Business Segments (Information by Operating Segment) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 628,933	$ 680,890	$ 1,230,673	$ 1,328,315
Income (Loss) from Operations	74,140	56,225	126,012	65,087
Equity in (losses) earnings of affiliates, net	(891)	(353)	113	(757)
Interest Expense, Net	(7,250)	(8,025)	(14,607)	(15,967)
Other income, net	19,000	11,678	34,096	10,573
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	84,999	59,525	145,614	58,936
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	16,045	25,609	32,806	47,806
Amortization of intangible assets	6,278	4,647	12,540	9,385
Impairment of long-lived assets		6,900
Amortization Of Intangible Assets And Impairment Of Other Long-Lived Assets	6,278	11,523	12,540	16,261
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	(12,266)	(12,415)	(24,325)	(24,822)
Identifiable Assets	2,919,727		2,919,727		$ 2,963,063
Investments in Marketable Equity Securities	340,633		340,633		350,563
Investments in Affiliates	63,834		63,834		59,229
Prepaid Pension Cost	1,004,445		1,004,445		979,970
Total Assets	4,328,639		4,328,639		4,352,825
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	419,213	523,625	820,289	1,024,227
Income (Loss) from Operations	32,892	15,848	47,380	(7,001)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	10,242	21,980	21,345	40,508
Amortization of intangible assets	1,704	1,467	3,385	2,974
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	6,876	0	6,876
Amortization Of Intangible Assets And Impairment Of Other Long-Lived Assets	1,704	8,343	3,385	9,850
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	3,018	3,947	6,127	7,894
Identifiable Assets	1,372,743		1,372,743		1,454,520
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	157,980	240,717	323,529	478,285
Income (Loss) from Operations	17,237	24,764	38,543	25,357
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,993	4,794	8,168	9,622
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	1,905	2,532	3,810	5,064
Identifiable Assets	237,366		237,366		447,282
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	79,349	80,381	145,811	149,607
Income (Loss) from Operations	7,036	7,079	4,726	2,745
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	1,615	2,263	3,396	5,153
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	768	775	1,536	1,550
Identifiable Assets	139,878		139,878		134,535
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	182,325	200,703	351,612	392,784
Income (Loss) from Operations	16,479	17,573	21,376	25,290
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	4,319	5,073	9,379	9,727
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	67	106	134	212
Identifiable Assets	946,898		946,898		826,475
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Reportable Subsegments [Member] | Kaplan Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	18	1,959	143	3,818
Income (Loss) from Operations	(7,811)	(33,594)	(17,216)	(60,451)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	315	9,850	402	16,006
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	278	534	647	1,068
Identifiable Assets	48,601		48,601		46,228
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member] | Intersubsegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	(459)	(135)	(806)	(267)
Income (Loss) from Operations	(49)	26	(49)	58
Operating Segments [Member] | Television Broadcasting [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	96,520	90,753	188,538	174,317
Income (Loss) from Operations	44,215	42,014	85,435	80,576
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	2,450	2,125	4,827	4,234
Amortization Of Intangible Assets And Impairment Of Other Long-Lived Assets	63	63	126	126
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	418	391	857	782
Identifiable Assets	318,173		318,173		312,243
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	113,269	66,512	221,985	129,771
Income (Loss) from Operations	(5,062)	(2,161)	(10,792)	(7,323)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,073	1,254	6,100	2,556
Amortization Of Intangible Assets And Impairment Of Other Long-Lived Assets	4,511	3,117	9,029	6,285
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	306	186	560	379
Identifiable Assets	701,594		701,594		712,161
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate Office [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Operations	2,095	524	3,989	(1,165)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	280	250	534	508
Amortization Of Intangible Assets And Impairment Of Other Long-Lived Assets	0	0	0	0
Net Pension (Credit) Expense	(16,008)	(16,939)	(31,869)	(33,877)
Identifiable Assets	527,217		527,217		$ 484,139
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ (69)	$ 0	$ (139)	$ 0