SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	9 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2018
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]
Business Activities	Business Activities— Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults. The Company, which currently operates 23 schools in 14 states, offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which among other programs include HVAC, welding and computerized numerical control and electronic systems technology), healthcare services (which among other programs include nursing, dental assistant, medical administrative assistant and pharmacy technician), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics) and business and information technology (which includes information technology and criminal justice programs). The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln College of New England, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences and associated brand names. Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study. Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas. All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education (the “DOE”) and financial aid programs of applicable state education agencies which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid. We operate in three reportable business segments: (a) the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment, (b) the Healthcare and Other Professions (“HOPS”) segment, and (c) the Transitional segment, which consists of schools that have been or are currently being taught out. In November 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan for the Company to divest the 18 campuses then comprising the HOPS segment due to a strategic shift in the Company’s business strategy. The Company underwent an exhaustive process to divest the HOPS schools which proved successful in attracting various prospective purchasers but, ultimately, did not result in a transaction that our Board believed would enhance shareholder value. By the end of 2017, we had closed seven underperforming campuses leaving a total of eleven campuses remaining under the HOPS segment. By the end of 2018, we will close one additional campus in Southington, Connecticut. The Company believes that the closures of the aforementioned campuses have positioned the HOPS segment and the Company to be profitable going forward. The combination of several factors, including, among other things, the inability of a prospective purchaser of the HOPS segment to close on the purchase, the improvements the Company has implemented in the HOPS segment operations and the closure of seven underperforming campuses, resulted in the Board reevaluating its divestiture plan and the Board’s determination that shareholder value would more likely be enhanced by continuing to operate our HOPS segment as revitalized. Consequently, the Board of Directors has abandoned the plan to divest the HOPS segment and the Company intends to retain and continue to operate the remaining campuses in the HOPS segment. The results of operations of the campuses included in the HOPS segment are reflected as continuing operations in the condensed consolidated financial statements. In 2016, the Company completed the teach-out of its Hartford, Connecticut; Fern Park, Florida; and Henderson (Green Valley), Nevada campuses, which originally operated in the HOPS segment. In 2017, the Company completed the teach-out of its Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; West Palm Beach, Florida; Brockton, Massachusetts; and Lowell, Massachusetts schools, which also were previously in the HOPS segment and all of which were taught out and closed by December 2017 and are included in the Transitional segment as of December 31, 2017. On August 14, 2017, New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. (“NEIT”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, consummated the sale of the real property located at 2400 and 2410 Metrocentre Boulevard East, West Palm Beach, Florida, including the improvements and other personal property located thereon (the “West Palm Beach Property”), to Tambone Companies, LLC, pursuant to a previously disclosed purchase and sale agreement entered into on March 14, 2017. Pursuant to the terms of the sale agreement, as subsequently amended, the purchase price for the West Palm Beach Property was $15.8 million. As a result, the Company recorded a gain on the sale in the amount of $1.5 million. As previously disclosed, the West Palm Beach Property served as collateral for a short term loan in the principal amount of $8.0 million obtained by the Company from its lender, Sterling National Bank, on April 28, 2017, which loan matured upon the earlier of the sale of the West Palm Beach Property or October 1, 2017. Accordingly, on August 14, 2017, concurrently with the consummation of the sale of the West Palm Beach Property, the Company repaid the term loan in an aggregate amount of $8.0 million, consisting of principal and accrued interest.
Liquidity	Liquidity—For the last several years, the Company and the proprietary school sector have faced deteriorating earnings. Government regulations have negatively impacted earnings by making it more difficult for potential students to obtain loans, which, when coupled with the overall economic environment, have discouraged potential students from enrolling in post-secondary schools. In light of these factors, the Company has incurred significant operating losses as a result of lower student population. Despite these challenges, the Company believes that its likely sources of cash should be sufficient to fund operations for the next twelve months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. At September 30, 2018, the Company’s sources of cash primarily included cash and cash equivalents of $18.0 million (of which $7.8 million is restricted). The Company’s cash balance is affected by seasonality such that the cash balance is lower in the first half of the year and increases in the second half of the year. Refer to Note 5 for more information on the Company’s revolving loan facility. The Company is also continuing to take actions to improve cash flow by aligning its cost structure to its student population.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations. These statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2017 consolidated financial statements and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of its financial statements, including those related to revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements – In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-14, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” This ASU adds, modifies and clarifies several disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the effect that this ASU will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The FASB has issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) — Scope of Modification Accounting.” ASU 2017-09 applies to entities that change the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The FASB adopted ASU 2017-09 to provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice as well as cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to the modification of the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments provide guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. ASU 2017-09 is effective for all entities for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The adoption of ASU 2017-09, which was adopted on January 1, 2018, had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)”. The updated guidance allows entities to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. Under the Tax Act, deferred taxes were adjusted to reflect the reduction of the historical corporate income tax rate to the newly enacted corporate income tax rate, which left the tax effects on items within accumulated other comprehensive income stranded at an inappropriate tax rate. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act is recognized. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18: “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” This guidance was issued to address the disparity that exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The amendments will require that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The amendments were applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company includes in its cash and cash-equivalent balances in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows those amounts that have been classified as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents for each of the periods presented. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” to address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The amendments include ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)—Principal versus Agent Considerations,” issued in March 2016, which clarifies the implementation guidance for principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09, and ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)—Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,” issued in April 2016, which amends the guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 related to identifying performance obligations. The new standard, which supersedes previously existing revenue recognition guidance, creates a five-step model for revenue recognition requiring companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The five-step model requires (1) identifying the contract, (2) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognizing revenue at the time that each performance obligation is satisfied. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. We adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. The Company’s revenue streams primarily consist of tuition and related services provided to students over the course of the program as well as other transactional revenue such as tools. Based on the Company's assessment, the analysis of the contract portfolio under ASU 2016-10 results in the revenue for the majority of the Company's student contracts being recognized over time which is consistent with the Company's previous revenue recognition model. For all student contracts, there is continuous transfer of control to the student and the number of performance obligations under ASU 2016-10 is consistent with those identified under the existing standard. The impact of the adoption of the new standard on revenue recognition for student contracts is immaterial on its condensed consolidated financial statements. See additional information in Note 3. In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for substantially all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. Leases will be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statements of income. The guidance is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that the update will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and we plan on adopting this on January 1, 2019.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation – The Company measures the value of stock options on the grant date at fair value, using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company amortizes the fair value of stock options, net of estimated forfeitures, utilizing straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. The Company measures the value of service and performance-based restricted stock on the fair value of a share of common stock on the date of the grant. The Company amortizes the fair value of service-based restricted stock utilizing straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. The Company amortizes the fair value of the performance-based restricted stock based on the determination of the probable outcome of the performance condition. If the performance condition is expected to be met, then the Company amortizes the fair value of the number of shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite performance period of the grant. However, if the associated performance condition is not expected to be met, then the Company does not recognize the stock-based compensation expense.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered. In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable. A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considered, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns. Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates, or future income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods. See information regarding the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in Note 7. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not recognize any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions.

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.