Business Segments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Segment	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Kaplan International [Member] Kaplan China [Member] school	Dec. 31, 2014 Kaplan International [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member] Kaplan China [Member] school
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments			6
Number of schools sold					3	1
Total operating revenues	$ (898,871)	$ (856,101)	$ (2,609,823)	$ (2,540,669)

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration