Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,228,813,000	$ 1,414,485,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	224,135,000	259,174,000
Marketable securities	187,472,000	105,809,000
Accounts receivable, net	225,398,000	215,401,000
Prepaid taxes	34,006,000	30,359,000
Deferred tax assets	83,871,000	60,294,000
Other current assets	58,855,000	64,134,000
Total current assets	2,042,550,000	2,149,656,000
Marketable securities	87,811,000	43,941,000
Property and equipment, net	435,733,000	472,614,000
Goodwill	259,901,000	103,620,000
Intangible assets, net	189,365,000	132,192,000
Deferred tax assets	37,335,000	63,894,000
Other assets	40,240,000	32,030,000
Total assets	3,092,935,000	2,997,947,000
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	609,506,000	628,050,000
Accounts payable	63,907,000	73,123,000
Student deposits	280,562,000	309,176,000
Deferred revenue	225,818,000	213,260,000
Accrued and other current liabilities	363,607,000	346,706,000
Total current liabilities	1,543,400,000	1,570,315,000
Long-term debt	47,590,000	64,004,000
Deferred tax liabilities	22,674,000	12,177,000
Other long-term liabilities	233,942,000	233,442,000
Total liabilities	1,847,606,000	1,879,938,000
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	64,527,000	0
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, no par value, 1,000 shares authorized; none issued
Additional paid-in capital	0	0
Apollo Class A treasury stock, at cost, 79,585 and 75,182 shares as of August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	(3,936,607,000)	(3,824,758,000)
Retained earnings	5,143,949,000	4,978,815,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(27,320,000)	(36,563,000)
Total Apollo shareholders' equity	1,180,126,000	1,117,598,000
Noncontrolling interests	676,000	411,000
Total equity	1,180,802,000	1,118,009,000
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity	3,092,935,000	2,997,947,000
Common stock [Member] | Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Apollo common stock	103,000	103,000
Total equity	103,000	103,000
Common stock [Member] | Apollo Class B voting common stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Apollo common stock	1,000	1,000
Total equity	$ 1,000	$ 1,000