Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (USD $) In Thousands		Total		Redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member]	Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]	Apollo Class B voting common stock [Member]	Permanent Equity [Member]	Common stock [Member] Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]	Common stock [Member] Apollo Class B voting common stock [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Apollo Education Group Class A treasury stock [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]		Total Apollo shareholders' equity [Member]		Noncontrolling interests [Member]
Balance at Aug. 31, 2013		$ 1,118,009						$ 103	$ 1	$ 0	$ (3,824,758)	$ 4,978,815	$ (36,563)		$ 1,117,598		$ 411
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2013											75,182
Shares at Aug. 31, 2013					188,007	475
Share repurchases (in shares)					0	0					665
Share repurchases		(16,871)			0	0				0	(16,871)	0	0		(16,871)		0
Share reissuances (in shares)					0	0					(281)
Share reissuances		(796)			0	0				(7,135)	(11,669)	(3,738)	0		(796)		0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans		(4,838)			0	0				(4,838)	0	0	0		(4,838)		0
Share-based compensation		11,973			0	0				11,973	0	0	0		11,973		0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax		2,835	[1]		0	0				0	0	0	2,736	[1]	2,736	[1]	99
Available-for-sale securities adjustment, net of tax	[1]	0
Net income (loss)					0	0				0	0		0
Net income (loss)		99,041										98,891			98,891		150
Balance at Nov. 30, 2013		1,210,945						103	1	0	(3,829,960)	5,073,968	(33,827)		1,210,285		660
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2013											75,566
Shares at Nov. 30, 2013					188,007	475
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Aug. 31, 2014		64,527		64,527
Balance at Aug. 31, 2014		1,180,802						103	1	0	(3,936,607)	5,143,949	(27,320)		1,180,126		676
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2014											79,585
Shares at Aug. 31, 2014					188,007	475
Share repurchases (in shares)					0	0					755
Share repurchases		(20,064)		0	0	0				0	(20,064)	0	0		(20,064)		0
Share reissuances (in shares)					0	0					(227)
Share reissuances		(217)		0	0	0				(10,308)	(9,319)	(1,206)	0		(217)		0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans		(2,067)		0	0	0				(2,067)	0	0	0		(2,067)		0
Share-based compensation		10,711		0	0	0				10,711	0	0	0		10,711		0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax		(17,780)	[1]	(4,466)	0	0	(13,314)			0	0	0	(13,224)		(13,224)		(90)
Available-for-sale securities adjustment, net of tax		(74)	[1]	0	0	0				0	0	0	(74)	[1]	(74)	[1]	0
Redemption value adjustments				472	0	0	472			0	0	472	0		472		0
Net income (loss)		33,829			0	0				0	0	33,785	0		33,785		44
Net income (loss)				(1,360)
Net income (loss)		32,469
Other		1,664		0	0	0				1,664	0	0	0		1,664		0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Nov. 30, 2014		58,229		58,229
Balance at Nov. 30, 2014		$ 1,192,176						$ 103	$ 1	$ 0	$ (3,947,352)	$ 5,179,412	$ (40,618)		$ 1,191,546		$ 630
Shares at Nov. 30, 2014					188,007	475
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2014											80,113

[1] The tax effect on each component of other comprehensive income during the three months ended November 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is not significant.