Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 80,263	$ 85,463	$ 165,707	$ 174,016
Costs and expenses:
Instructional costs and services	29,696	30,197	59,956	61,545
Selling and promotional	16,152	16,982	33,171	34,049
General and administrative	18,141	18,491	37,246	38,015
Depreciation and amortization	4,698	3,958	9,287	7,847
Total costs and expenses	68,687	69,628	139,660	141,456
Income from operations before interest income and income taxes	11,576	15,835	26,047	32,560
Interest income	31	98	41	179
Income before income taxes	11,607	15,933	26,088	32,739
Income tax expense	4,548	6,173	10,198	12,500
Equity investment income/(loss), net of taxes	14	42	(24)	(1)
Net income	$ 7,073	$ 9,802	$ 15,866	$ 20,238
Net Income per common share: (in dollars per share)
Basic	$ 0.42	$ 0.56	$ 0.93	$ 1.16
Diluted	$ 0.42	$ 0.56	$ 0.93	$ 1.15
Weighted average number of common shares: (in shares)
Basic	16,819,833	17,367,328	16,971,990	17,440,207
Diluted	16,922,637	17,472,602	17,101,801	17,626,492