Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 255,835	$ 227,705	$ 217,371	$ 242,131	$ 245,873	$ 213,469	$ 201,059	$ 220,409	$ 943,042	$ 880,810	$ 796,447
Operating income	55,743	27,307	37,841	58,999	67,520	21,501	73,168	50,406	179,890	212,595	141,906
Net income	25,848	19,336	10,210	31,368	49,621	(2,737)	45,990	26,250	86,762	119,124	70,121
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,128)	887	176	(1,728)	(2,117)	392	19	(323)	(1,793)	(2,029)	(1,083)
Net income attributable to ACC, Inc. and Subsidiaries common stockholders	$ 24,720	$ 20,223	$ 10,386	$ 29,640	$ 47,504	$ (2,345)	$ 46,009	$ 25,927	$ 84,969	$ 117,095	$ 69,038
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.34	$ (0.02)	$ 0.33	$ 0.19	$ 0.61	$ 0.84	$ 0.50
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.34	$ (0.02)	$ 0.33	$ 0.18	$ 0.60	$ 0.84	$ 0.50
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 255,835	$ 227,705	$ 217,371	$ 242,131	$ 245,873	$ 213,469	$ 201,059	$ 220,409	$ 943,042	$ 880,810	$ 796,447
Operating income	55,743	27,307	37,841	58,999	67,520	21,501	73,168	50,406	179,890	212,595	141,906
Net income	25,848	19,336	10,210	31,368	49,621	(2,737)	45,990	26,250	86,762	119,124	70,121
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,030)	970	230	(1,568)	(1,880)	413	366	(114)	(1,398)	(1,215)
Series A preferred unit distributions	(14)	(14)	(9)	(31)	(31)	(31)	(31)	(31)	(68)	(124)	(124)
Net income attributable to ACC, Inc. and Subsidiaries common stockholders									85,364	117,909	69,686
Net income attributable to common unitholders	$ 24,804	$ 20,292	$ 10,431	$ 29,769	$ 47,710	$ (2,355)	$ 46,325	$ 26,105	$ 85,296	$ 117,785	$ 69,562
Net income (loss) per unit attributable to common unitholders - basic (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.34	$ (0.02)	$ 0.33	$ 0.19	$ 0.61	$ 0.85	$ 0.50
Net income (loss) per unit attributable to common unitholders - diluted (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.18	$ 0.14	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.34	$ (0.02)	$ 0.33	$ 0.18	$ 0.60	$ 0.84	$ 0.50