GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill		$ 117,176		$ 115,303		$ 115,303
Accumulated impairment losses		(51,649)		(17,932)		(8,594)
Goodwill		65,527		97,371		106,709
Acquisition of FMTI		1,873
Goodwill impairment	9,300	(33,717)	[1]	(9,338)	[2]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Write-off		(1,980)	[4]
Amortization		300		1,400		2,200
Net carrying amount		783
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross carrying amount, Total		5,087		11,964
Acquisition of FMTI		474	[5]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Write-off				(5,838)	[4]
Impairment		(418)	[6]	(1,039)	[7]
Gross carrying amount, Total		3,163		5,087		11,964
Accumulated amortization, Total		2,834		7,310
Amortization		290		1,362
Impairment		(212)	[6]
Accumulated amortization, Total		932		2,834		7,310
Net carrying amount		2,231		2,253
Amortization of intangible assets		300		1,400		2,200
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
2013		225
2014		224
2015		156
2016		112
2017		46
Thereafter		20
Total		783
Indefinite Trade Name [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				480	[3]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		180		660
Reclassification				(480)	[3]
Acquisition of FMTI		0	[5]
Write-off		0	[4]	0	[4]
Impairment		0	[6]	0	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		180		180
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		0		0
Amortization		0		0
Impairment		0	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		0		0
Net carrying amount		180		180
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				480	[3]
Accreditation [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		1,268		2,307
Reclassification				0	[3]
Acquisition of FMTI		0	[5]
Write-off		0	[4]	0	[4]
Impairment		0	[6]	(1,039)	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		1,268		1,268
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		0		0
Amortization		0		0
Impairment		0	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		0		0
Net carrying amount		1,268		1,268
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Student Contracts [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		0		4,827
Acquisition of FMTI		25	[5]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Write-off		0	[4]	(4,827)	[4]
Impairment		0	[6]	0	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		25		0
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		0		4,824
Amortization		25		3
Impairment		0	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		25		0
Net carrying amount		0		0
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Amortization of intangible assets		25		3
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total		0		0
Trade Name [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		509		839
Acquisition of FMTI		25	[5]
Reclassification				480	[3]
Write-off		0	[4]	(810)	[4]
Impairment		(168)	[6]	0	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		366		509
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		262		503
Amortization		74		569
Impairment		(127)	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		209		262
Net carrying amount		157		247
Weighted average amortization period		7 years		6 years
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				(480)	[3]
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				480	[3]
Amortization of intangible assets		74		569
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total		157		247
Curriculum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		1,150		1,150
Acquisition of FMTI		224	[5]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Write-off		0	[4]	0	[4]
Impairment		(250)	[6]	0	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		1,124		1,150
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		620		505
Amortization		135		115
Impairment		(85)	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		670		620
Net carrying amount		454		530
Weighted average amortization period		9 years		10 years
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Amortization of intangible assets		135		115
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total		454		530
Non-compete [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance		1,980		2,181
Acquisition of FMTI		200	[5]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Write-off		(1,980)	[4]	(201)	[4]
Impairment		0	[6]	0	[7]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance		200		1,980
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance		1,952		1,478
Amortization		56		675
Impairment		0	[6]
Accumulated amortization, ending balance		28		1,952
Net carrying amount		172		28
Weighted average amortization period		3 years		3 years
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Reclassification				0	[3]
Amortization of intangible assets		56		675
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total		$ 172		$ 28

[1] $5.5 million included in discontinued operations.

[2] $1.0 million included in discontinued operations.

[3] Reclassification due to the Company's plan to rebrand one of its institutions.

[4] The Company wrote-off the value of fully amortized assets not in service.

[5] The Company purchased FMTI in April 2012. Refer to Note 5 for more information on the purchase.

[6] Refer to Note 1 for more information related to the impairment.

[7] The impairment relates to regional accreditation indefinite intangible asset that is no longer being utilized.