Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,734,731
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(346,452)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,388,279
Acquisitions	13,151
Impairment	(6,878)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(32,361)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,715,521
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(353,330)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,362,191
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,140,958
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	809,807
Acquisitions	13,151
Impairment	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(32,361)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,121,748
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(331,151)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	790,597
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	595,604
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	595,604
Acquisitions	9,889
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(32,221)
Goodwill, ending balance	573,272
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	573,272
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	203,870
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	86,302
Acquisitions	3,262
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(140)
Goodwill, ending balance	206,992
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(117,568)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	89,424
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
Impairment	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	234,993
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(7,616)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	227,377
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	234,993
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(7,616)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	227,377
Healthcare [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	98,421
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	98,421
Acquisitions	0
Impairment	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	98,421
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	98,421
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	53,684
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(7,685)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	45,999
Acquisitions	0
Impairment	(6,878)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	53,684
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(14,563)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 39,121