Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 465,348	$ 575,103	$ 1,051,369	$ 1,289,628
Costs and expenses:
Instructional and student advisory	270,640	290,933	561,967	612,507
Marketing	97,796	125,398	191,598	252,281
Admissions advisory	30,120	57,840	64,308	114,925
General and administrative	65,789	69,955	133,234	141,778
Depreciation and amortization	26,754	32,105	54,148	65,736
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	12,783	11,969	28,096	29,367
Restructuring and impairment charges	29,389	22,530	127,212	41,278
Merger, acquisition and other related costs	12,893	1,742	16,871	4,961
Litigation charge	0	100	0	100
Total costs and expenses	546,164	612,572	1,177,434	1,262,933
Operating (loss) income	(80,816)	(37,469)	(126,065)	26,695
Interest income	923	740	1,842	1,329
Interest expense	(1,972)	(1,739)	(3,428)	(3,401)
Other loss, net	(1,113)	(1,152)	(1,956)	(2,442)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(82,978)	(39,620)	(129,607)	22,181
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	19,842	13,924	7,603	(13,130)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(63,136)	(25,696)	(122,004)	9,051
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(10,442)	(3,259)	(12,720)
Net loss	(63,136)	(36,138)	(125,263)	(3,669)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,740	2,528	4,102	3,844
Net (loss) income attributable to Apollo	$ (60,396)	$ (33,610)	$ (121,161)	$ 175
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo	$ (0.56)	$ (0.21)	$ (1.09)	$ 0.12
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo	0.00	(0.10)	(0.03)	(0.12)
Basic loss per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	(0.56)	(0.31)	(1.12)	0.00
Earnings (loss) per share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo	(0.56)	(0.21)	(1.09)	0.12
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo	0.00	(0.10)	(0.03)	(0.12)
Diluted loss per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ (0.56)	$ (0.31)	$ (1.12)	$ 0.00
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	108,595	108,166	108,521	108,375
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	108,595	108,166	108,521	109,337