Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 1,178,690	$ 1,326,435
Operating income	264,485	407,116
Interest income	589	983
Interest expense	(1,999)	(2,170)
Other, net	141	(54)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	263,216	405,875
Restructuring and other charges	5,562	3,846
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment	16,788	0
Assets	2,953,651		3,269,706
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	1,057,069	1,197,791
Operating income	292,038	407,434
Restructuring and other charges	5,562	3,846
Assets	1,128,141		1,016,005
Bpp Apollo Global [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	80,081	79,738
Operating income	11,172	16,572
Assets	319,268		303,107
Apollo Global Other [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	22,676	23,488
Operating income	(23,308)	(7,789)
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment	16,788
Assets	102,052		146,490
Total Apollo Global [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	102,757	103,226
Operating income	(12,136)	8,783
Assets	421,320		449,597
Other Schools [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	18,864	25,269
Operating income	716	4,263
Assets	19,865		24,073
Corporate [Member]
Segment reporting [Line Items]
Net revenue	0	149
Operating income	(16,133)	(13,364)
Assets	$ 1,384,325		$ 1,780,031