| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2407403 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Identified Intangible Assets with Definite Life (Details) (http://www.americanpubliceducation.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsScheduleOfIdentifiedIntangibleAssetsWithDefiniteLifeDetails) |
| Table | Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001201792 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31 | 2013-11-01 - 2013-11-01 | |||||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] | |||||
| Student contracts and relationships | Curricula | Non-compete agreements | Student contracts and relationships | Curricula | Non-compete agreements | |
Useful Life | P6Y | P3Y | P5Y | P6Y | P3Y | P5Y |