Accrued and Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Salaries, wages and benefits	$ 81,995	$ 125,165
Student refunds, grants and scholarships	43,400	20,072
Restructuring obligations	43,146us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent	43,339us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
Accrued legal and other professional obligations	35,604	33,651
Accrued advertising	29,558us-gaap_AccruedAdvertisingCurrent	33,853us-gaap_AccruedAdvertisingCurrent
Deferred rent and other lease liabilities	12,982	12,384
Curriculum materials	10,904apol_CurriculumMaterials	12,069apol_CurriculumMaterials
Contingent consideration	0
Other	50,592us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	47,835us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Total accrued and other current liabilities	308,181us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	363,607us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred revenue	58,737us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	51,831us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
Restructuring obligations	51,159us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent	59,744us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent
Deferred rent and other lease liabilities	53,516	57,788
Deferred gains on sale-leasebacks	20,905	21,641
Uncertain tax positions	7,187	9,770
Other	34,380apol_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther	33,168apol_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther
Total other long-term liabilities	225,884us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	233,942us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Open Colleges [Member] \| Current Portion [Member]
Contingent consideration		$ 35,239

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for professional fees, such as for legal and accounting services received, and other legal obligations. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

No definition available.