Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $54,590 and $51,842, respectively)	$ 21,814,507	$ 24,903,724
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party	6,982	7,841
Cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party	59,770	61,813
Total cash and cash equivalents	66,752	69,654
Investments and notes receivable	240,538	254,144
Restricted cash	688,193	980,961
Restricted cash - due to customers	187,121	119,702
Loan accrued interest receivable	430,385	391,264
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,436 and $1,549, respectively)	54,410	43,972
Goodwill	138,759	147,312
Intangible assets, net	38,427	47,813
Property and equipment, net	248,051	123,786
Other assets	56,474	23,232
Fair value of derivative instruments	818	87,531
Total assets	23,964,435	27,193,095
Liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable	21,356,573	24,668,490
Accrued interest payable	50,039	45,677
Other liabilities	198,252	210,475
Due to customers	187,121	119,702
Fair value of derivative instruments	7,063	77,826
Total liabilities	21,799,048	25,122,170
Commitments and contingencies
Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock:
Additional paid-in capital	521	420
Retained earnings	2,143,983	2,056,084
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	4,617	4,730
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity	2,149,529	2,061,655
Noncontrolling interests	15,858	9,270
Total equity	2,165,387	2,070,925
Total liabilities and equity	23,964,435	27,193,095
Common Class A [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock	293	306
Common Class B [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock	115	115
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets:
Loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $54,590 and $51,842, respectively)	21,909,476	25,090,530
Cash and cash equivalents:
Restricted cash	641,994	970,306
Other assets	431,934	390,504
Liabilities:
Bonds and notes payable	21,702,298	25,105,704
Other liabilities	168,637	290,996
Fair value of derivative instruments	0	66,453
Common stock:
Net assets of consolidated education lending variable interest entities	$ 1,112,469	$ 988,187