Class A treasury stock [Member]
Balance		(3,878,612,000)		(3,878,612,000)	(3,125,175,000)
Treasury stock purchases					(742,016,000)
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				7,436,000	4,926,000
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				28,113,000	26,292,000
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				0	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				0
Net income (loss)				0	0
Balance	(3,848,759,000)		(3,835,973,000)	(3,848,759,000)	(3,835,973,000)
Apollo Group Class A treasury stock [Member] | Apollo Group Class A nonvoting common stock [Member] | Repurchases Related To Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Treasury stock purchases				(5,696,000)
Retained earnings [Member]
Balance		4,743,150,000		4,743,150,000	4,320,472,000
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				0	0
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				0
Net income (loss)				226,975,000	347,230,000
Balance	4,970,125,000		4,667,702,000	4,970,125,000	4,667,702,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]
Balance		(30,034,000)		(30,034,000)	(23,761,000)
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				(3,664,000)	(7,912,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				4,886,000
Net income (loss)				0	0
Balance	(38,584,000)		(31,673,000)	(38,584,000)	(31,673,000)
Total Apollo shareholders' equity [Member]
Balance		928,378,000		928,378,000	1,240,364,000
Treasury stock purchases					(742,016,000)
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				2,993,000	3,889,000
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	6,632,000
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				(23,278,000)	(3,937,000)
Share-based compensation				39,888,000	59,438,000
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				(3,664,000)	(7,912,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				53,429,000
Net income (loss)				226,975,000	347,230,000
Balance	1,112,167,000		903,688,000	1,112,167,000	903,688,000
Total Apollo shareholders' equity [Member] | Apollo Group Class A nonvoting common stock [Member] | Repurchases Related To Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Treasury stock purchases				(5,696,000)
Noncontrolling interests (deficit) [Member]
Balance		(4,055,000)		(4,055,000)	3,625,000
Treasury stock purchases				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock purchase plans				0	0
Treasury stock issued under stock incentive plans				0	0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans				0	0
Share-based compensation				0	0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax				(325,000)	(1,490,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest				4,929,000
Net income (loss)				594,000	(4,393,000)
Balance	$ 1,143,000		$ (2,258,000)	$ 1,143,000	$ (2,258,000)