Concentration (Details) - Customer Concentration Risk - Revenue	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
American Public Education Segment | DoD tuition assistance programs
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	36.30%	35.30%	36.50%	35.80%
American Public Education Segment | Title IV programs
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	27.40%	29.50%	26.90%	29.20%
American Public Education Segment | VA education benefits
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	22.80%	22.30%	22.70%	22.10%
American Public Education Segment | Cash and other sources
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	13.50%	12.90%	13.90%	12.90%
Hondros College of Nursing Segment | Title IV programs
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue			83.50%	84.40%