Goodwill and Intangibles (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance			$ 247,190,000
Career Partner acquisition			92,840,000
Goodwill impairment	$ 0	$ 0	(73,393,000)	$ 0
Currency translation adjustment			(872,000)
Goodwill ending balance	265,765,000		265,765,000
Intangible assets, net	200,756,000		200,756,000		$ 143,244,000
Future intangible amortization [Abstract]
Remainder of 2016	3,831,000		3,831,000
2017	14,074,000		14,074,000
2018	10,103,000		10,103,000
2019	4,937,000		4,937,000
2020	3,041,000		3,041,000
2021	2,127,000		2,127,000
Thereafter	4,845,000		4,845,000
Total estimated future amortization expense	42,958,000		42,958,000
University Of Phoenix [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance			71,812,000
Career Partner acquisition			0
Goodwill impairment			(71,812,000)
Currency translation adjustment			0
Goodwill ending balance	0		0
Tax benefit on goodwill impairment			0
Apollo Global [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance			142,599,000
Career Partner acquisition			92,840,000
Goodwill impairment			0
Currency translation adjustment			(872,000)
Goodwill ending balance	234,567,000		234,567,000
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill beginning balance			32,779,000
Career Partner acquisition			0
Goodwill impairment			(1,581,000)
Currency translation adjustment			0
Goodwill ending balance	$ 31,198,000		31,198,000
Western International University [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment			$ (1,581,000)