Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended											3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2011 Uniacc Apollo Global [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Finite-lived intangible assets [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Finite-lived intangible assets [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Finite-lived intangible assets [Member] Uniacc Apollo Global [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Software and technology [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Software and technology [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Student and customer relationships [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Student and customer relationships [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Copyrights [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Copyrights [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Other finite-lived intangibles [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Other finite-lived intangibles [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Indefinite-lived intangible assets [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Indefinite-lived intangible assets [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Indefinite-lived intangible assets [Member] Uniacc Apollo Global [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Trademarks [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Trademarks [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Accreditations and designations [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Accreditations and designations [Member]
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 206,488,000	$ 155,375,000		$ 90,267,000	$ 49,070,000		$ 42,389,000	$ 3,600,000	$ 14,109,000	$ 9,477,000	$ 20,891,000	$ 20,891,000	$ 12,878,000	$ 15,102,000	$ 116,221,000	$ 106,305,000		$ 108,961,000	$ 98,849,000	$ 7,260,000	$ 7,456,000
Accumulated amortization	(26,830,000)	(30,558,000)		(26,830,000)	(30,558,000)		(1,837,000)	(3,450,000)	(3,298,000)	(6,538,000)	(12,995,000)	(11,521,000)	(8,700,000)	(9,049,000)	0	0		0	0	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation loss	(10,090,000)	(3,700,000)		(3,590,000)	(2,872,000)		0	0	(1,526,000)	(1,284,000)	(868,000)	(422,000)	(1,196,000)	(1,166,000)	(6,500,000)	(828,000)		(5,926,000)	(737,000)	(574,000)	(91,000)
Intangible assets, net	169,568,000	121,117,000		59,847,000	15,640,000		40,552,000	150,000	9,285,000	1,655,000	7,028,000	8,948,000	2,982,000	4,887,000	109,721,000	105,477,000		103,035,000	98,112,000	6,686,000	7,365,000
Intangible assets impairment			$ 4,900,000			$ 1,000,000											$ 3,900,000
Percent of UNIACC students who participate in government loan programs	30.00%