Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Year	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Short-term investments, maturity term-years	1
Reserves related to uncollectible accounts and refunds	$ 58,900,000	$ 64,300,000
Net balance of capitalized software development costs	74,700,000	67,200,000
Management ownership interest required to make options exercisable prior to January 2013	Falls below five percent
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from computations of earnings per share	1,608,000	1,210,000	759,000
Number of authorized stock repurchase programs		7
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	(5,700,000)	15,900,000
Tax effect on unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities	100,000	100,000
Advertising expense	274,200,000	252,700,000	224,100,000
Perkins Student Loan Fund
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of contributions by federal government	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
Internal Use Software | Maximum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets, expected economic lives	5 years
Project DELTA
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost capitalized	18,900,000	25,300,000	36,200,000
Sixth Repurchase Program
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Repurchase program completion date		June 2012
Seventh Repurchase Program
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Repurchase program commencement date		December 2011
Repurchase program approval date		November 2, 2011
Medical and Healthcare
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Income tax holiday termination year	2043
Veterinary school
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Income tax holiday termination year	2023
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]
Remaining ownership interest owned by management group	16.50%
DeVry Inc.
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Ownership interest of parent in subsidiary	83.50%
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	(5,000,000)	12,800,000
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale marketable securities, net	200,000	200,000
Noncontrolling Interest
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative translation gains (losses)	$ (700,000)	$ 3,100,000