Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 114,912	$ 111,166
Costs and expenses:
Instruction and educational support	61,416	58,098
Marketing	18,718	18,298
Admissions advisory	4,716	4,349
General and administration	11,619	10,329
Total costs and expenses	96,469	91,074
Income from operations	18,443	20,092
Investment income	181	100
Interest expense	159	160
Income before income taxes	18,465	20,032
Provision for income taxes	7,887	7,612
Net income	$ 10,578	$ 12,420
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 1.00	$ 1.17
Diluted	$ 0.95	$ 1.15
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	10,630	10,596
Diluted	11,121	10,782