Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date, including liabilities incurred and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, compensation costs, payroll taxes and fringe benefits (other than pension and postretirement obligations), contractual rights and obligations, and statutory obligations.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(1),(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99377789&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109979856&loc=d3e26610-111562

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27161-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3044-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseCostAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=stra_TaxExemptMunicipalSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=stra_VariableRateDemandNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=stra_DeferredPaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Fair Value Measurement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018
Assets:
Money market funds	$ 352,387	$ 311,732	$ 165,867
Marketable securities:	68,352	74,799
Recurring
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis	78,793	77,090
Money market funds \| Recurring
Assets:
Money market funds	9,441	1,791
Corporate debt securities
Assets:
Marketable securities:	46,691	47,930
Corporate debt securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	47,691	48,430
Tax-exempt municipal securities
Assets:
Marketable securities:	19,043	22,869
Tax-exempt municipal securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	19,043	22,869
Variable rate demand notes
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,600	4,000
Variable rate demand notes \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,600	4,000
Commercial paper
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,018
Commercial paper \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,018
Deferred payments \| Recurring
Liabilities:
Deferred payments	4,131	4,120
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Recurring
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis	9,441	1,791
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Money market funds \| Recurring
Assets:
Money market funds	9,441	1,791
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Corporate debt securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Tax-exempt municipal securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Variable rate demand notes \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Commercial paper \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) \| Deferred payments \| Recurring
Liabilities:
Deferred payments	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Recurring
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis	69,352	75,299
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Money market funds \| Recurring
Assets:
Money market funds	0	0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Corporate debt securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	47,691	48,430
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Tax-exempt municipal securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	19,043	22,869
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Variable rate demand notes \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,600	4,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Commercial paper \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	1,018
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Deferred payments \| Recurring
Liabilities:
Deferred payments	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Recurring
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Money market funds \| Recurring
Assets:
Money market funds	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Corporate debt securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Tax-exempt municipal securities \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Variable rate demand notes \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Commercial paper \| Recurring
Assets:
Marketable securities:	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Deferred payments \| Recurring
Liabilities:
Deferred payments	$ 4,131	$ 4,120