Segment Reporting - Summary Financial Information by Reporting Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	[3]	Jun. 30, 2015	[4]	Mar. 31, 2015	[5]	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 155,255	[1]	$ 167,625	$ 182,626	$ 198,886	$ 199,947	[2]	$ 203,484		$ 216,828		$ 227,014		$ 704,392	[6]	$ 847,273	[6]	$ 913,964	[6]
Operating (Loss) Income		(55,907)	[1]	$ (706)	$ 17,290	$ 6,979	(3,929)	[2]	$ (43,989)		$ (19,892)		$ (24,358)		(32,344)	[6]	(92,168)	[6]	(139,272)	[6]
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														22,747		24,938		53,382
Capital Expenditures	[6]														4,129		11,695		13,156
Total Assets	[6]	559,601					610,915								559,601		610,915
University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														562,351		549,864		535,469
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														69,814		93,016		60,080
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														3,844		3,917		4,956
Capital Expenditures	[6]														1,081		3,490		1,544
Total Assets	[6]	142,224					129,664								142,224		129,664
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]																157		230	[7]
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														(25,097)		(27,267)		(21,169)	[7]
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														7,320		11,173		17,455	[7]
Capital Expenditures	[6]														2,512		4,873		4,545	[7]
Total Assets	[6]	334,945					372,405								334,945		372,405
Subtotal [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														562,351		550,021		535,699
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														44,717		65,749		38,911
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														11,164		15,090		22,411
Capital Expenditures	[6]														3,593		8,363		6,089
Total Assets	[6]	477,169					502,069								477,169		502,069
Culinary Arts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														104,452	[8]	170,190	[9]	172,606	[10]
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														(20,608)	[8]	(57,577)	[9]	(66,556)	[10]
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														6,234	[8]	1	[9]	17,363	[10]
Capital Expenditures	[6]																2,352	[9]	2,292	[10]
Total Assets	[6]	57,443	[8]				71,197	[9]							57,443	[8]	71,197	[9]
Transitional Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														37,589	[11]	127,062	[12]	205,659	[13]
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														(56,453)	[11]	(100,340)	[12]	(111,627)	[13]
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														5,349	[11]	9,847	[12]	13,608	[13]
Capital Expenditures	[6]														536	[11]	980	[12]	4,775	[13]
Total Assets	[6]	18,736	[11]				28,584	[12]							18,736	[11]	28,584	[12]
CTU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														369,319		348,215		336,573
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														99,412		87,496		69,492
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														2,157		2,281		2,627
Capital Expenditures	[6]														675		1,084		628
Total Assets	[6]	76,143					76,577								76,143		76,577
AIU [Member] | University Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[6]														193,032	[14]	201,649		198,896
Operating (Loss) Income	[6]														(29,598)	[14]	5,520		(9,412)
Depreciation and amortization	[6]														1,687	[14]	1,636		2,329
Capital Expenditures	[6]														406	[14]	2,406		$ 916
Total Assets	[6]	66,081	[14]				53,087								66,081	[14]	53,087
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets	[6]	$ 6,253					$ 9,065								$ 6,253		$ 9,065

[1] Fourth quarter of 2016 net loss included $32.0 million of legal settlements for AIU, $0.4 million of asset impairment charges related to Culinary Arts and $0.5 million of asset impairments charges related to Transitional Group as well as $22.5 million of unused space charges, of which $4.2 million relates to discontinued operations with the remainder relating to our teach-out segments.

[2] Fourth quarter of 2015 net income included $9.7 million of impairment charges, of which $9.0 million was related to Culinary Arts. Furthermore, fourth quarter of 2015 net income included a $109.8 million benefit related to the partial release of our valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.

[3] Third quarter of 2015 net losses included $33.4 million of impairment charges related to Culinary Arts.

[4] Second quarter of 2015 net loss included $9.7 million of impairment charges related to Culinary Arts and $1.7 million of impairment charges related to the Transitional Group.

[5] First quarter of 2015 net loss included $6.0 million of impairment charges related to the Transitional Group.

[6] The statement of (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income balances including revenue, operating (loss) income and depreciation and amortization are presented above on a continuing operations basis. Total assets and capital expenditures are presented on a consolidated basis including continuing and discontinued operations.

[7] Corporate and Other: $8.6 million of income related to an insurance recovery.

[8] Culinary Arts: $16.7 million charge related to remaining lease obligations of vacated space.

[9] Culinary Arts: $35.1 million related to long-lived asset impairment and a $17.0 million trade name impairment charge.

[10] Culinary Arts: $10.3 million related to long-lived asset impairment and an $8.9 million trade name impairment charge.

[11] Transitional Group: $14.3 million charge related to remaining lease obligations of vacated space.

[12] Transitional Group: $6.1 million related to long-lived asset impairment and a $1.8 million trade name impairment charge.

[13] Transitional Group: $14.5 million related to long-lived asset impairment and a $2.2 million trade name impairment charge.

[14] AIU: $32.0 million charge related to legal settlements.