Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 16,587,000	$ 19,028,000	$ 15,209,000	$ 35,615,000	$ 47,172,000
Intangibles impairment			0		0
Property and equipment impairment			0		0
Restructuring and impairment charges	35,536,000		15,209,000	54,564,000	47,172,000
Balance	98,153,000	103,083,000		103,083,000
Other	(3,165,000)	(3,357,000)
Payments	(17,270,000)	(20,601,000)
Balance	94,305,000	98,153,000		94,305,000
Restructuring gross obligation	167,000,000			167,000,000
Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				23,300,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	367,000,000			367,000,000
2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				12,300,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Property and equipment impairment	5,950,000			5,950,000
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Number of facilities				115
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	285,000,000			285,000,000
University Of Phoenix [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				1,100,000
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Software and technology [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Intangibles impairment	12,999,000			12,999,000
Apollo Global [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	18,000,000			18,000,000
Other [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	64,000,000			64,000,000
Other [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				11,200,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	12,014,000	10,094,000
Balance	90,131,000	96,204,000		96,204,000
Other	(2,530,000)	(2,605,000)
Payments	(13,290,000)	(13,562,000)
Balance	86,325,000	90,131,000		86,325,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	241,000,000			241,000,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	0
Balance	0	0		0
Other	0	0
Payments	0	0
Balance	0	0		0
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	426,000	167,000
Balance	167,000	5,687,000		5,687,000
Other	0	0
Payments	(475,000)	(5,687,000)
Balance	118,000	167,000		118,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	84,000,000			84,000,000
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	3,860,000	4,643,000		8,500,000
Number of positions eliminated				300
Balance	3,545,000	0		0
Other	(635,000)	(752,000)
Payments	(2,801,000)	(346,000)
Balance	3,969,000	3,545,000		3,969,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	287,000	357,000
Balance	1,160,000	1,192,000		1,192,000
Other	0	0
Payments	(704,000)	(389,000)
Balance	743,000	1,160,000		743,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	42,000,000			42,000,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | 2015 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	3,767,000
Balance	3,150,000	0		0
Other	0	0
Payments	0	(617,000)
Balance	$ 3,150,000	$ 3,150,000		$ 3,150,000