CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	$ 5,888,343	$ 5,538,161
Cash and cash equivalents	25,476	22,140
Restricted cash	28,319	24,817
Student contracts receivable, net	7,447	8,428
Other assets	275,388	272,367
Total assets	6,224,973	5,865,913
Liabilities:
Secured mortgage, construction and bond debt, net	680,556	688,195
Unsecured notes, net	1,189,775	1,188,737
Unsecured term loans, net	347,417	149,065
Unsecured revolving credit facility	142,286	99,300
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	62,547	76,614
Other liabilities	179,342	158,437
Total liabilities	2,601,923	2,360,348
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling/limited partners interests	55,344	55,078
American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 136,316,192 and 132,225,488 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,363	1,322
Additional paid in capital	4,312,413	4,118,842
Common stock held in rabbi trust, 63,354 and 20,181 shares at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	(1,688)	(975)
Accumulated earnings and dividends	(754,660)	(670,137)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,428)	(4,067)
Total American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries stockholders’ equity	3,554,000	3,444,985
Total equity	3,567,706	3,450,487
Partners’ capital:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,428)	(4,067)
Total liabilities and equity	6,224,973	5,865,913
Wholly-owned properties, net
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	5,805,403	5,427,014
Liabilities:
Secured mortgage, construction and bond debt, net	575,956	583,432
Wholly-owned properties held for sale
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	0	25,350
On-campus participating properties, net
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	82,940	85,797
Partially owned properties
American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries stockholders’ equity:
Noncontrolling interests - partially owned properties	13,706	5,502
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	5,888,343	5,538,161
Cash and cash equivalents	25,476	22,140
Restricted cash	28,319	24,817
Student contracts receivable, net	7,447	8,428
Other assets	275,388	272,367
Total assets	6,224,973	5,865,913
Liabilities:
Secured mortgage, construction and bond debt, net	680,556	688,195
Unsecured notes, net	1,189,775	1,188,737
Unsecured term loans, net	347,417	149,065
Unsecured revolving credit facility	142,286	99,300
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	62,547	76,614
Other liabilities	179,342	158,437
Total liabilities	2,601,923	2,360,348
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling/limited partners interests	55,344	55,078
American Campus Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries stockholders’ equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,428)	(4,067)
Partners’ capital:
General partner - 12,222 OP units outstanding at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016	74	82
Limited partner - 136,367,324 and 132,233,447 OP units outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	3,557,354	3,448,970
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,428)	(4,067)
Total partners’ capital	3,554,000	3,444,985
Total capital	3,567,706	3,450,487
Total liabilities and equity	6,224,973	5,865,913
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | Wholly-owned properties, net
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	5,805,403	5,427,014
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | Wholly-owned properties held for sale
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	0	25,350
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | On-campus participating properties, net
Investments in real estate:
Investments in real estate, net	82,940	85,797
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | Partially owned properties
Partners’ capital:
Noncontrolling interests - partially owned properties	$ 13,706	$ 5,502