Consolidated Statements of Income Unaudited (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Income Unaudited [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 36,151,483	$ 40,173,399	$ 72,973,251	$ 82,485,205
Cost of professional services and other direct operating expenses	12,339,950	12,769,082	25,647,950	28,346,785
Subcontract costs	5,411,710	9,587,945	12,427,068	18,700,085
Administrative and indirect operating expenses	11,274,618	11,630,073	22,341,132	22,829,327
Marketing and related costs	3,169,380	3,883,727	7,043,535	7,826,007
Depreciation and amortization	600,479	435,202	1,183,767	876,039
Income from operations	3,355,346	1,867,370	4,329,799	3,906,962
Interest expense	(101,356)	(83,676)	(185,106)	(163,976)
Interest income	52,692	20,184	111,112	31,866
Other income	19,668	11,245	13,426	120,523
Net foreign exchange loss	(69,619)	(130,181)	(114,789)	(126,849)
Income before income tax provision	3,256,731	1,684,942	4,154,442	3,768,526
Income tax provision	1,325,589	381,867	1,680,204	1,060,184
Net income	1,931,142	1,303,075	2,474,238	2,708,342
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20,056)	(799,571)	(320,625)	(1,045,061)
Net income attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc.	$ 1,911,086	$ 503,504	$ 2,153,613	$ 1,663,281
Net income per common share: basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.12	$ 0.51	$ 0.39
Weighted average common shares outstanding: basic and diluted (in shares)	4,246,371	4,242,108	4,245,191	4,222,776