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Legal and Regulatory Matters - Turkish Regulation and Internal Investigation (Details) ₺ in Thousands, $ in Thousands |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 04, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 TRY (₺) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) license | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  | $ 7,391,723 |  |  |  | $ 7,062,470 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7,391,723 | $ 7,062,470 |
Liabilities |  | 5,390,444 |  |  |  | 6,041,245 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,390,444 | 6,041,245 |
Revenues |  | 1,261,223 | $ 983,394 | $ 1,277,439 | $ 855,933 | 1,175,893 | $ 929,855 | $ 1,231,910 | $ 906,534 |  |  | 4,377,989 | 4,244,192 | $ 4,291,659
Operating income |  | 181,499 | $ (5,696) | $ 243,850 | $ (62,866) | 170,980 | $ 12,502 | $ 210,568 | $ (11,157) |  |  | 356,787 | 382,893 | 336,957
Kendall College, St. Augustine, Walden University, and NewSchool of Architecture and Design |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount |  | 136,900 |  |  |  | 105,600 |  |  |  |  |  | 136,900 | 105,600 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  | 1,419,579 |  |  |  | 1,309,113 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,419,579 | 1,309,113 |
Liabilities |  | 449,561 |  |  |  | 424,297 |  |  |  |  |  | 449,561 | 424,297 |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 123,237 | 113,276 | $ 106,005
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Istanbul Bilgi University |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of licenses canceled by higher education council (license) | license |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |
Charitable contributions | $ 13,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,000 | ₺ 40,000 |  |  |
Required reimbursement from related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,000 |
Required reimbursement, other activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,000 |
Assets |  | 112,000 |  |  |  | 83,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 112,000 | 83,000 |
Liabilities |  | 84,000 |  |  |  | 63,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,000 | 63,000 |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 101,000 | 106,000 |
Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28,000 | 26,000 |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,000 | 6,000 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Istanbul Bilgi University | Consolidation Eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  | $ 37,000 |  |  |  | $ 19,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 37,000 | $ 19,000 |

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