Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Selling and Marketing Expense Selling and promotional, including $401 and $2,347 to related parties for March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively Selling and promotional expenses to related parties Selling and promotional expenses to related parties General and administrative General and Administrative Expense Total costs and expenses Costs and Expenses, Total Total costs and expenses Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Interest expense Interest Expense Interest expense Interest income Investment Income, Interest Interest income Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract] Earnings per share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic income per share Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted income per share Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic weighted average shares outstanding Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Diluted ASSETS: Assets [Abstract] Current assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $13,169 and $14,961 at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Net of allowance for doubtful accounts Net of allowance for doubtful accounts Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Other current assets Other Assets, Current Other current assets Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Goodwill Goodwill Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Total assets Assets, Total Total assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued liabilities Litigation Reserve, Current Accrued litigation loss Accrued exit costs Restructuring Reserve, Current Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Due to related parties Due to Related Parties, Current Current portion of capital lease obligations Capital Lease Obligations, Current Current portion of notes payable Notes Payable, Current Current portion of notes payable Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current, Total Capital lease obligations, less current portion Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 45,812 and 45,811 shares issued and 44,817 and 45,761 shares outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Common stock, par value Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated earnings Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity, Total Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Cash flows provided by operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Share-based compensation Share-based Compensation Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Amortization of debt issuance costs Amortization of Financing Costs Provision for bad debts Provision for Doubtful Accounts Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Other Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Changes in assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Prepaid expenses and other Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other Due To From Related Parties Due to/from related parties Due to/from related parties Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Trade Accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Income Taxes Payable Income taxes receivable/payable Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows used in investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Capital expenditures Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Available-for-sale Securities Proceeds from sale or maturity of investments Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities: Principal Payments On Notes Payable And Capital Lease Obligations Principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations Principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations Principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Net proceeds from exercise of stock options Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Net proceeds from exercise of stock options Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Cash paid for interest Interest Paid Cash paid for income taxes Income Taxes Paid Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Tax Benefit Of Warrant Intangible Tax benefit of Spirit warrant intangible Tax benefit of Spirit warrant intangible Nature of Business Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Net Income Per Common Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Regulatory [Text Block] Regulatory Regulatory Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Balance Sheets [Abstract] Income Statements [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Shares, Issued Ending Balance, shares Beginning Balance, shares Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized gains (losses) on hedging derivatives Unrealized gain on hedging derivatives, net of taxes of $21 Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized losses on available for sale securities Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options, shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Tax effect on unrealized loss on hedging derivatives Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Accumulated Earnings Nature of Business [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract] Valuation and Qualifying Accounts. Property and Equipment [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies. Income Taxes [Abstract] Regulatory [Abstract] Regulatory. SPIRIT TRANSACTION AND LOAN AGREEMENT [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Instructional Costs and Services Instructional costs and services Costs directly attributable to educational services, including salaries and benefits for full-time faculty, administrators and academic advisors, and costs associated with adjunct faculty. Also includes costs for educational supplies such as books, costs associated with academic records and graduation, and other university services such as evaluating transcripts. Prepaid Royalties Noncurrent Prepaid royalties Prepaid Royalties Noncurrent. Additional Paid in Capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Total Additional paid-in capital Revenues Revenues, Total Net revenue Business Exit Costs Exit costs Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash, Total Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Restricted cash and cash equivalents Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, at cost, 995 and 50 shares of common stock at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares outstanding Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Common stock purchased for treasury Other Increase (Decrease) in Provision for Restructuring Exit costs Notes Payable, Noncurrent Notes payable, less current portion Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Other noncurrent liabilities Employee-related Liabilities, Current Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued compensation and benefits Customer Deposits, Current Student deposits Deferred Revenue, Current Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred revenue Income Taxes Receivable Income taxes receivable Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent Restricted cash Treasury Stock Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Common stock purchased for treasury, Shares Treasury Stock [Abstract] Schedule of Treasury Stock by Class [Text Block] Treasury Stock Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent events. Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events Other Comprehensive Income, Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Realized gains on available for sale securities Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Student Deposits Outstanding Student deposits Increase decrease in student deposits outstanding. Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of treasury stock