v3.20.2

Stockholders' Equity - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2019
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 22,001 | $ 16,535 | $ 63,962 | $ 36,086
Curriculum and teaching |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 21 | 30 | 212 | 38
Servicing and support |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 3,409 | 2,626 | 10,979 | 6,129
Technology and content development |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 3,059 | 2,228 | 9,164 | 5,732
Marketing and sales |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 1,618 | 2,238 | 6,704 | 4,981
General and administrative |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations |  |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 13,894 | $ 9,413 | $ 36,903 | $ 19,206

X
- Definition Amount of expense for award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes amount capitalized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115993241&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=twou_CurriculumAndTeachingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=twou_ServicingAndSupportMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=twou_TechnologyAndContentDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |