Accounts receivable, less allowance of $20,560 and $24,960 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Noncurrent receivables, less allowance of $1,662 and $2,033 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Accrued rent Accumulated other comprehensive loss PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization Additional paid-in capital Noncurrent receivables, allowance Accounts receivable, allowance Amortization of deferred finance charges CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) Net income per share (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Cash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-Beginning of period CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS-End of period Interest Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Advance from federal funds Prepaid income taxes Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories (Increase) decrease in assets: Increase (decrease) in liabilities: Pension plan liabilities Prepaid expenses and current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Accounts payable Accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) BALANCE (in shares) BALANCE (in shares) Educational services and facilities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current portion of long-term debt and lease obligations Long-term debt and lease obligations, net of current portion Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes, net Unearned tuition Deferred Revenue, Current Net income per share (in dollars per share) Stock-based compensation expense Loss (gain) on sale of assets Loss (gain) on disposition of assets Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted cash Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Goodwill Interest expense Interest Expense Inventories Total liabilities Liabilities TOTAL Liabilities and Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: NET INCOME Net income Net income NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OTHER: Total other assets Assets, Noncurrent OTHER ASSETS: Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract] NONCURRENT LIABILITIES: OPERATING INCOME Other income Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Net share settlement for equity-based compensation Payments for Repurchase of Other Equity PENSION PLAN Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Prepaid income taxes Prepaid Taxes Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from exercise of stock options PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $116,350 and $111,164 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Provision for doubtful accounts Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Principal payments under capital lease obligations Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Payments on borrowings Repayments of Long-term Debt Purchase of treasury stock Restricted cash Retained earnings REVENUE Revenue, Net Selling, general and administrative CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options Income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current CURRENT ASSETS: Assets, Current [Abstract] Treasury Stock [Member] Diluted (in shares) Basic (in shares) Common Stock [Member] TOTAL Assets Interest income Deferred finance charges, net Other short-term liabilities Other long-term liabilities Deferred income taxes, net Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Statement [Table] ASSETS Statement [Line Items] Treasury stock at cost - 5,910,541 shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Treasury Stock, Value Unearned tuition Other assets, net Basic Diluted Other liabilities Treasury stock, shares (in shares) Preferred stock, no par value - 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 Common stock, no par value - authorized 100,000,000 shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding 28,499,673 shares at June 30, 2011 and 28,109,987 shares at December 31, 2010 Total stockholders' equity BALANCE BALANCE Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES Tax benefit associated with exercise of stock options Tax Benefit from Stock Options Exercised Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Restricted stock Net share settlement for equity-based compensation Exercise of stock options Restricted stock (in shares) Net share settlement for equity-based compensation (in shares) Exercise of stock options (in shares) COSTS AND EXPENSES: Total costs & expenses Costs and Expenses WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Depreciation and amortization COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES DIVIDENDS Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Total adjustments Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses Dividends payable Pension plan liabilities, net Stock-based compensation expense Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract] INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES Prepaid expenses and other current assets Tax benefit of options exercised SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONTINGENCIES Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] LONG-TERM DEBT AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS Debt and Capital Leases Disclosures [Text Block] Stock options Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Liabilities accrued for the purchase of fixed assets SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Advanced Payments From Federal Funds The current portion of funds received from state or federal agencies that has not been applied to the students account. Advanced payments from federal funds Dividends Common Stock Adjustment Adjustment to value of common stock dividends declared and payable during the period. Cash dividend declared true-up Cash paid during the year for: [Abstract] Cash paid during the year for: Deferred Rent Expense Amount of the current period expense charged against operations as an adjustment to the balance of deferred rent. Deferred rent SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES [Abstract] WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS [Abstract] GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS LONG-TERM DEBT AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS [Abstract] LONG-TERM DEBT AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS INCOME TAXES [Abstract] INCOME TAXES CONTINGENCIES [Abstract] CONTINGENCIES PENSION PLAN [Abstract] PENSION PLAN Dividends Disclosure [Text Block] The entire disclosure related to dividends, including amount of dividends declared and dates of record and payment. DIVIDENDS