Merger with Capella Education Company - Additional Information (Details)		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		11 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2018 USD ($) University	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue				$ 224,641,000		$ 679,309,000
Revenue						46.1
Net income (loss)						43.1
Number of independent universities | University	2
Goodwill		$ 732,075,000	$ 732,540,000		$ 732,075,000
Merger costs		1,500,000		29,620,000	11,698,000	37,791,000
Goodwill measurement period adjustment					(465,000)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)				(14,146,000)		10,606,000
Capella Merger
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Revenue				$ 46,100,000
Net income (loss)						$ 43,100,000
Share conversion ratio of common stock issued	0.875
Goodwill	$ 725,275,000
Merger costs							$ 20,100,000
Issuance costs	100,000
Reduction in cash and cash equivalent			500,000
Reduction in other assets			1,400,000
Reduction in deferred tax liabilities			100,000		3,800,000
Reduction in current assets					1,900,000
Increase in current liabilities					1,300,000
Increase in noncurrent liabilities					100,000
Goodwill measurement period adjustment			1,800,000		(500,000)
Course content and internally developed software including in Property and Equipment	$ 53,182,000
Amortization period (in years)	3 years
Strayer University
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 330,600,000	337,381,000	337,381,000		337,381,000
Goodwill measurement period adjustment					0
Capella University
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Goodwill	394,700,000	$ 394,694,000	$ 395,159,000		394,694,000
Goodwill measurement period adjustment					$ (465,000)
Relief From Royalty Approach Valuation Technique | Capella Merger
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Course content and internally developed software including in Property and Equipment	14,000,000.0
Valuation, Cost Approach | Capella Merger
Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]
Course content and internally developed software including in Property and Equipment	$ 5,000,000.0