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Share-Based Compensation (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Share-Based Compensation Plans [Abstract] |
Summary of the activity related to stock options granted under the Company's Incentive Plan |
|  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |
|  | Summary of Stock Options Outstanding |
|  | Total Shares |  |  | Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share |  |  | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) |  |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($)(1) |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2008 |  |  | 3,247 |  |  | $ | 12.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  |  | 218 |  |  |  | 16.65 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  |  | (102 | ) |  |  | 12.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | (13 | ) |  |  | 12.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2009 |  |  | 3,350 |  |  |  | 12.30 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  |  | 922 |  |  |  | 21.29 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  |  | (144 | ) |  |  | 12.12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | (102 | ) |  |  | 17.45 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2010 |  |  | 4,026 |  |  | $ | 14.24 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Granted |  |  | 1,250 |  |  |  | 15.34 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercised |  |  | (140 | ) |  |  | 12.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | (172 | ) |  |  | 17.29 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2011 |  |  | 4,964 |  |  | $ | 14.47 |  |  |  | 7.67 |  |  | $ | 7,396 |
Exercisable as of December 31, 2011 |  |  | 2,092 |  |  | $ | 12.90 |  |  |  | 7.01 |  |  | $ | 6,403 |
Available for issuance as of December 31, 2011 |  |  | 2,094 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(1) | Aggregate intrinsic value represents the value of the University’s closing stock price on December 31, 2011 ($15.96) in excess of the exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding or exercisable.
Amounts related to options exercised |
|  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Amounts related to options exercised: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intrinsic value realized by optionee |  | $ | 403 |  |  | $ | 1,407 |  |  | $ | 656 |
Actual tax benefit realized by the University for tax deductions |  | $ | 161 |  |  | $ | 563 |  |  | $ | 262 |
Share-based Compensation Expense |
|  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Instructional costs and services |  | $ | 2,935 |  |  | $ | 2,034 |  |  | $ | 771 |
Selling and promotional |  |  | 297 |  |  |  | 233 |  |  |  | 116 |
General and administrative |  |  | 3,220 |  |  |  | 2,782 |  |  |  | 2,532 |
Share-based compensation expense included in operating expenses |  |  | 6,452 |  |  |  | 5,049 |  |  |  | 3,419 |
Tax effect of share-based compensation |  |  | (2,581 | ) |  |  | (2,020 | ) |  |  | (1,368 | )
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax |  | $ | 3,871 |  |  | $ | 3,029 |  |  | $ | 2,051 |
Fair value of the options as of the grant dates using weighted average assumptions |
|  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |
Year Ended December 31, |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Weighted average fair value |  | $ | 6.98 |  |  | $ | 10.74 |  |  | $ | 7.99 |
Expected volatility |  |  | 41.85 | % |  |  | 47.50 | % |  |  | 47.46 | %
Expected life (years) |  |  | 6.50 |  |  |  | 6.50 |  |  |  | 6.47 |
Risk-free interest rate |  |  | 2.58 | % |  |  | 2.87 | % |  |  | 2.81 | %
Dividend yield |  |  | 0 | % |  |  | 0 | % |  |  | 0 | %
Summary of the activity related to restricted and unrestricted stock granted under the Incentive Plan |
|  |  | September 30, |  |  |  | September 30, |
|  | Total Shares |  |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2008 |  |  | 109 |  |  | $ | 12.00 |
Granted |  |  | 9 |  |  |  | 14.88 |
Vested |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2009 |  |  | 118 |  |  |  | 12.21 |
Granted |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 25.16 |
Vested |  |  | 9 |  |  |  | 14.88 |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2010 |  |  | 122 |  |  | $ | 12.66 |
Granted |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 13.42 |
Vested |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 25.16 |
Forfeited, canceled or expired |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 13.42 |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2011 |  |  | 127 |  |  | $ | 12.69 |
Vested as of December 31, 2011 |  |  | 122 |  |  | $ | 12.66 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the allocation of equity-based compensation costs to a given line item on the balance sheet and income statement for the period. This may include the reporting line for the costs and the amount capitalized and expensed. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6793087&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph A240 -Subparagraph g(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section F Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 123R -Paragraph 64 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for share options (or share units) that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, vested and expected to vest, exercisable or convertible at the end of the year, and the number of share options or share units that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Publisher FASB -Number -Article -Subparagraph (c)(1) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 2 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of stock options, including, but not limited to: (a) expected term of share options and similar instruments, (b) expected volatility of the entity's shares, (c) expected dividends, (d) risk-free rate(s), and (e) discount for post-vesting restrictions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Publisher FASB -Number -Article -Subparagraph (f)(2) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 2 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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