Revenue Recognition - Summary of Disaggregation of Revenue by Major Source (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 142,036	$ 146,222	$ 290,101	$ 308,331
Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		136,105	140,488	278,301	296,621
Technology Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		4,641	4,366	9,355	9,017
Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	598	653	1,198	1,246
Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		141,344	145,507	288,854	306,884
Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	692	715	1,247	1,447
University Group [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		141,845	137,419	289,573	285,707
University Group [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		93,266	91,204	187,873	185,239
University Group [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		48,579	46,215	101,700	100,468
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		89,291	87,355	180,025	177,560
University Group [Member] | Tuition [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		46,654	44,436	97,785	96,655
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		2,857	2,769	5,731	5,562
University Group [Member] | Technology Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		1,784	1,597	3,624	3,455
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	489	526	989	1,022
University Group [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	90	117	190	205
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		92,637	90,650	186,745	184,144
University Group [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		48,528	46,150	101,599	100,315
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | CTU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	629	554	1,128	1,095
University Group [Member] | Other [Member] | AIU [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	51	65	101	153
All Other Campuses [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		191	8,803	528	22,624
All Other Campuses [Member] | Tuition [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		160	8,697	491	22,406
All Other Campuses [Member] | Other Miscellaneous Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[1]	19	10	19	19
All Other Campuses [Member] | Tuition and Fees [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue		179	8,707	510	22,425
All Other Campuses [Member] | Other [Member]
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	[2]	$ 12	$ 96	$ 18	$ 199

[1] Other miscellaneous fees include graduation fees, laboratory fees and activity fees.

[2] Other revenue primarily includes contract training revenue and bookstore and laptop sales.