Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,457,051
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(108,341)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,348,710
Dispositions	(7,614)
Reclassification to assets held for sale	(7,526)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(19,219)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,422,692
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(108,341)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,314,351
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,057,226
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	954,967
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to assets held for sale	(7,526)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(19,219)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,030,481
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	928,222
Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	409,884
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	409,884
Reclassification to assets held for sale	(7,526)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(169)
Goodwill, ending balance	402,189
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	402,189
Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	63,839
Reclassification to assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	166,098
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	63,839
Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	481,244
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	481,244
Reclassification to assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(19,050)
Goodwill, ending balance	462,194
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	462,194
Cable [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	168,345
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	168,345
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	168,345
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	168,345
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	145,992
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(6,082)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	139,910
Dispositions	(7,614)
Reclassification to assets held for sale	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	138,378
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(6,082)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 132,296