Business Segments (Information by Operating Segment) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Revenues	$ 1,021,851	$ 989,103	$ 1,980,956	$ 1,944,604
Income (Loss) from Operations	93,050	63,021	116,110	84,319
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, Net	3,868	3,314	7,286	7,202
Interest Expense, Net	(8,526)	(8,204)	(16,976)	(16,298)
Other (Expense) Income, Net	(12,858)	(635)	(16,941)	7,953
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	75,534	57,496	89,479	83,176
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	63,875	62,401	129,666	124,325
Amortization of intangible assets	3,313	4,428	7,030	8,301
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	12,634	2,369	31,249	5,503
Identifiable assets	3,860,300		3,860,300		4,104,624
Investment in Marketable Equity Securities	457,031		457,031		380,087
Investments In Affiliates	27,386		27,386		15,535
Prepaid Pension Cost	579,303		579,303		604,823
Total Assets	4,924,020		4,924,020		5,105,069
Education [Member]
Operating Revenues	548,230	551,774	1,076,045	1,098,459
Income (Loss) from Operations	23,726	3,728	19,670	(8,187)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	20,064	21,011	42,652	41,728
Amortization of intangible assets	2,363	3,803	4,881	7,039
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	4,231	1,969	8,337	4,361
Identifiable assets	1,624,982		1,624,982		1,988,015
Higher Education [Member]
Operating Revenues	273,092	290,861	544,952	599,245
Income (Loss) from Operations	22,534	5,860	27,635	14,819
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	10,741	11,673	24,180	23,430
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	2,807	1,587	5,614	3,174
Identifiable assets	603,890		603,890		949,260
Test Preparation [Member]
Operating Revenues	85,690	79,787	154,633	142,616
Income (Loss) from Operations	7,831	2,706	3,486	(7,513)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	4,866	4,449	9,624	8,764
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	641	414	1,281	827
Identifiable assets	185,196		185,196		197,672
Kaplan International [Member]
Operating Revenues	187,968	179,141	372,781	352,704
Income (Loss) from Operations	6,490	9,788	12,887	13,928
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	4,116	4,471	8,112	8,649
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	87	(11)	174	1
Identifiable assets	794,153		794,153		818,613
Kaplan Corporate and Other [Member]
Operating Revenues	1,669	3,090	4,273	6,474
Income (Loss) from Operations	(13,223)	(14,787)	(24,563)	(29,776)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	341	418	736	885
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	696	(21)	1,268	359
Identifiable assets	41,743		41,743		22,470
Cable Television [Member]
Operating Revenues	204,550	195,579	404,688	385,789
Income (Loss) from Operations	44,710	38,446	81,323	71,223
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	33,964	32,234	67,697	64,431
Amortization of intangible assets	57	53	107	107
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	913	514	1,795	1,044
Identifiable assets	1,192,679		1,192,679		1,187,603
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Operating Revenues	138,423	139,228	265,687	271,678
Income (Loss) from Operations	(14,827)	(12,614)	(49,299)	(33,226)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	6,201	5,934	12,216	11,819
Amortization of intangible assets	150	172	300	355
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	16,811	7,717	39,740	16,257
Identifiable assets	255,196		255,196		280,323
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Operating Revenues	99,320	95,591	184,590	177,088
Income (Loss) from Operations	47,704	43,728	83,066	74,727
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,151	3,222	6,296	6,347
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	1,213	1,055	2,501	2,015
Identifiable assets	379,727		379,727		374,075
Other Businesses [Member]
Operating Revenues	31,419	7,177	50,310	11,945
Income (Loss) from Operations	(4,510)	(6,775)	(10,623)	(11,418)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	435	0	745	0
Amortization of intangible assets	743	400	1,742	800
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	83	10	159	20
Identifiable assets	72,388		72,388		81,211
Corporate Office [Member]
Operating Revenues	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Operations	(3,753)	(3,492)	(8,027)	(8,800)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	60	0	60	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	(10,617)	(8,896)	(21,283)	(18,194)
Identifiable assets	335,328		335,328		193,397
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operating Revenues	(91)	(246)	(364)	(355)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] | Education [Member]
Operating Revenues	(189)	(1,105)	(594)	(2,580)
Income (Loss) from Operations	$ 94	$ 161	$ 225	$ 355