Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($) Positions	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 15,365	$ 24,430
Goodwill impairments	0	73,393
Restructuring and impairment charges	15,365	97,823
Balance	68,604
Other	148
Payments	(16,081)
Balance	68,036
Restructuring gross obligation	$ 129,000
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate	3.00%
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate	7.00%
2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 3,900
Number of positions eliminated | Positions	150
Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 11,500
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	478,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	5,805	19,090
Goodwill impairments		71,800
University Of Phoenix [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	2,400
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	$ 347,000
Number of facilities	150
Apollo Global [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 1,417	404
Apollo Global [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,400
Apollo Global [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	17,000
Other [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	8,143	4,936
Other [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	100
Other [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	114,000
Western International University [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Goodwill impairments		$ 1,600
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Balance	0
Other	0
Payments	0
Balance	0
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	9,423
Balance	64,659
Other	1,486
Payments	(10,378)
Balance	65,190
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	306,000
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	3,893
Balance	0
Other	0
Payments	(2,854)
Balance	1,039
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	431
Balance	3,834
Other	0
Payments	(2,596)
Balance	1,669
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	116,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | 2017 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0
Balance	0
Other	0
Payments	0
Balance	0
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,618
Balance	111
Other	(1,338)
Payments	(253)
Balance	138
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	56,000
Lease abandonment [Member] | University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring gross obligation	$ 35,000