Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 160,945	$ 108,512	$ 392,082	$ 336,144
Costs and expenses:
Instruction and educational support	93,290	59,755	221,756	184,821
Marketing	46,165	26,756	87,402	64,700
Admissions advisory	9,789	4,828	19,074	14,323
General and administration	15,811	11,053	38,092	35,877
Amortization of intangible assets	10,278		10,278
Merger costs	29,620	3,414	37,791	3,414
Fair value adjustments and impairment of intangible assets	13,119	(5,518)	19,304	(7,512)
Total costs and expenses	218,072	100,288	433,697	295,623
Income (loss) from operations	(57,127)	8,224	(41,615)	40,521
Other income	1,110	141	1,846	256
Income (loss) before income taxes	(56,017)	8,365	(39,769)	40,777
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(3,236)	2,138	(1,643)	13,670
Net income (loss)	$ (52,781)	$ 6,227	$ (38,126)	$ 27,107
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$ (2.97)	$ 0.58	$ (2.90)	$ 2.54
Diluted	$ (2.97)	$ 0.56	$ (2.90)	$ 2.43
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,799	10,701	13,141	10,671
Diluted	17,799	11,210	13,141	11,174
Cash dividend declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.25	$ 1.00	$ 0.75