Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Short-term investments, maturity term-years	1
Reserves related to uncollectible accounts and refunds	$ 47,900,000	$ 58,300,000
Net balance of capitalized software development costs	61,500,000	74,700,000
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from computations of earnings per share	2,077,000	1,608,000	1,210,000
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	17,000,000	5,700,000
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	100,000	200,000
Advertising expense	261,000,000	266,000,000	246,900,000
Perkins Student Loan Fund
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of Contributions by DeVry Inc.	33.00%
Investment at original values, net of allowances for expected losses on loan collections	2,600,000	2,600,000
Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Minimum protective endowment related to continuing operation in Pennsylvania	500,000
Intangible assets, expected economic lives	2 years
Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets, expected economic lives	15 years
Project DELTA
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost capitalized	2,400,000	18,900,000	25,300,000
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	5 years
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	31 years
Computer, furniture and equipment | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Computer, furniture and equipment | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	8 years
DeVry Brasil
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership interest of parent in subsidiary	3.70%
Tax effect on unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities		200,000
DeVry Inc.
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership interest of parent in subsidiary	96.30%
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	16,600,000	5,000,000
Tax effect on unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities	100,000	100,000
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	7,600,000
Noncontrolling Interest
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	$ 400,000	$ 700,000