Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Elements Used in Calculating Basic and Diluted Earnings per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Numerator – basic and diluted earnings per unit:
Net (loss) income	$ (2,653)	$ 18,765	$ 31,796	$ 64,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests – partially owned properties	(109)	(327)	(508)	(949)
Amount allocated to participating securities	(389)	(329)	(857)	(722)
Net (loss) income attributable to common unitholders	(3,151)	18,109	30,431	63,303
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Numerator – basic and diluted earnings per unit:
Net (loss) income	(2,653)	18,765	31,796	64,974
Series A preferred unit distributions	(31)	(37)	(62)	(79)
Amount allocated to participating securities	(389)	(329)	(857)	(722)
Net (loss) income attributable to common unitholders	$ (3,170)	$ 18,295	$ 30,675	$ 63,965
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common units outstanding (in units)	135,643,549	131,760,705	134,866,879	128,258,368
Diluted weighted average common units outstanding (in units)	135,643,549	132,544,449	135,774,323	129,060,406
Earnings per unit:
Net income attributable to common unitholders - basic and diluted (in dollars per unit)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.14	$ 0.23	$ 0.50
Partially owned properties | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Numerator – basic and diluted earnings per unit:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests – partially owned properties	$ (97)	$ (104)	$ (202)	$ (208)
Unvested Restricted Stock Awards
Denominator:
Unvested Restricted Stock Awards (in units)	0	783,744	907,444	802,038
Unvested Restricted Stock Awards | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Denominator:
Unvested Restricted Stock Awards (in units)	0	783,744	907,444	802,038