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Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2018
entity
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
country
entity
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
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, 2017
USD ($)
country
entity
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Revenues   $ 951,189,000 $ 818,601,000 $ 1,017,108,000 $ 598,978,000 $ 894,416,000 $ 770,833,000 $ 978,493,000 $ 658,122,000 $ 3,385,876,000 $ 3,301,864,000 $ 3,399,774,000
Cash and cash equivalents   320,567,000       295,785,000       $ 320,567,000 295,785,000  
Receivables deemed uncollectible, period                   2 years    
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense   28,879,000 $ (36,309,000) $ 33,943,000 $ 46,413,000 14,829,000 $ (39,268,000) $ 23,698,000 $ 34,187,000 $ 72,926,000 33,446,000 8,354,000
Deferred online course development costs   57,995,000       52,510,000       57,995,000 52,510,000  
Deferred accreditation costs   2,936,000       2,472,000       2,936,000 2,472,000  
Deferred costs, gross   164,552,000       146,087,000       164,552,000 146,087,000  
Accumulated amortization of deferred costs   (103,621,000)       (91,105,000)       (103,621,000) (91,105,000)  
Unamortized balances of deferred financing costs   105,299,000       42,184,000       105,299,000 42,184,000  
Advertising costs                   222,724,000 221,482,000 226,659,000
Restricted cash included in operating cash inflows (outflows)                   3,824,000 (7,686,000) (932,000)
Restricted cash included in investing cash outflows                   (39,848,000) (28,063,000) (15,452,000)
Cumulative effect of adoption to retained earnings   (946,236,000)       (1,037,701,000)       (946,236,000) (1,037,701,000)  
Accounting Standards Update 2015-17                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Decrease in current deferred tax assets           101,500,000         101,500,000  
Decrease in current deferred tax liabilities           5,300,000         5,300,000  
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Pro Forma | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cumulative effect of adoption to retained earnings   $ 2,000,000               2,000,000    
Chile                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Revenues                   $ 617,213,000 564,592,000 536,530,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity                   12    
Number of countries with variable interest entities (country) | country   8               8    
Revenues                   $ 123,237,000 113,276,000 106,005,000
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 100,971,000       $ 72,540,000       100,971,000 72,540,000  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense                   30,145 29,724 6,627
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Chile                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 101,000,000               $ 101,000,000    
Number of entities with cash balances (entity) | entity   3               3    
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Subsequent Event                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Number of VIE entities sold (entity) | entity 1                      
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Central America & U.S. Campuses                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Non-operating investment income                   $ 11,696,000 $ 11,061,000 $ 10,297,000
Continuing Operations | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity                   5    
Discontinued Operations | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary                        
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]                        
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity                   7