Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 108,512	$ 102,156	$ 336,144	$ 321,809
Costs and expenses:
Instruction and educational support	56,987	56,295	180,059	176,175
Marketing	26,790	25,388	64,734	61,434
Admissions advisory	5,318	4,691	14,813	13,171
General and administration	11,193	10,952	36,017	33,211
Total costs and expenses	100,288	97,326	295,623	283,991
Income from operations	8,224	4,830	40,521	37,818
Investment income	303	115	737	327
Interest expense	162	161	481	481
Income before income taxes	8,365	4,784	40,777	37,664
Provision for income taxes	2,138	1,906	13,670	14,580
Net income	$ 6,227	$ 2,878	$ 27,107	$ 23,084
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.58	$ 0.27	$ 2.54	$ 2.18
Diluted	$ 0.56	$ 0.27	$ 2.43	$ 2.14
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	10,701	10,616	10,671	10,608
Diluted	11,210	10,828	11,174	10,803