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Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | $ 913,710 | $ 787,102 | $ 1,017,196 | $ 632,216 | $ 951,189 | $ 818,601 | $ 1,017,108 | $ 598,978 | $ 3,350,224 | $ 3,385,876 | $ 3,301,864 |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 239,998 | 264,742 | 264,879 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) | 139,807 | 25,576 | 218,218 | (92,619) | 140,116 | 24,860 | 196,047 | (119,030) | 290,982 | 241,993 | 290,677 |  |
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. | 71,568 | $ (94,789) | $ 224,411 | $ 168,877 | 195,846 | $ (97,958) | $ 116,385 | $ (122,808) | 370,067 | 91,465 | 371,847 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 388,490 |  |  |  | 320,567 |  |  |  | 388,490 | 320,567 | 295,785 |  |
Current assets held for sale | 306,372 |  |  |  | 324,668 |  |  |  | 306,372 | 324,668 |  |  |
Other current assets | 522,271 |  |  |  | 643,459 |  |  |  | 522,271 | 643,459 |  |  |
Total current assets (includes VIE amounts of $483,613 and $407,315, see Note 2) | 1,217,133 |  |  |  | 1,288,694 |  |  |  | 1,217,133 | 1,288,694 |  |  |
Goodwill | 1,707,089 |  |  |  | 1,828,365 |  |  |  | 1,707,089 | 1,828,365 | 1,786,554 |  |
Tradenames | 1,126,244 |  |  |  | 1,167,302 |  |  |  | 1,126,244 | 1,167,302 |  |  |
Other intangible assets, net | 25,429 |  |  |  | 35,779 |  |  |  | 25,429 | 35,779 |  |  |
Long-term assets held for sale | 1,031,459 |  |  |  | 1,224,672 |  |  |  | 1,031,459 | 1,224,672 |  |  |
Other long-term assets | 1,662,282 |  |  |  | 1,846,473 |  |  |  | 1,662,282 | 1,846,473 |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 6,769,636 |  |  |  | 7,391,285 |  |  |  | 6,769,636 | 7,391,285 |  |  |
Current liabilities held for sale | 308,391 |  |  |  | 451,569 |  |  |  | 308,391 | 451,569 |  |  |
Other current liabilities | 881,696 |  |  |  | 923,020 |  |  |  | 881,696 | 923,020 |  |  |
Long-term liabilities held for sale | 354,293 |  |  |  | 405,747 |  |  |  | 354,293 | 405,747 |  |  |
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities | 3,159,914 |  |  |  | 3,609,670 |  |  |  | 3,159,914 | 3,609,670 |  |  |
Total liabilities (includes VIE amounts of $274,744 and $449,561, see Note 2) | 4,704,294 |  |  |  | 5,390,006 |  |  |  | 4,704,294 | 5,390,006 |  |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 2,050,946 |  |  |  | 1,587,282 |  |  |  | 2,050,946 | 1,587,282 | 664,392 | $ 1,632,532 | $ 355,426
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. | 2,061,079 |  |  |  | 1,575,164 |  |  |  | 2,061,079 | 1,575,164 |  |  |
Brazil |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 406,452 |  |  |  | 493,373 |  |  |  | 406,452 | 493,373 | 501,055 |  |
Mexico |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 498,219 |  |  |  | 503,373 |  |  |  | 498,219 | 503,373 | 480,985 |  |
Andean |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 254,259 |  |  |  | 272,181 |  |  |  | 254,259 | 272,181 | 253,911 |  |
Rest of World |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 87,419 |  |  |  | 98,698 |  |  |  | 87,419 | 98,698 | 88,802 |  |
Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,350,224 | 3,385,876 | 3,301,864 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 6,769,636 |  |  |  | 7,391,285 |  |  |  | 6,769,636 | 7,391,285 |  |  |
Operating Segments | Brazil |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 654,300 | 765,746 | 690,804 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 1,011,391 |  |  |  | 1,256,364 |  |  |  | 1,011,391 | 1,256,364 |  |  |
Operating Segments | Mexico |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 646,134 | 646,154 | 626,011 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 971,309 |  |  |  | 969,400 |  |  |  | 971,309 | 969,400 |  |  |
Operating Segments | Andean |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,155,691 | 1,085,640 | 969,717 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 1,608,406 |  |  |  | 1,714,819 |  |  |  | 1,608,406 | 1,714,819 |  |  |
Operating Segments | Rest of World |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 238,006 | 214,720 | 330,423 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 231,421 |  |  |  | 225,429 |  |  |  | 231,421 | 225,429 |  |  |
Other operations including discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 290,982 | 241,993 | 290,677 |  |
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 503,149 | 513,205 | 550,058 |  |
Corporate and eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,133) | (16,758) | (20,067) |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (166,281) | (434,775) | (181,520) |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 1,638,255 |  |  |  | 1,931,126 |  |  |  | 1,638,255 | 1,931,126 |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100,227 | 123,237 | 113,276 |  |
Balance Sheets data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 158,387 |  |  |  | 100,971 |  |  |  | 158,387 | 100,971 |  |  |
Current assets held for sale | 183,880 |  |  |  | 170,229 |  |  |  | 183,880 | 170,229 |  |  |
Other current assets | 141,346 |  |  |  | 136,115 |  |  |  | 141,346 | 136,115 |  |  |
Total current assets (includes VIE amounts of $483,613 and $407,315, see Note 2) | 483,613 |  |  |  | 407,315 |  |  |  | 483,613 | 407,315 |  |  |
Goodwill | 168,473 |  |  |  | 183,812 |  |  |  | 168,473 | 183,812 |  |  |
Tradenames | 66,929 |  |  |  | 74,484 |  |  |  | 66,929 | 74,484 |  |  |
Other intangible assets, net | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Long-term assets held for sale | 165,087 |  |  |  | 369,375 |  |  |  | 165,087 | 369,375 |  |  |
Other long-term assets | 312,711 |  |  |  | 384,593 |  |  |  | 312,711 | 384,593 |  |  |
Total assets (includes VIE amounts of $1,196,813 and $1,419,579, see Note 2) | 1,196,813 |  |  |  | 1,419,579 |  |  |  | 1,196,813 | 1,419,579 |  |  |
Current liabilities held for sale | 101,320 |  |  |  | 183,166 |  |  |  | 101,320 | 183,166 |  |  |
Other current liabilities | 106,657 |  |  |  | 157,981 |  |  |  | 106,657 | 157,981 |  |  |
Long-term liabilities held for sale | 42,265 |  |  |  | 84,760 |  |  |  | 42,265 | 84,760 |  |  |
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities | 24,502 |  |  |  | 23,654 |  |  |  | 24,502 | 23,654 |  |  |
Total liabilities (includes VIE amounts of $274,744 and $449,561, see Note 2) | 274,744 |  |  |  | 449,561 |  |  |  | 274,744 | 449,561 |  |  |
Total stockholders' equity | 922,069 |  |  |  | 970,018 |  |  |  | 922,069 | 970,018 |  |  |
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. | $ 921,747 |  |  |  | $ 948,966 |  |  |  | 921,747 | 948,966 |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 441,388 | 418,123 | 400,317 |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25,489 | 26,899 | 28,351 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,132 | (5,735) | (13,966) |  |
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33,199 | 13,035 | 3,309 |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Operating Segments | Brazil |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 104 | 0 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (71) | (1) | (80) |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Operating Segments | Mexico |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94 | 0 | 0 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (489) | (876) | (967) |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Operating Segments | Andean |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 441,294 | 418,019 | 380,111 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,692 | (4,858) | (17,120) |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Operating Segments | Rest of World |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues, by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 20,206 |  |
Operating income (loss), by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 4,201 |  |

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