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Debt - Debt Refinancing and Senior Notes Due 2019 Exchange Transaction (Details) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
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Feb. 01, 2018 | Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Apr. 26, 2017 USD ($) | Apr. 21, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 01, 2017 USD ($) | Apr. 15, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 | Feb. 06, 2017 $ / shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,200,565,000 | $ 3,499,424,000 |  |  |
Deferred financing costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | 81,097,000 | 11,559,000 | $ 11,942,000 |  |
Repurchase payments of long term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,038,946,000 | 1,421,379,000 | $ 528,025,000 |  |
Class A Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Required amount of proceeds received in public offering for exchange agreement to occur |  |  |  |  |  | $ 400,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Gross proceeds from initial public offering, percent of equity value |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |
Class A Common Stock | IPO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale price of common stock in IPO (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  | $ 14.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14.00
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Secured Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,625,344,000 | 1,497,869,000 |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  | 52,000,000 |  |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity under credit facility |  |  | $ 141,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incremental borrowing capacity |  |  | $ 300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt to consolidated EBITDA ratio |  |  | 275.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 800,000,000 | 1,388,036,000 |  |  |
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.25% |
Amount of debt to be exchanged |  |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  | 104.625% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  | $ 1,125,443,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price |  | 1,177,495,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount redeemed |  | $ 1,205,630,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares converted (in shares) | shares |  | 18,683,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock shares issuable, percentage of aggregate principal amount |  | 104.625% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount to be divided by initial public offering price per share, to determine number of shares authorized for exchange |  | $ 261,600,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for interest and special interest accrued |  | $ 11,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period for repurchase of additional principal amount |  |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |  |
Amount able to be purchased after IPO |  |  |  |  |  | $ 62,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase of aggregate principal amount |  |  |  |  | $ 22,556,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase payments of long term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 23,599,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | The Senior Notes due 2025 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  |  | $ 800,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | The Senior Notes due 2025 | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  | 8.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  |  | 106.188% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | The Senior Notes due 2025 | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | The Senior Notes due 2025 | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  |  | 108.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of principal amount redeemed |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes | The Senior Notes due 2025 | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Debt | Exchanged Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of debt to be exchanged |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred financing costs |  |  |  |  |  |  | 70,800,000 |  |  |  |
Lines of credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,195,000 | 47,833,000 |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 42,195,000 | $ 47,833,000 |  |  |
Lines of credit | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.51% | 9.51% |  |  |
Lines of credit | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.50% | 6.50% |  |  |
Lines of credit | Secured Credit Facility | Walden University |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Receivables and intangibles pledged as collateral |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 411,411,000 | $ 409,971,000 |  |  |
Lines of credit | Secured Credit Facility | United States Guarantors |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of collateral pledged (no more than) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65.00% |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | New Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity under credit facility |  |  | $ 385,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | New Credit Facilities | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity under credit facility |  |  | $ 1,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,573,344,000 |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Senior Secured Credit Facility | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of debt converted |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 283,000,000 |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 3.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 2.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of discount rate |  |  | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred financing costs |  |  | $ 16,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of amortization of debt discount |  |  | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of principal amount outstanding prepayment |  |  | 101.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of principal amount outstanding prepayment |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.07% |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 4.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Maximum | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in basis spread on variable rate | 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Minimum | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Minimum | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 4.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Minimum | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 3.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition The value of the financial instrument(s) that the original debt is being converted into in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586 + Details
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- Definition The number of shares issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 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(22)) -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 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6036836-161870 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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