Consolidated Statemets of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
Consolidated Statemets of Income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 36,821,768	$ 42,311,806
Cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses	13,308,000	15,577,703
Subcontract costs	7,015,358	9,112,140
Administrative and indirect operating expenses	11,066,514	11,199,254
Marketing and related costs	3,874,155	3,942,280
Depreciation and amortization	583,288	440,837
Income from operations	974,453	2,039,592
Interest expense	(83,750)	(80,300)
Interest income	58,420	11,682
Other income (expense)	(6,242)	109,278
Net foreign exchange gain (loss)	(45,170)	3,332
Income before income tax provision	897,711	2,083,584
Income tax provision	354,615	678,317
Net income	543,096	1,405,267
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(300,569)	(245,490)
Net income attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc.	$ 242,527	$ 1,159,777
Net income per common share: basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.28
Weighted average common shares outstanding: basic and diluted (in shares)	4,244,010	4,203,445