Regulatory (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2010
Sep. 30, 2009
The 90-10 Rule:            
Title IV eligibility, maximum allowable percentage of revenue from Title IV programs over two consecutive years 90.00%          
Title IV eligibility, minimum term of ineligibility once noncompliant 2 years          
Title IV eligibility, maximum allowable percentage of revenue from Title IV programs in any single year 90.00%          
Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, Cohort Default Term 3 years          
Accreditation, Regulatory Terms, Maximum Cohort Default Rate over Prior Three Years 30.00%          
Return of Title IV Funds:            
Deadline for return of unearned funds after student withdrawal 45 days          
Unearned Title IV funds, trigger for letter of credit requirement, noncompliance of return of funds, maximum allowable percentage in either of last two annual audits 5.00%          
Unearned Title IV funds, noncompliance of return of funds, required letter of credit as percentage of required returns 25.00%          
Unearned Title IV funds, actual percentage of noncompliance with return of funds requirement (less than 5%) 5.00% 5.00%        
Composite score   3.0        
Estimated composite score 2.7          
Ashford University            
The 90-10 Rule:            
Actual percentage of revenue from Title IV programs 83.40% 85.60% 86.40%      
University of the Rockies            
The 90-10 Rule:            
Actual percentage of revenue from Title IV programs 88.30% 87.60% 87.30%      
Three-year cohort default rate [Member] | Ashford University            
The 90-10 Rule:            
Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, Cohort Default Rate       15.30% 16.30% 19.80%
Three-year cohort default rate [Member] | University of the Rockies            
The 90-10 Rule:            
Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, Cohort Default Rate       6.60% 8.00% 3.30%
Minimum            
Return of Title IV Funds:            
Composite score 1.5