Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,644,164
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(346,452)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,297,712
Acquisitions	63,387
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(15,706)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,691,845
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(346,452)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,345,393
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,128,699
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	797,548
Acquisitions	6,391
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(15,706)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,119,384
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	788,233
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	583,424
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	583,424
Acquisitions	6,391
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(15,760)
Goodwill, ending balance	574,055
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	574,055
Education [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	174,564
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(111,324)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	63,240
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	174,564
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(111,324)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	63,240
Education [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	166,920
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	64,661
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	166,920
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	64,661
Education [Member] | Professional (U.S.) [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,791
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	86,223
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	54
Goodwill, ending balance	203,845
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	86,277
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	190,815
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	190,815
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	190,815
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	190,815
Manufacturing [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	231,479
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(7,616)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	223,863
Acquisitions	2,714
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	234,193
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(7,616)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	226,577
Healthcare [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	69,626
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	69,626
Acquisitions	8,283
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	77,909
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	77,909
SocialCode [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	15,860
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,860
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	15,860
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	15,860
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	7,685
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(7,685)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	0
Acquisitions	45,999
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	53,684
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(7,685)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 45,999