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Debt - Debt Refinancing and Senior Notes Due 2019 Exchange Transaction (Details) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
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Oct. 07, 2019 | Oct. 06, 2019 | Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($) | Feb. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Aug. 11, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Apr. 26, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 01, 2017 USD ($) | Apr. 15, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Feb. 06, 2017 $ / shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase payments of long term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,507,790,000 | $ 867,915,000 | $ 3,038,946,000 |  |
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
Revolving Credit Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 121,300,000 |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 81,100,000 |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 2.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) | Debt Instrument, Covenant, Period Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan One | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan One | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Two | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 2.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Two | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Three | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Three | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Four | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Credit Agreement | Term Loan Four | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 0.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of debt |  |  | $ 340,000,000 | $ 1,239,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incremental borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  | $ 565,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Secured Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 202,400,000 | 1,321,629,000 |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  | $ 50,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 93,500,000 |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.25% |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.61% |  |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Alternate Base Rate (ABR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.75% |  |  |  |
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt to consolidated EBITDA ratio |  |  |  |  |  | 275.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 800,000,000 | $ 800,000,000 |  |  |
Senior Notes | Senior Notes Due 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9.25% |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase price, percent |  |  |  |  | 104.625% |  | 104.625% |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  |  |  |  | $ 1,125,443,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redemption price |  |  |  |  | 1,177,495,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal amount redeemed |  |  |  |  | $ 1,205,630,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of debt to be exchanged |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
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% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.93% |  |  |  |
Total senior and other debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14,542,000 | 37,899,000 |  |  |
Debt outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,542,000 | $ 37,899,000 |  |  |
Lines of credit | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.50% |  |  |
Lines of credit | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.00% |  |  |
Lines of credit | Secured Credit Facility | Walden University |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Receivables and intangibles pledged as collateral |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 400,484,000 | $ 403,658,000 |  |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 410,000,000 |  |  | $ 385,000,000 |
Lines of credit | New Credit Facilities | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,600,000,000 |
Borrowing under credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,228,129,000 |  |  |
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 | Term Loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of debt |  |  |  | 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase payments of long term debt |  |  |  | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.03% |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  | 2.50% |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  | 3.50% |  | 4.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  | 0.01 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Debt Conversion, Common Stock Shares Authorized, Amount Divided By Initial Public Offering Price To Determine Number Of Shares Authorized For Issuance + References No definition available. + Details
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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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