Restructuring and Impairment Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions	May 31, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 22,366	$ 26,877	$ 24,430	$ 11,444	$ 73,673	$ 46,772
Goodwill impairments	0			0	73,393	0
Property and equipment impairments	0			0	2,512	5,950
Restructuring and impairment charges	22,366			11,444	149,578	52,722
Balance	81,129	84,179	83,290		83,290
Other	(1,855)	(5,412)	(1,651)
Payments	(22,298)	(24,515)	(21,890)
Balance	79,342	81,129	84,179		79,342
Restructuring gross obligation	144,000				$ 144,000
Minimum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate					3.00%
Maximum [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Discount rate					7.00%
2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					$ 29,700
Number of positions eliminated | Positions					1,400
Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					$ 44,000
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	461,000				461,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	15,787			6,043	46,380	28,292
Goodwill impairments					71,812
University Of Phoenix [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					16,000
University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	339,000				$ 339,000
Number of facilities					150
Apollo Global [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,183			41	$ 1,902	142
Goodwill impairments					0
Apollo Global [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					1,700
Apollo Global [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	19,000				19,000
Other [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	5,396			$ 5,360	25,391	$ 18,338
Goodwill impairments					1,581
Other [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					12,000
Other [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	103,000				103,000
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	0	0	0
Balance	0	0	0		0
Other	0	0	0
Payments	0	0	0
Balance	0	0	0		0
Lease and related costs, net [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	8,973	16,178	10,479
Balance	74,122	72,420	74,990		74,990
Other	(73)	(3,705)	(387)
Payments	(11,597)	(10,771)	(12,662)
Balance	71,425	74,122	72,420		71,425
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	292,000				292,000
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	10,468	7,133	10,380
Balance	3,109	7,169	0		0
Other	(303)	(164)	(53)
Payments	(8,452)	(11,029)	(3,158)
Balance	4,822	3,109	7,169		4,822
Severance and other employee separation costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	802	696	1,058
Balance	2,919	4,011	8,210		8,210
Other	0	0	0
Payments	(1,426)	(1,788)	(5,257)
Balance	2,295	2,919	4,011		2,295
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	116,000				116,000
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | 2016 restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	444	1,058	210
Balance	863	210	0		0
Other	(141)	0	0
Payments	(525)	(405)	0
Balance	641	863	210		641
Other restructuring related costs [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,679	1,812	2,303
Balance	116	369	90		90
Other	(1,338)	(1,543)	(1,211)
Payments	(298)	(522)	(813)
Balance	159	$ 116	$ 369		159
Cumulative costs for restructuring activities	53,000				53,000
Lease abandonment [Member] | University Of Phoenix [Member] | Prior year restructuring [Member]
Restructuring [Line Items]
Restructuring gross obligation	$ 51,000				$ 51,000