Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,586,603
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(171,606)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,414,997
Acquisitions	11,462
Dispositions	(29,000)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	9,471
Goodwill, ending balance	1,472,702
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,406,930
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,116,615
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,108,123
Acquisitions	7,364
Dispositions	(29,000)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	9,471
Goodwill, ending balance	1,095,958
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,095,958
Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	409,128
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	409,128
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	89
Goodwill, ending balance	409,217
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	409,217
Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	152,187
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	152,187
Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	515,936
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	515,936
Acquisitions	7,364
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	11,254
Goodwill, ending balance	534,554
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	534,554
Kaplan Ventures [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	39,364
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	30,872
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	(29,000)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	(1,872)
Goodwill, ending balance	0
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	0
Cable Television [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,411
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	15,411
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	203,165
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	203,165
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	100,152
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(97,342)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	2,810
Acquisitions	4,098
Dispositions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	6,908
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 6,908