Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,505,109	$ 8,529,842
Investment securities, available for sale	1,406,506	1,491,459
Contract receivables, net	59,916,477	63,750,870
Deferred income taxes	4,962,872	4,949,368
Income tax receivable	2,296,211	0
Other current assets	2,168,431	2,254,415
Total current assets	82,255,606	80,975,954
Property, building and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, $22,418,772 and $21,040,900	11,971,332	9,961,304
Deferred income taxes	1,233,066	1,300,181
Other assets	2,045,469	2,030,203
Total assets	97,505,473	94,267,642
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	9,261,520	13,097,765
Demand loan payable	10,580,912	0
Accrued payroll costs	8,257,339	9,146,711
Income taxes payable	0	1,195,741
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	439,827	1,689,920
Billings in excess of revenue	8,760,929	7,727,725
Other accrued liabilities	4,554,486	6,139,423
Total current liabilities	41,855,013	38,997,285
Income taxes payable	182,856	339,027
Deferred income taxes	525,106	525,106
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	221,179	448,391
Commitments and contingencies (see note 12)	0	0
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 2,000,000 shares; no shares issued	0	0
Capital in excess of par value	19,577,243	19,983,029
Retained earnings	31,499,209	30,797,763
Accumulated other comprehensive income	978,012	1,527,189
Treasury stock - Class A common, 88,617 and 136,461 shares; Class B common, 64,801 shares, at cost	(1,897,032)	(2,317,515)
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity	50,201,370	50,034,404
Noncontrolling interests	4,519,949	3,923,429
Total shareholders' equity	54,721,319	53,957,833
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	97,505,473	94,267,642
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	26,851	26,851
Total shareholders' equity	26,851	26,851
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	17,087	17,087
Total shareholders' equity	$ 17,087	$ 17,087