Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Millions				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 03, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) units Segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | Segment						4
Market value of cash and cash equivalents					$ 1,542	$ 1,481	$ 2,497	$ 1,542	$ 760
Deferred technology costs, gross						128	123
Accumulated amortization of deferred technology costs						72	55
Fair value of our long-term debt borrowings						$ 3,600	900
Non-cash impairment charge associated with the an intangible asset acquired					26
Number of reporting units | units						4
Cost of advertisement						$ 33	35	41
Other (Income) Loss [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge					$ 36
Minimum [Member] | Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						3 years
Minimum [Member] | Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						15 years
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						2 years
Maximum [Member] | Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						7 years
Maximum [Member] | Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						40 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment useful life						10 years
McGraw Hill Construction [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business	$ 320
Pre-tax gain (loss) on dispositions						$ 11
Data Center [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business			$ 58
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on dispositions							$ (9)	$ 24
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Other (Income) Loss [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge				$ 6
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Harold W. McGraw III [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Amount of transaction with related party		$ 20
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | McGraw Hill Construction [Member] | Other (Income) Loss [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on dispositions						$ 11
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Data Center [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business			58
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Data Center [Member] | Other (Income) Loss [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on dispositions			$ (3)