Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	In the first quarter of 2015, Scott W. Steffey resigned from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Career Education Corporation and all other positions held at the Company and its affiliates. The Board appointed Ronald D. McCray, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. McCray will lead the Company while a search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer is conducted. Mr. McCray continues to serve as Chairman and as a member of the Board. In connection with the termination of his employment, Mr. Steffey and the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) effective as of February 12, 2015. Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Company will pay Mr. Steffey $2.5 million in consideration for the cancellation of Mr. Steffey’s outstanding or promised equity and incentive awards, vested and unvested, including but not limited to, stock options, cash-settled stock appreciation rights, cash-settled restricted stock units, restricted stock units and performance units. The $2.5 million payment takes into account Mr. Steffey’s vested equity grants; the acceleration of equity grants due to vest on March 14, 2015; and the 2014 Annual Incentive Plan Bonus, offset by Mr. Steffey’s repayment of the portion of the sign-on award provided under the terms of the Employment Agreement entered into between Mr. Steffey and the Company on April 1, 2013 (the “Employment Agreement”) and Mr. Steffey’s repayment of certain travel and other expenses due the Company. The $2.5 million payment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s 2015 financial performance or financial position as the majority of expenses related to the payment had been previously recorded as of December 31, 2014.

In the first quarter of 2015, Scott W. Steffey resigned from his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Career Education Corporation and all other positions held at the Company and its affiliates. The Board appointed Ronald D. McCray, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. McCray will lead the Company while a search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer is conducted. Mr. McCray continues to serve as Chairman and as a member of the Board.

In connection with the termination of his employment, Mr. Steffey and the Company entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) effective as of February 12, 2015. Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Company will pay Mr. Steffey $2.5 million in consideration for the cancellation of Mr. Steffey’s outstanding or promised equity and incentive awards, vested and unvested, including but not limited to, stock options, cash-settled stock appreciation rights, cash-settled restricted stock units, restricted stock units and performance units. The $2.5 million payment takes into account Mr. Steffey’s vested equity grants; the acceleration of equity grants due to vest on March 14, 2015; and the 2014 Annual Incentive Plan Bonus, offset by Mr. Steffey’s repayment of the portion of the sign-on award provided under the terms of the Employment Agreement entered into between Mr. Steffey and the Company on April 1, 2013 (the “Employment Agreement”) and Mr. Steffey’s repayment of certain travel and other expenses due the Company. The $2.5 million payment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s 2015 financial performance or financial position as the majority of expenses related to the payment had been previously recorded as of December 31, 2014.