Goodwill and Intangibles (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			$ 213,699	$ 213,699	$ 250,798
Accumulated amortization			(28,643)	(28,643)	(62,026)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(17,288)	(17,288)	593
Intangible assets, net			167,768	167,768	189,365
Intangibles impairment	0	0
Software and technology [Member] | University Of Phoenix [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangibles impairment			12,999	12,999
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			83,492	83,492	135,754
Accumulated amortization			(28,643)	(28,643)	(62,026)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(8,635)	(8,635)	961
Intangible assets, net			46,214	46,214	74,689
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Accreditations and designations [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			21,628	21,628	21,628
Accumulated amortization			(5,094)	(5,094)	(3,015)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,910)	(1,910)	1,000
Intangible assets, net			14,624	14,624	19,613
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			17,919	17,919	17,919
Accumulated amortization			(2,093)	(2,093)	(1,238)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,771)	(1,771)	907
Intangible assets, net			14,055	14,055	17,588
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Curriculum [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			18,205	18,205	16,993
Accumulated amortization			(5,172)	(5,172)	(2,933)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,398)	(1,398)	826
Intangible assets, net			11,635	11,635	14,886
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Student and customer relationships [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			14,437	14,437	15,934
Accumulated amortization			(10,365)	(10,365)	(9,780)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,578)	(1,578)	(1,161)
Intangible assets, net			2,494	2,494	4,993
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Software and technology [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			0	0	42,389
Accumulated amortization			0	0	(25,151)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			0	0	0
Intangible assets, net			0	0	17,238
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Other [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			11,303	11,303	20,891
Accumulated amortization			(5,919)	(5,919)	(19,909)
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,978)	(1,978)	(611)
Intangible assets, net			3,406	3,406	371
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			130,207	130,207	115,044
Accumulated amortization			0	0	0
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(8,653)	(8,653)	(368)
Intangible assets, net			121,554	121,554	114,676
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Accreditations and designations [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			14,470	14,470	8,530
Accumulated amortization			0	0	0
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(1,464)	(1,464)	(300)
Intangible assets, net			13,006	13,006	8,230
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount			115,737	115,737	106,514
Accumulated amortization			0	0	0
Intangible Assets Translation Adjustments			(7,189)	(7,189)	(68)
Intangible assets, net			$ 108,548	$ 108,548	$ 106,446