Goodwill and Intangibles (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
May 31, 2016
May 31, 2015
May 31, 2016
May 31, 2015
Aug. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill beginning balance     $ 247,190,000    
Career Partner acquisition     92,840,000    
Goodwill impairment $ 0 $ 0 (73,393,000) $ 0  
Currency translation adjustment     (872,000)    
Goodwill ending balance 265,765,000   265,765,000    
Intangible assets, net 200,756,000   200,756,000   $ 143,244,000
Future intangible amortization [Abstract]          
Remainder of 2016 3,831,000   3,831,000    
2017 14,074,000   14,074,000    
2018 10,103,000   10,103,000    
2019 4,937,000   4,937,000    
2020 3,041,000   3,041,000    
2021 2,127,000   2,127,000    
Thereafter 4,845,000   4,845,000    
Total estimated future amortization expense 42,958,000   42,958,000    
University Of Phoenix [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill beginning balance     71,812,000    
Career Partner acquisition     0    
Goodwill impairment     (71,812,000)    
Currency translation adjustment     0    
Goodwill ending balance 0   0    
Tax benefit on goodwill impairment     0    
Apollo Global [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill beginning balance     142,599,000    
Career Partner acquisition     92,840,000    
Goodwill impairment     0    
Currency translation adjustment     (872,000)    
Goodwill ending balance 234,567,000   234,567,000    
Other [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill beginning balance     32,779,000    
Career Partner acquisition     0    
Goodwill impairment     (1,581,000)    
Currency translation adjustment     0    
Goodwill ending balance $ 31,198,000   31,198,000    
Western International University [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill impairment     $ (1,581,000)