CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 7,514,510	$ 7,559,754
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	$ 4,222,568	$ 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)	137,540,345	137,326,824
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	137,540,345	137,326,824
Number of shares in deferred compensation plan (in shares)	91,746	77,928
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 7,514,510	$ 7,559,754
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	$ 4,222,568	$ 4,116,699
General partner, OP units outstanding (in units)	12,222	12,222
Limited partner, OP units outstanding (in units)	137,619,869	137,392,530
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Investments in real estate, net
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	$ 591,263	$ 788,393
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Investments in real estate, net | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	591,263	788,393
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	36,988	59,908
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	36,988	59,908
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other assets
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	14,818	18,387
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Other assets | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' assets	14,818	18,387
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Secured mortgage and construction debt, net
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	417,248	418,241
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Secured mortgage and construction debt, net | AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	417,248	418,241
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Consolidated variable interest entities' liabilities	40,071	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	$ 40,071	$ 56,976