Segment Reporting Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments that meet threshold to qualify as reportable segments \| segment	2
Revenues
Revenues	$ 246,508	$ 116,469
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations	25,723	11,328
Amortization of intangible assets	(15,417)	0
Merger and integration costs	(7,179)	(5,347)
Strayer University
Revenues
Revenues	128,058	115,271
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations	24,973	17,992
Capella University
Revenues
Revenues	114,698	0
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations	24,153	0
Non-Degree Programs
Revenues
Revenues	3,752	1,198
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations	$ (807)	$ (1,317)

Represents the number of operating segments that meet the quantitative thresholds to qualify as reportable segments.

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- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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- Definition

Costs incurred to effect a business combination which have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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No definition available.

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Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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