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Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Years
Aug. 31, 2010
Aug. 31, 2009
Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Abstract]   
Employee tuition benefits$ 97,000,000$ 100,300,000$ 90,500,000
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
University of Phoenix course completion percentage refund eligibility60% or less  
Property and equipment minimum useful life3  
Property and equipment maximum useful life40  
Finite-lived Intangible Assets weighted-average useful life5.2  
Foreign currency gain (loss), net$ (1,662,000)$ (643,000)$ 62,000
Tuition And Educational Services Revenue [Member]
   
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
Percent of total gross consolidated revenue before discounts92.00%  
Educational Materials Revenue [Member]
   
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
Percent of total gross consolidated revenue before discounts6.00%  
Services Revenue [Member]
   
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
Percent of total gross consolidated revenue before discounts2.00%  
Other Revenue [Member]
   
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
Percent of total gross consolidated revenueless than 1%  
Discounts [Member]
   
Components of revenue [Line Items]   
Percent of total gross consolidated revenue before discounts5.00%