CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY/ CAPITAL - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2017 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Partially owned properties	Common shares	Additional Paid in Capital	Common Stock Held in Rabbi Trust	Accumulated Earnings and Dividends	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties Partially owned properties	AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.	AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties Partially owned properties	General Partner AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.	Limited Partner AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
Equity, December 31, 2016 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			132,225,488		20,181
Equity, December 31, 2016 at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,450,487		$ 1,322	$ 4,118,842	$ (975)	$ (670,137)	$ (4,067)	$ 5,502
Capital, December 31, 2016 (in units) at Dec. 31, 2016												12,222	132,233,447
Capital, December 31, 2016 at Dec. 31, 2016									$ 3,450,487	$ (4,067)	$ 5,502	$ 82	$ 3,448,970
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adjustments to reflect redeemable limited partners' / noncontrolling interests at fair value	2,092			2,092					2,092				2,092
Amortization of restricted stock awards	8,191			8,191					8,191				$ 8,191
Vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (in shares)			165,248		43,173								208,421
Vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units	(4,209)		$ 2	(3,498)	$ (713)				(4,209)				$ (4,209)
Distributions to common and restricted stockholders	(115,811)					(115,811)
Distributions									(115,811)			(11)	$ (115,800)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - partially owned properties	(156)							(156)	(156)		(156)
Issuance of units in exchange for contributions of equity offering proceeds (in shares)													3,925,456
Issuance of units in exchange for contributions of equity offering proceeds									186,825				$ 186,825
Net proceeds from sale of common stock (in shares)			3,925,456
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	186,825		$ 39	186,786
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps and other	435						435		435	435
Amortization of interest rate swap terminations	204						204		204	204
Contributions by noncontrolling interest	8,158	$ 9,400						8,158	8,158		8,158
Net income	31,490					31,288		202	31,490		202	$ 3	$ 31,285
Equity, June 30, 2017 (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017			136,316,192		63,354
Equity, June 30, 2017 at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 3,567,706		$ 1,363	$ 4,312,413	$ (1,688)	$ (754,660)	$ (3,428)	$ 13,706
Capital, June 30, 2017 (in units) at Jun. 30, 2017												12,222	136,367,324
Capital as of June 30, 2017 at Jun. 30, 2017									$ 3,567,706	$ (3,428)	$ 13,706	$ 74	$ 3,557,354