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Subsequent Events (Details) € in Thousands, ¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands, $ in Thousands |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Jan. 25, 2018 USD ($) | Jan. 25, 2018 CNY (¥) | Jan. 25, 2018 HKD ($) | Jan. 15, 2018 USD ($) | Jan. 11, 2018 EUR (€) | Apr. 26, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) educational_institution | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | 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 ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) stundent | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Jan. 25, 2018 CNY (¥) | Jan. 25, 2018 HKD ($) | Nov. 22, 2017 EUR (€)
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (181,499) | $ 5,696 | $ (243,850) | $ 62,866 | $ (170,980) | $ (12,502) | $ (210,568) | $ 11,157 |  | (356,787) | (382,893) | (336,957) |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 264,742 | 264,879 | 282,946 |  |  |
Cash interest payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 384,290 | 367,334 | 351,430 |  |  |
Chile |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 617,258 | $ 564,631 | $ 536,542 |  |  |
Subsidiaries | Chile | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of educational institutions (educational institution) | educational_institution |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsidiaries | Chile | Minimum | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Write-off of net assets due to deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in revenue due to deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 410,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsidiaries | Chile | Maximum | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Write-off of net assets due to deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 850,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in revenue due to deconsolidation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 430,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Kendall College | Guarantor Subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,300 |  |  |  |  |
Operating loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 23,000 |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,700 |  |  |  |  |
Number of students within the institution (student) | stundent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,100 |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Term Loan | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Term Loan | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from dispositions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 275,000 |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations | European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration received from dispositions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 267,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 267,000 |  |  |  |  | € 225,000
Number of students within the institution (student) | stundent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,500 |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations | LEI Lie Ying Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of students within the institution (student) | stundent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,100 |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Payment Guarantee | Construction Contracts | Kendall College |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, amount of loan |  |  |  |  | $ 14,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor obligation, term |  |  |  |  | P10Y |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for transaction fees of guarantor agreement |  |  |  |  | $ 500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Lines of credit | Term Loan | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of debt | $ 350,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash interest payments | $ 1,239 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Lines of credit | Term Loan | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Lines of credit | Term Loan | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from dispositions | € |  |  |  |  |  | € 232,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | LEI Lie Ying Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from dispositions |  | $ 95,000 | ¥ 625,000 | $ 745,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal transaction fees |  | 3,000 | 20,000 | 23,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from first holdback payment |  | 18,300 | 120,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from second holdback payment |  | 9,150 | 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations | LEI Lie Ying Limited | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from dispositions |  | 33,000 | 214,840 | 256,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal transaction fees |  | 13,000 | 86,000 | 102,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations | LEI Lie Ying Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration received from dispositions |  | 218,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ¥ 1,430,000 | $ 1,706,000 |
Consideration adjustments from dispositions |  | $ 7,600 | ¥ 50,000 | $ 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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