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Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) country | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) entity country | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues | $ 883,152 | $ 773,699 | $ 992,403 | $ 601,072 | $ 892,451 | $ 778,255 | $ 1,005,229 | $ 614,278 | $ 3,250,326 | $ 3,290,213 | $ 3,333,073 |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | (12,531) | $ (27,137) | $ 30,280 | $ 63,329 | 61,333 | $ (37,905) | $ 37,542 | $ 23,914 | $ 53,941 | 84,884 | 77,390 |
Receivables deemed uncollectible, period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |  |
Deferred online course development costs | 55,728 |  |  |  | 57,065 |  |  |  | $ 55,728 | 57,065 |  |
Deferred accreditation costs | 2,697 |  |  |  | 2,734 |  |  |  | 2,697 | 2,734 |  |
Deferred costs, gross | 209,163 |  |  |  | 184,855 |  |  |  | 209,163 | 184,855 |  |
Accumulated amortization of deferred costs | 139,165 |  |  |  | 118,020 |  |  |  | 139,165 | 118,020 |  |
Unamortized balances of deferred financing costs | 66,069 |  |  |  | 88,241 |  |  |  | 66,069 | 88,241 |  |
Advertising costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 227,399 | 232,282 | 222,679 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 861,878 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 861,878 | 0 |  |
Operating lease liabilities | $ 883,916 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 883,916 |  |  |
Operating lease, expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13 |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract cost, amortization period | 2 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract cost, amortization period | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |  |
Peru |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 545,291 | 493,008 | 450,719 |
Undistributed foreign earnings |  |  |  |  | 2,500 |  |  |  |  | 2,500 |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Number of countries with variable interest entities (country) | country | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 39,005 | 100,227 | 123,237 |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,577 | 86,887 | 30,145 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | $ 65,761 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | $ 65,761 | 0 |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Central America & U.S. Campuses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-operating investment income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,331 | $ 11,696 |
Continuing operations | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |
Discontinued operations | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated entities (entity) | entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Commission and Bonuses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost, net | $ 11,573 |  |  |  | $ 7,036 |  |  |  | $ 11,573 | $ 7,036 |  |
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 28,944

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