Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 241,747	$ 160,945	$ 733,365	$ 392,082
Costs and expenses:
Instructional and support costs	132,527	103,079	397,281	240,830
General and administration	72,303	61,976	204,816	125,494
Amortization of intangible assets	15,417	10,278	46,251	10,278
Merger and integration costs	1,500	29,620	11,698	37,791
Impairment of intangible assets	0	13,119	0	19,304
Total costs and expenses	221,747	218,072	660,046	433,697
Income (loss) from operations	20,000	(57,127)	73,319	(41,615)
Other income	3,243	1,110	10,695	1,846
Income (loss) before income taxes	23,243	(56,017)	84,014	(39,769)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	6,551	(3,236)	31,413	(1,643)
Net income (loss)	$ 16,692	$ (52,781)	$ 52,601	$ (38,126)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ 0.77	$ (2.97)	$ 2.42	$ (2.90)
Diluted	$ 0.75	$ (2.97)	$ 2.38	$ (2.90)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	21,806	17,799	21,694	13,141
Diluted	22,129	17,799	22,096	13,141