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Share-Based Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) employee shares | May 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares granted |  |  | 163 | 192 | 275 |
Forfeiture of shares by transferred employees at closing of transaction |  |  | 95 | 34 | 9 |
Minimum eligible age to participate in the plan |  |  | 21 years |  |  |
University made discretionary matching contributions | $ |  |  | $ 1,625 | $ 2,837 | $ 1,920 |
Grand Canyon University [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of former employees hired | 100 | 100 |  |  |  |
Share-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards | $ |  |  | 7,880 |  |  |
Recognized deferred compensation plan expense for former GCE employees | $ |  |  | $ 9,568 |  |  |
2017 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares available for grant |  |  | 1,910 |  |  |
Maximum | 2017 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares available for grant |  |  | 3,000 |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares withheld for taxes |  |  | 151 | 151 | 114 |
Common stock in lieu of taxes | $ |  |  | $ 15,152 | $ 9,790 | $ 4,695 |
Unrecognized share-based compensation cost | $ |  |  | $ 20,376 |  |  |
Costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period |  |  | 2 years 11 days |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Grand Canyon University [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares issued under plan | 82 | 82,027 |  |  |  |
Share-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards | $ | $ 7,880 | $ 7,880 |  |  |  |
Recognized deferred compensation plan expense for former GCE employees | $ | $ 9,568 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeiture of shares by transferred employees at closing of transaction | 86 |  |  |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Non-employee [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares granted |  |  | 3 | 4 | 11 |
Vesting period |  |  | 1 year |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares granted |  |  | 160 | 188 | 264 |
Vesting period |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting right percentage |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting right percentage |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting right percentage |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award Tranche Four [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting right percentage |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Restricted Stock Grants [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award Tranche Five [Member] | 2008 Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting right percentage |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |
Employee Stock Option [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Vesting period |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years
Expiration period of options |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years
Options granted |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 |

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- Definition The amount of adjustment to stockholders' equity associated with an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the deferred compensation arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 710 -SubTopic 10 -Section 30 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409875&loc=d3e20015-108363 + Details
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- Definition Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer settles employees' income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), net of any shares forfeited. Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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