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Significant Accounting Policies - Components of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Gross Profit [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,307,958 | $ 5,034,199 | $ 4,993,769
Less: Discounts / waivers / scholarships |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (929,969) | (790,007) | (702,110)
Total | $ 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
Tuition and educational services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Profit [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,915,415 | 4,640,159 | 4,562,704
Student fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Profit [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 137,525 | 126,510 | 129,521
Dormitory / residency |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Profit [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,481 | 65,644 | 75,759
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross Profit [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 225,537 | $ 201,886 | $ 225,785
Product Concentration Risk | Gross revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 121.00% | 119.00% | 116.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Gross revenue | Tuition and educational services |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 112.00% | 109.00% | 106.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Gross revenue | Student fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.00% | 3.00% | 3.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Gross revenue | Dormitory / residency |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.00% | 2.00% | 2.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Gross revenue | Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% | 5.00% | 5.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Discounts / waivers / scholarships |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21.00% | 19.00% | 16.00%
Product Concentration Risk | Net revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue, Percentage Of Total Revenue [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Concentration risk |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

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