Restructuring and Other Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	$ 19,028,000	$ 31,963,000
Balance	103,083,000
Other	(3,357,000)
Payments	(20,601,000)
Balance	98,153,000
Restructuring gross obligation	163,000,000
Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	10,600,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	355,000,000
2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	8,400,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Number of facilities	110
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Number of facilities	115
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	274,000,000
University Of Phoenix [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	300,000
Apollo Global [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	18,000,000
Other [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	63,000,000
Other [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	8,100,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	10,094,000
Balance	96,204,000
Other	(2,605,000)
Payments	(13,562,000)
Balance	90,131,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	230,000,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	0
Balance	0
Other	0
Payments	0
Balance	0
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	167,000
Balance	5,687,000
Other	0
Payments	(5,687,000)
Balance	167,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	83,000,000
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	4,643,000
Number of positions eliminated	200
Balance	0
Other	(752,000)
Payments	(346,000)
Balance	3,545,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	357,000
Balance	1,192,000
Other	0
Payments	(389,000)
Balance	1,160,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	42,000,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Expense	3,767,000
Balance	0
Other	0
Payments	(617,000)
Balance	$ 3,150,000