Cash transferred related to disposal of assets.

No definition available.

Name:	lope_CashTransferred
Namespace Prefix:	lope_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of direct costs of the disposal including legal, accounting, and other costs incurred to consummate the transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	lope_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss recognized on transaction including transaction expenses and impairments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lope_LossOnTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	lope_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the deferred compensation arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 710
-SubTopic 10
-Section 30
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409875&loc=d3e20015-108363

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate amount of obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to satisfy grantee's tax withholding obligation for award under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of additional cost recognized for award under share-based payment arrangement from occurrence of event accelerating recognition of cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=lope_GrandCanyonUniversityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=lope_UniversityRelatedExpensesMember
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The Transaction - Summary of Disposed Assets, previously Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale Transferred to GCU - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
The Transaction
Loss on Transaction		$ (122)	$ 4,088	$ 770	$ 15,610	$ 1,440	$ 550		$ 3,966	$ 18,370	$ 562
Asset impairment	$ 3,037
Grand Canyon University \| Disposed of by Sale
The Transaction
Cash transferred at closing	$ 34,107
Loss on Transaction										18,370
Transaction costs										5,765
Asset impairment										3,037
Deferred compensation expense										$ 9,568
Grand Canyon University \| Disposed of by Sale \| University related expenses
The Transaction
Share-based compensation expense related to modification and vesting of awards held by transferred employees								$ 7,880
Employer tax expense related to share-based compensation								191
Reversals of employee related liabilities								$ 1,907