Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Nov. 30, 2009	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Consolidated Quarterly Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 1,122,121	$ 1,235,837	$ 1,048,629	$ 1,326,435	$ 1,259,420	$ 1,337,404	$ 1,070,336	$ 1,258,659	$ 4,733,022	$ 4,925,819	$ 3,953,566
Costs and expenses:
Instructional and student advisory	438,486	458,145	421,644	455,812	445,301	441,700	415,458	430,675	1,774,087	1,733,134	1,333,919
Marketing	170,970	161,034	157,215	166,143	179,150	151,668	141,308	151,617	655,362	623,743	497,568
Admissions advisory	99,428	99,923	102,283	113,752	116,591	116,344	118,152	115,271	415,386	466,358	437,908
General and administrative	98,676	87,857	84,344	84,874	86,295	75,362	68,800	70,659	355,751	301,116	277,887
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	39,631	39,217	45,540	56,909	74,035	72,011	73,884	62,698	181,297	282,628	151,021
Depreciation and amortization	41,637	41,125	39,142	37,102	38,939	36,701	35,244	34,680	159,006	145,564	108,828
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment	0	0	219,927	0	175,858	8,712	0	0	219,927	184,570	0
Restructuring and other charges	19,067	0	0	3,846					22,913	0	0
Litigation (credit) charge, net	(16,454)	2,048	1,574	881	882	132,600	44,500	0	(11,951)	177,982	80,500
Total costs and expenses	891,441	889,349	1,071,669	919,319	1,117,051	1,035,098	897,346	865,600	3,771,778	3,915,095	2,887,631
Operating income	230,680	346,488	(23,040)	407,116	142,369	302,306	172,990	393,059	961,244	1,010,724	1,065,935
Interest income	587	867	785	983	636	827	525	932	3,222	2,920	12,591
Interest expense	(2,724)	(2,383)	(1,654)	(2,170)	(3,784)	(1,979)	(3,220)	(2,908)	(8,931)	(11,891)	(4,448)
Other, net	15	(1,862)	313	(54)	1,376	(1,312)	(79)	(670)	(1,588)	(685)	(7,151)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	228,558	343,110	(23,596)	405,875	140,597	299,842	170,216	390,413	953,947	1,001,068	1,066,927
Provision for income taxes	(44,622)	(130,385)	(76,052)	(169,579)	(122,628)	(122,390)	(69,064)	(149,981)	(420,638)	(464,063)	(456,720)
Income from continuing operations	183,936	212,725	(99,648)	236,296	17,969	177,452	101,152	240,432	533,309	537,005	610,207
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	540	2,575	(628)	(6,570)	2,084	(10,638)	(300)	2,487	(15,424)	(16,377)
Net income	183,936	213,265	(97,073)	235,668	11,399	179,536	90,514	240,132	535,796	521,581	593,830
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,676	(825)	33,035	(255)	29,572	(253)	2,092	10	36,631	31,421	4,489
Net income attributable to Apollo	$ 188,612	$ 212,440	$ (64,038)	$ 235,413	$ 40,971	$ 179,283	$ 92,606	$ 240,142	$ 572,427	$ 553,002	$ 598,319
Earnings (loss) per share - Basic:
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo	$ 1.38	$ 1.52	$ (0.47)	$ 1.61	$ 0.32	$ 1.17	$ 0.67	$ 1.55	$ 4.03	$ 3.74	$ 3.90
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ 0	$ (0.04)	$ 0.02	$ (0.07)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ (0.10)	$ (0.11)
Basic income per share attributable to Apollo	$ 1.38	$ 1.52	$ (0.45)	$ 1.61	$ 0.28	$ 1.19	$ 0.60	$ 1.55	$ 4.05	$ 3.64	$ 3.79
Earnings (loss) per share - Diluted:
Continuing operations attributable to Apollo	$ 1.37	$ 1.51	$ (0.47)	$ 1.61	$ 0.32	$ 1.16	$ 0.67	$ 1.54	$ 4.02	$ 3.72	$ 3.85
Discontinued operations attributable to Apollo	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ 0	$ (0.04)	$ 0.02	$ (0.07)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ (0.10)	$ (0.10)
Diluted income per share attributable to Apollo	$ 1.37	$ 1.51	$ (0.45)	$ 1.61	$ 0.28	$ 1.18	$ 0.60	$ 1.54	$ 4.04	$ 3.62	$ 3.75
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	136,594	139,856	142,354	146,352	147,829	151,127	154,119	154,824	141,269	151,955	157,760
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	137,295	140,343	142,354	146,663	148,334	152,291	155,168	156,045	141,750	152,906	159,514