CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 7,619,756	$ 7,559,754
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	$ 4,249,850	$ 4,116,699
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	800,000,000	800,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	137,523,031	137,326,824
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	137,523,031	137,326,824
Number of shares in deferred compensation plan (in shares)	81,416	77,928
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 7,619,756	$ 7,559,754
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	$ 4,249,850	$ 4,116,699
General partner, OP units outstanding (in units)	12,222	12,222
Limited partner, OP units outstanding (in units)	137,592,225	137,392,530
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Investments in real estate, net
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 596,506	$ 788,393
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Investments in real estate, net | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	596,506	788,393
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	37,711	59,908
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	37,711	59,908
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other assets
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	14,794	18,387
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other assets | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	14,794	18,387
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Secured mortgage and construction debt, net
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	417,765	418,241
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Secured mortgage and construction debt, net | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	417,765	418,241
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	34,317	56,976
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	$ 34,317	$ 56,976