Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($) Positions	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 26,877	$ 24,430	$ 16,580	$ 51,307	$ 35,328
Goodwill impairments	0		0	73,393	0
Property and equipment impairment	2,512		5,950	2,512	5,950
Restructuring and impairment charges	29,389		22,530	127,212	41,278
Balance	84,179	83,290		83,290
Other	(5,412)	(1,651)
Payments	(24,515)	(21,890)
Balance	81,129	84,179		81,129
Restructuring gross obligation	146,000			$ 146,000
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate				3.00%
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate				6.00%
2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				$ 18,600
Number of positions eliminated | Positions				800
Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				$ 32,700
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	449,000			449,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	11,503		12,026	30,593	22,249
Goodwill impairments				71,812
University Of Phoenix [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				9,600
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	329,000			$ 329,000
Number of facilities				150
Apollo Global [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	315		43	$ 719	101
Goodwill impairments				0
Apollo Global [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				500
Apollo Global [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	19,000			19,000
Other [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	15,059		$ 4,511	19,995	$ 12,978
Goodwill impairments				1,581
Other [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges				8,500
Other [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	101,000			101,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	0
Balance	0	0		0
Other	0	0
Payments	0	0
Balance	0	0		0
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	16,178	10,479
Balance	72,420	74,990		74,990
Other	(3,705)	(387)
Payments	(10,771)	(12,662)
Balance	74,122	72,420		74,122
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	283,000			283,000
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	7,133	10,380
Balance	7,169	0		0
Other	(164)	(53)
Payments	(11,029)	(3,158)
Balance	3,109	7,169		3,109
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	696	1,058
Balance	4,011	8,210		8,210
Other	0	0
Payments	(1,788)	(5,257)
Balance	2,919	4,011		2,919
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	115,000			115,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,058	210
Balance	210	0		0
Other	0	0
Payments	(405)	0
Balance	863	210		863
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,812	2,303
Balance	369	90		90
Other	(1,543)	(1,211)
Payments	(522)	(813)
Balance	116	$ 369		116
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	51,000			51,000
Lease abandonment [Member] | University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring gross obligation	$ 56,000			$ 56,000