Revenue - Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2024
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	$ 163,215	$ 153,122	$ 490,532	$ 460,449
Instructional services, net of grants and scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	148,785	141,358	448,897	424,881
Graduation fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	1,225	794	3,222	1,913
Textbook and other course materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	11,815	9,934	34,504	30,579
Other fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	1,390	1,036	3,909	3,076
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	162,407	145,078	482,666	441,807
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	808	8,044	7,866	18,642
Corporate and Other \| Instructional services, net of grants and scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	808	8,044	7,866	18,642
Corporate and Other \| Graduation fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other \| Textbook and other course materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other \| Other fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
APUS \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	83,137	76,981	248,814	234,685
APUS \| Operating Segments \| Instructional services, net of grants and scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	81,583	76,037	244,652	232,261
APUS \| Operating Segments \| Graduation fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	1,225	794	3,222	1,913
APUS \| Operating Segments \| Textbook and other course materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
APUS \| Operating Segments \| Other fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	329	150	940	511
RU \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	60,830	52,604	179,602	158,773
RU \| Operating Segments \| Instructional services, net of grants and scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	51,256	44,263	151,418	133,675
RU \| Operating Segments \| Graduation fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
RU \| Operating Segments \| Textbook and other course materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	8,853	7,814	26,168	23,507
RU \| Operating Segments \| Other fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	721	527	2,016	1,591
HCN \| Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	18,440	15,493	54,250	48,349
HCN \| Operating Segments \| Instructional services, net of grants and scholarships
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	15,138	13,014	44,961	40,303
HCN \| Operating Segments \| Graduation fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	0	0	0	0
HCN \| Operating Segments \| Textbook and other course materials
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	2,962	2,120	8,336	7,072
HCN \| Operating Segments \| Other fees
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenue	$ 340	$ 359	$ 953	$ 974

AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC 10-Q