Segment and Geographic Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating segments that meet the threshold to qualify as reportable segments | segment									3
Revenues
Revenues	$ 267,494	$ 239,026	$ 255,831	$ 265,302	$ 263,772	$ 241,747	$ 245,110	$ 246,508	$ 1,027,653	$ 997,137	$ 634,185
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations	$ 3,608	$ 15,422	$ 46,395	$ 43,959	$ 37,213	$ 20,000	$ 27,596	$ 25,723	109,384	110,532	(22,740)
Amortization of intangible assets									(64,225)	(61,667)	(25,694)
Merger and integration costs									(13,770)	(21,923)	(45,745)
Restructuring costs									(12,382)	0	0
Impairment of intangible assets									0	0	(19,909)
Strayer University
Revenues
Revenues									537,633	536,969	477,839
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations									120,398	103,409	62,294
Capella University
Revenues
Revenues									466,639	460,168	156,346
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations									92,638	90,713	6,314
Australia/New Zealand
Revenues
Revenues									23,381	0	0
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) from operations									(13,275)	0	0
Segment Reconciling Items
Income (loss) from operations
Amortization of intangible assets									(64,225)	(61,667)	(25,694)
Restructuring costs									$ (349)	$ 0	$ 0