7Baggers

Nelnet, Inc
(NYSE:NNI) 

NNI stock logo

Nelnet, Inc. engages in loan servicing, communications, and education technology, services, and payment processing businesses worldwide. The company's Loan Servicing and Systems is involved in loan servicing activities, such as loan conversion, application processing, borrower updates, customer serv...

Founded: 1996
Full Time Employees: 6,600
Sector: Financial Services
Industry: Credit Services

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At a glance:
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Quarterly
Annual
    Unit: USD2026-03-31 2025-12-31 2025-09-30 2025-06-30 2025-03-31 2024-12-31 2024-09-30 2024-06-30 2024-03-31 2023-12-31 2023-09-30 2023-06-30 2023-03-31 2022-12-31 2022-09-30 2022-06-30 2022-03-31 2021-12-31 2021-09-30 2021-06-30 2021-03-31 2020-12-31 2020-09-30 2020-06-30 2020-03-31 2019-12-31 2019-09-30 2019-06-30 2019-03-31 2019-02-07 2018-12-31 2018-09-30 2018-06-30 2018-03-31 2018-02-07 2017-12-31 2017-09-30 2017-06-30 2017-03-31 2016-12-31 2016-09-30 2016-06-30 2016-03-31 2015-12-31 2015-09-30 2015-06-30 2015-03-31 2014-12-31 2014-09-30 2014-06-30 2014-03-31 2013-12-31 2013-09-30 2013-06-30 2013-03-31 2012-12-31 2012-09-30 2012-06-30 2012-03-31 2011-12-31 2011-09-30 2011-06-30 2011-03-31 2010-12-31 2010-09-30 2010-06-30 2010-03-31 2009-12-31 2009-09-30 2009-06-30 2009-03-31 2008-12-31 2008-09-30 2008-06-30 2008-03-31 2007-12-31 2006-12-31 2005-12-31 
                                                                                  
      interest income:
                                                                                  
      loan interest
    171,024,000 184,825,000 162,717,000 172,104,000 166,439,000 178,434,000 190,211,000 202,129,000 216,724,000 227,233,000 236,423,000 243,045,000 225,243,000 228,878,000 176,244,000 134,706,000 111,377,000 112,118,000 124,096,000 122,005,000 124,117,000 132,674,000 134,507,000 146,140,000 181,793,000 204,638,000 229,063,000 238,222,000 242,333,000  244,252,000 232,320,000 223,371,000 197,723,000  195,280,000 191,755,000 189,488,000 181,207,000 183,505,000 193,721,000 184,067,000 189,988,000 190,778,000 187,701,000 175,835,000 171,944,000 182,783,000 187,862,000 175,466,000 156,896,000 165,865,000 158,675,000 158,063,000 155,539,000 154,663,000 150,528,000 150,988,000 153,058,000 156,439,000 156,955,000 138,934,000 137,358,000 149,068,000 159,287,000 155,353,000 134,967,000 135,333,000 143,255,000 160,413,000 170,919,000 265,243,000 284,468,000 296,686,000 329,986,000    
      investment interest
    40,202,000 40,559,000 43,241,000 40,185,000 41,389,000 42,815,000 50,272,000 40,737,000 52,078,000 48,020,000 48,128,000 40,982,000 40,725,000 34,012,000 26,889,000 16,881,000 13,819,000 12,376,000 12,558,000 11,578,000 4,986,000 6,164,000 5,238,000 5,743,000 7,398,000 7,720,000 9,882,000 8,566,000 8,253,000  8,019,000 7,628,000 5,818,000 5,134,000  1,360,000 5,129,000 3,589,000 2,617,000 2,792,000 2,460,000 2,185,000 2,029,000 2,303,000 1,456,000 1,887,000 2,205,000 1,770,000 1,562,000 1,482,000 1,979,000 2,006,000 1,562,000 1,483,000 1,617,000 1,326,000 1,140,000 1,055,000 1,095,000 914,000 672,000 856,000 726,000 1,782,000 1,169,000 1,304,000 1,001,000 1,477,000 1,943,000 2,776,000 4,091,000 8,084,000 9,118,000 9,116,000 11,680,000    
      total interest income
    211,226,000 225,384,000 205,958,000 212,289,000 207,828,000 221,249,000 240,483,000 242,866,000 268,802,000 275,253,000 284,551,000 284,027,000 265,968,000 262,890,000 203,133,000 151,587,000 125,196,000 124,494,000 136,654,000 133,583,000 129,103,000 138,838,000 139,745,000 151,883,000 189,191,000 212,358,000 238,945,000 246,788,000 250,586,000  252,271,000 239,948,000 229,189,000 202,857,000  196,640,000 196,884,000 193,077,000 183,824,000 186,297,000 196,181,000 186,252,000 192,017,000 193,081,000 189,157,000 177,722,000 174,149,000 184,553,000 189,424,000 176,948,000 158,875,000 167,871,000 160,237,000 159,546,000 157,156,000 155,989,000 151,668,000 152,043,000 154,153,000 157,353,000 157,627,000 139,790,000 138,084,000 150,850,000 160,456,000 156,657,000 135,968,000 136,810,000 145,198,000 163,189,000 175,010,000 273,327,000 293,586,000 305,802,000 341,666,000    
      interest expense on bonds and notes payable and bank deposits
    109,583,000 118,273,000 120,708,000 132,854,000 125,114,000 141,170,000 168,328,000 176,459,000 194,580,000 205,335,000 207,159,000 233,148,000 199,449,000 181,790,000 126,625,000 73,642,000 48,079,000                                                              
      net interest income
    101,643,000 107,111,000 85,250,000 79,435,000 82,714,000 80,079,000 72,155,000 66,407,000 74,222,000 69,918,000 77,392,000 50,879,000 66,519,000 81,100,000 76,508,000 77,945,000 77,117,000 76,200,000 86,478,000 83,592,000 101,330,000 86,555,000 81,322,000 66,635,000 55,073,000 64,252,000 66,457,000 59,825,000 58,816,000  69,539,000 59,773,000 57,739,000 67,307,000  73,239,000 75,234,000 79,841,000 76,925,000 78,961,000 99,795,000 92,200,000 101,609,000 112,215,000 111,993,000 105,096,000 102,595,000 112,492,000 117,487,000 107,713,000 98,871,000 108,736,000 104,922,000 101,419,000 98,798,000 90,598,000 85,266,000 84,567,000 84,856,000 93,291,000 96,761,000 88,736,000 85,777,000 96,335,000 92,213,000 97,414,000 85,109,000 80,548,000 69,182,000 57,107,000 28,508,000 38,459,000 59,570,000 73,338,000 16,525,000    
      less provision for loan losses
    53,244,000   17,930,000 15,337,000 22,056,000 18,111,000  10,928,000 13,631,500 10,659,000             2,999,000  13,000,000 10,000,000 9,000,000 7,000,000  5,000,000 10,500,000 3,500,000 4,000,000  5,450,000 6,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 6,000,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 2,150,000 2,000,000 3,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 2,500,000 3,500,000 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000 3,500,000 5,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 5,250,000 5,250,000 3,750,000 6,000,000 5,500,000 6,200,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 7,500,000 8,000,000 7,500,000 7,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000    
      less provision for beneficial interests
    4,130,000                                                                              
      net interest income after provision
    44,269,000                                                                              
      other income:
                                                                                  
      loan servicing and systems revenue
    127,842,000 116,572,000 151,052,000 120,724,000 120,741,000 137,980,000 108,175,000 109,052,000 127,201,000 128,816,000 127,892,000 122,020,000 139,227,000 140,021,000 134,197,000 124,873,000 136,368,000 150,402,000 112,351,000 112,094,000 111,517,000 113,990,000 113,794,000 111,042,000 112,735,000 113,086,000 113,286,000 113,985,000 114,898,000  112,762,000 112,579,000 114,545,000 100,141,000                                             
      education technology services and payments revenue
    154,436,000 112,314,000 129,321,000 118,184,000 147,330,000 108,335,000 118,179,000 116,909,000 143,539,000                                                                      
      reinsurance premiums earned
    22,536,000 33,538,000 23,165,000 26,112,000 24,687,000                                                                          
      solar construction revenue
     3,379,000 5,738,000 1,259,000 3,995,000 13,828,000 19,321,000 9,694,000 13,726,000 11,982,000 6,301,000 4,735,000 8,651,000 15,185,000 9,358,000                                                                
      other
    10,437,000 15,186,000 35,730,000 22,976,000 23,694,000 -16,455,000 32,325,000 28,871,000 17,015,000 -27,494,000 -211,000 -7,011,000 -14,071,000 736,000 2,225,000 12,647,000 9,877,000 48,498,000 11,867,000 22,921,000 -4,604,000                       27,637,000 30,419,000 31,958,000 29,129,000 37,310,000 36,676,000 40,377,000 35,627,000 40,349,000 39,887,000 34,365,000 34,941,000 32,811,000 29,989,000 30,908,000 32,263,000 29,639,000 28,904,000 28,767,000 26,105,000 9,658,000 6,694,000 9,613,000 9,188,000 8,529,000 7,773,000 9,544,000 7,804,000 21,411,000 9,155,000 9,028,000 8,968,000    
      derivative market value adjustments and derivative settlements
    2,167,000 2,330,000 -27,000 -3,122,000 -5,578,000 14,880,000 -11,525,000 3,182,000 9,721,000 -8,654,000 3,957,000 2,070,000 -14,074,000 13,424,000 63,262,000 45,024,000 142,925,000 42,578,000 1,351,000 -6,989,000 34,505,000 -11,059,000 1,049,000 1,910,000 -16,365,000 -8,489,750 1,668,000 -24,088,000 -11,539,000                                                  
      total other income
    317,418,000 284,881,000 342,507,000 461,177,000 315,778,000 358,398,000 237,316,000 258,494,000 311,161,000 190,740,000 252,123,000 247,183,000 265,148,000             223,854,000 219,114,000 182,149,000 206,128,000  160,833,000 216,577,000 200,218,000 254,907,000  108,833,000 125,196,000 81,859,000 115,737,000 192,900,000 145,075,000 58,426,000 84,865,000 138,921,000 87,921,000 124,201,000 117,069,000 109,869,000 133,847,000 125,342,000 125,908,000 115,015,000 101,175,000 163,088,000 119,864,000 114,898,000 83,493,000 87,052,000 98,839,000 120,287,000 85,128,000 75,302,000 105,413,000 177,083,000 72,980,000 96,996,000 110,510,000 138,112,000 101,885,000 62,370,000 112,619,000 124,990,000 88,853,000 92,503,000 16,116,000    
      cost of services and expenses:
                                                                                  
      loan servicing contract fulfillment and acquisition costs
    2,087,000 2,055,000 2,021,000 1,845,000 1,633,000                                                                          
      cost to provide education technology services and payments
    49,953,000 38,653,000 50,363,000 39,844,000 48,047,000 38,657,000 45,273,000 40,222,000 48,610,000                                                                      
      cost to provide solar construction services
     12,325,000 7,607,000 14,050,000 7,828,000 28,558,000 26,815,000 8,072,000 14,229,000 23,372,000 7,783,000 9,122,000 8,299,000 14,003,000 5,968,000                                                                
      total cost of services
    52,040,000 53,033,000 59,991,000 55,739,000 57,508,000 69,104,000 72,088,000 48,294,000 62,839,000 62,751,000 51,477,000 49,529,000 56,003,000 53,333,000 48,644,000   28,597,000 31,335,000 21,676,000 27,052,000 24,354,000 31,157,000 21,119,000 28,388,000 24,329,000 30,907,000 20,972,000 25,818,000  20,513,000 23,397,000 15,182,000 17,400,000                                             
      salaries and benefits
    139,371,000 141,086,000 144,778,000 134,699,000 138,223,000 147,230,000 146,192,000 139,634,000 143,875,000 152,917,000 141,204,000 144,706,000 152,710,000 151,569,000 147,198,000 141,398,000 149,414,000 143,781,000 128,592,000 118,968,000 115,791,000 136,612,000 126,096,000 119,247,000 119,878,000 124,561,000 116,670,000 111,214,000 111,059,000  114,247,000 114,172,000 111,118,000 96,643,000  81,201,000 74,193,000 74,628,000 71,863,000 68,017,000 63,743,000 60,923,000 63,242,000 64,862,000 63,215,000 58,787,000 61,050,000 60,609,000 61,098,000 53,888,000 52,484,000 52,120,000 48,712,000 47,432,000 47,905,000 48,633,000 46,395,000 48,703,000 49,095,000 47,026,000 44,132,000 42,881,000 43,912,000 43,320,000 41,085,000 41,034,000 41,641,000 39,316,000 37,810,000 40,180,000 38,226,000 41,262,000 44,739,000 43,549,000 53,843,000    
      depreciation and amortization
    9,170,000 9,365,000 7,327,000 7,624,000 9,255,000 12,544,000 13,661,000 15,142,000 16,769,000 22,004,000 21,835,000 18,652,000 16,627,000 20,099,000 18,772,000 18,250,000 16,956,000 17,612,000 15,710,000 20,236,000 20,184,000 31,350,000 30,308,000 29,393,000 27,648,000 28,651,000 27,701,000 24,484,000 24,213,000  23,953,000 22,992,000 21,494,000 18,457,000  11,854,000 10,051,000 9,038,000 8,598,000 9,116,000 8,994,000 8,183,000 7,640,000 7,203,000 6,977,000 6,501,000 5,662,000 5,644,000 5,493,000 5,214,000 4,783,000 5,274,000 4,340,000 4,320,000 4,377,000 8,861,000 8,402,000 8,226,000 8,136,000 8,282,000 7,917,000 6,769,000 6,776,000 7,461,000 7,577,000 8,282,000 8,491,000 7,257,000 8,769,000 9,527,000 10,083,000 11,451,000 10,781,000 10,603,000 10,834,000    
      reinsurance losses and underwriting expenses
    23,605,000 25,715,000 19,962,000 25,662,000 22,212,000                                                                          
      other expenses
    61,840,000 58,368,000 53,669,000 51,306,000 48,226,000 11,225,000 61,642,000 59,792,000 56,845,000 51,697,000 51,370,000  40,785,000 50,481,000 43,858,000 36,940,000 39,499,000 37,858,000 38,324,000 32,587,000 36,698,000 45,390,000 34,744,000 37,052,000  56,141,000 54,947,000 42,261,000 40,923,000  46,952,000 45,194,000 40,409,000 33,417,000  37,026,000 30,518,000 27,528,000 26,547,000 31,245,000 26,391,000 29,409,000 28,376,000                                    
      total operating expenses
    233,986,000 264,146,000 225,736,000 219,291,000 217,916,000 226,245,000 221,495,000 214,568,000 217,489,000 226,618,000 214,409,000 209,355,000 210,122,000 222,149,000 209,828,000 196,588,000 205,869,000 199,251,000 182,626,000 171,791,000 172,673,000 213,352,000 191,148,000 185,692,000 190,910,000 199,922,000 202,700,000 181,115,000 179,088,000  187,783,000 185,445,000 176,225,000 151,653,000  136,392,000 125,333,000 119,017,000 114,987,000 115,801,000 106,792,000 107,412,000 111,512,000 117,223,000 120,938,000 115,828,000 115,228,000 114,906,000 117,445,000 112,790,000 107,369,000 111,607,000 107,607,000 102,904,000 106,865,000 109,244,000 104,937,000 108,211,000 111,172,000 102,691,000 104,778,000 100,557,000 99,632,000 131,274,000 160,287,000 108,221,000 103,704,000 123,044,000 92,662,000 97,356,000 92,571,000 110,186,000 103,669,000 97,922,000 128,837,000    
      income before income taxes
    75,661,000 46,379,000 136,448,000 237,364,000 106,140,000 78,443,000 -2,223,000 58,428,000 94,127,000 -39,635,000 52,970,000 29,586,000 31,267,000 33,442,000 127,055,000 108,387,000 240,583,000 168,222,000 66,868,000 109,250,000 157,765,000 302,180,000 90,332,000 107,874,000 -49,898,000 50,855,000 41,964,000 30,887,000 53,038,000  17,076,000 57,008,000 63,050,000 149,161,000  40,230,000 69,097,000 40,683,000 76,675,000 153,060,000 132,078,000 41,214,000 72,462,000 130,913,000 75,976,000 111,319,000 102,436,000 103,955,000 131,889,000 118,765,000 114,910,000 108,644,000 93,490,000 156,603,000 106,797,000 92,752,000 58,822,000 56,408,000 66,523,000 103,887,000 71,861,000 58,231,000 87,808,000 136,144,000 -594,000 79,989,000 86,915,000   14,121,000 41,056,000 -380,750 37,754,000  -101,196,000    
      income tax expense
    -20,061,000   59,510,000 25,010,000 15,016,000 -282,000 14,753,000 23,119,000 -9,722,000 10,734,000 10,491,000 8,250,000 5,459,000 26,586,000 25,483,000 55,697,000 39,075,000 15,649,000 26,237,000  70,574,000 19,156,000 21,264,000  9,022,000 8,829,000 6,209,000 11,391,000  -4,599,000 13,882,000 13,511,000 35,976,000  -5,486,000 25,562,000 16,032,000 28,755,000 54,129,000 47,715,000 15,036,000 24,433,000 47,395,000 26,999,000 40,356,000 37,630,000 30,036,000 46,513,000 43,078,000 40,611,000 37,556,000 30,444,000 54,746,000 38,447,000 156,055,000 -21,870,000 -14,878,000 -23,230,000   -21,106,000 -32,928,000   -29,996,000 -32,593,000 -30,553,000 -24,501,000   16,103,000 13,969,000 19,195,000 -31,371,000    
      net income
    55,600,000 38,687,000 100,675,000 177,854,000 81,130,000 63,427,000 -1,941,000 43,675,000 71,008,000 -29,913,000 42,236,000 19,095,000 23,017,000 27,983,000 100,469,000 82,904,000 184,886,000 129,147,000 51,219,000 83,013,000 122,904,000 231,606,000 71,176,000 86,610,000 -39,765,000 41,833,000 33,135,000 24,678,000 41,647,000  21,675,000 43,126,000 49,539,000 113,185,000  45,716,000 43,535,000 24,651,000 47,920,000 98,931,000 84,363,000 26,178,000 48,029,000 83,518,000 48,977,000 70,963,000 64,806,000 73,919,000 85,376,000 75,687,000 74,299,000 71,088,000 63,046,000 101,857,000 68,350,000 56,653,000 36,952,000 41,530,000 43,293,000 64,879,000 47,451,000 37,125,000 54,880,000 85,087,000 -368,000 49,993,000 54,322,000 59,063,000 46,404,000 8,203,000 25,455,000 30,997,000 23,785,000 43,705,000 -69,825,000    
      yoy
    -31.47% -39.01% -5286.76% 307.22% 14.25% -312.04% -104.60% 128.72% 208.50% -206.90% -57.96% -76.97% -87.55% -78.33% 96.16% -0.13% 50.43% -44.24% -28.04% -4.15% -409.08% 453.64% 114.81% 250.96% -195.48%  52.87% -42.78% -15.93%   -5.67% 13.79% 359.15%  -53.79% -48.40% -5.83% -0.23% 18.45% 72.25% -63.11% -25.89% 12.99% -42.63% -6.24% -12.78% 3.98% 35.42% -25.69% 8.70% 25.48% 70.62% 145.26% 57.88% -12.68% -22.13% 11.87% -21.11% -23.75% -12994.29% -25.74% 1.03% 44.06% -100.79% 509.45% 113.40% 90.54% 95.10% -81.23% -136.46%        
      qoq
    43.72% -61.57% -43.39% 119.22% 27.91% -3367.75% -104.44% -38.49% -337.38% -170.82% 121.19% -17.04% -17.75% -72.15% 21.19% -55.16% 43.16% 152.15% -38.30% -32.46% -46.93% 225.40% -17.82% -317.80% -195.06% 26.25% 34.27% -40.74%   -49.74% -12.95% -56.23%   5.01% 76.61% -48.56% -51.56% 17.27% 222.27% -45.50% -42.49% 70.52% -30.98% 9.50% -12.33% -13.42% 12.80% 1.87% 4.52% 12.76% -38.10% 49.02% 20.65% 53.32% -11.02% -4.07% -33.27% 36.73% 27.81% -32.35% -35.50% -23221.47% -100.74% -7.97% -8.03% 27.28% 465.70% -67.77% -17.88% 30.32% -45.58% -162.59%     
      net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
    15,526,000 19,084,000 6,009,000 3,605,000 1,430,000 -268,000 4,329,000 1,416,000 2,202,000 21,359,000 3,096,000  3,470,000 2,791,000 4,329,000 2,225,000 1,761,000 3,536,000 1,919,000 854,000 694,000 3,385,000 327,000   547,000 77,000 -59,000 -56,000  -49,000 -199,000 -104,000 740,000  2,385,000 2,768,000 4,086,000 2,106,000                                        
      net income attributable to nelnet, inc.
    71,126,000 57,771,000 106,684,000 181,459,000 82,560,000 63,159,000 2,388,000 45,091,000 73,210,000 -8,554,000 45,332,000 28,267,000 26,487,000 30,774,000 104,798,000 85,129,000 186,647,000 132,683,000 53,138,000 83,867,000 123,598,000 234,991,000 71,503,000 86,482,000 -40,532,000 42,380,000 33,212,000 24,619,000 41,591,000  21,626,000 42,927,000 49,435,000 113,925,000  48,101,000 46,303,000 28,737,000 50,026,000 98,346,000 84,294,000 26,150,000 47,961,000 83,350,000 48,955,000 70,909,000 64,765,000 73,611,000 85,219,000 74,994,000 73,786,000 70,520,000 62,830,000 101,243,000 68,079,000 56,634,000 36,828,000 41,394,000 43,141,000                    
      earnings per common share:
                                                                                  
      net income attributable to nelnet, inc. shareholders - basic and diluted
    1,970 1,610 2,940 4,970 2,260 1,730 70 1,230 1,970 -220 1,210 750 710 840 2,800 2,260 4,910 3,460 1,380 2,160 3,200 6,030 1,860 2,210 -1,010 1,060 830 610 1,030  530 1,050 1,210 2,780  1,170 1,110 680 1,180 2,320 1,980 610 1,110 1,860 1,090 1,540 1,400 1,590 1,840 1,610 1,590 1,520 1,350 2,170 1,460                        
      weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
    36,076,912,000 36,341,197,000 36,316,315,000 36,485,605,000 36,478,426,000 36,642,533,000 36,430,485,000 36,525,482,000 37,156,971,000 37,416,621,000 37,498,073,000 37,468,397,000 37,344,604,000 37,603,033,000 37,380,493,000 37,710,214,000 38,041,834,000 38,572,801,000 38,595,721,000 38,741,486,000 38,603,555,000 39,059,588,000 38,538,476,000 39,203,404,000 39,955,514,000 40,047,402,000 39,877,129,000 40,050,065,000 40,373,295,000  40,909,022,000 40,988,965,000 40,886,617,000 40,950,528,000  41,791,941,000 41,553,316,000 42,326,540,000 42,291,857,000 42,669,070,000 42,642,213,000 42,635,700,000 43,088,092,000 45,529,340,000 45,047,777,000 45,946,415,000 46,290,590,000 46,469,615,000 46,432,680,000 46,529,377,000 46,527,917,000 46,570,314,000 46,496,612,000 46,626,853,000 46,658,031,000                        
      less (negative provision) provision for loan losses
     7,426,000 -3,563,000                  -17,048,000 18,369,000 -5,821,000                                                        
      net interest income after provision for loan losses
     54,423,500 88,813,000 61,505,000 67,377,000 58,023,000 54,044,000 62,796,000 63,294,000 58,994,000 66,733,000  32,244,000 53,299,000 66,843,000 68,536,000 77,552,000 77,779,000 80,651,000 83,218,000 118,378,000 96,671,000 87,143,000 63,636,000  51,252,000 56,457,000 50,825,000 51,816,000  64,539,000 49,273,000 54,239,000 63,307,000  67,789,000 69,234,000 77,841,000 75,925,000 75,961,000 93,795,000 90,200,000 99,109,000 109,215,000 108,993,000 102,946,000 100,595,000 108,992,000 115,487,000 106,213,000 96,371,000 105,236,000 99,922,000 96,419,000 93,798,000 87,098,000 80,266,000 77,567,000 78,856,000 86,291,000 91,511,000 83,486,000 82,027,000 90,335,000 86,713,000 91,214,000 80,109,000 74,548,000 61,682,000 49,107,000 21,008,000 31,459,000 52,570,000 67,338,000 11,525,000    
      loss on sale of loans
     -390,500 -2,472,000   42,000 -107,000 -1,438,000                                                               -206,000        
      gain on partial redemption of allo investment
       175,044,000                                                                           
      impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
     5,256,000 9,145,000 10,288,000 1,591,000 79,494,000 -29,052,000 -7,776,000      -9,360,000 121,000 -6,284,000  -4,137,000 -14,159,000 -500,000 2,436,000                                                          
      total expenses
     214,301,250 294,872,000 285,318,000 277,015,000                                                                          
      income tax benefit
     -30,073,500 -35,773,000                  -34,861,000    10,133,000                                   -19,611,000 -24,410,000   -15,590,750 226,000     -5,918,000 -15,601,000        
      gain on sale of loans
        909,000    -41,000 6,988,000 5,362,000 15,511,000 11,812,000 -2,713,000 2,627,000  2,989,000  3,444,000 15,271,000   14,817,000  18,206,000                                             -196,000  -3,988,000       
      cost of services:
                                                                                  
      operating expenses:
                                                                                  
      less provision (negative provision) for loan losses
           3,611,000     34,275,000 27,801,000 9,665,000 9,409,000  -2,711,750 5,827,000 374,000                                                           
      education technology, services, and payment processing revenue
             89,314,500 113,796,000 109,858,000 133,603,000 98,332,000 106,894,000 91,031,000 112,286,000 80,950,000 85,324,000 76,702,000 95,258,000 65,096,000 74,121,000 59,304,000 83,675,000 63,578,000 74,251,000 60,342,000 79,159,000  54,590,000 58,409,000 48,742,000 60,221,000                                             
      impairment and other expense
             -1,243,500 -4,974,000                                                                    
      cost to provide education technology, services, and payment processing services
             32,951,000 43,694,000 40,407,000 47,704,000 39,330,000 42,676,000 30,852,000 35,545,000 28,597,000 31,335,000 21,676,000 27,052,000 18,782,000 25,243,000 15,376,000 22,806,000 19,002,000 25,671,000 15,871,000 21,059,000  15,479,000 19,087,000 11,317,000 13,683,000                                             
      less benefit from loan losses
               9,592,000             76,299,000                                                      
      net interest income after benefit from loan losses
               41,287,000             -21,226,000                                                      
      impairment expense
                         -8,604,750  -332,000 -34,087,000                                                  18,834,000    
      other incomes
               45,997,000             43,384,000                                                      
      net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
               9,172,000            -128,000 -767,000               585,000 69,000 28,000 68,000                                    
      other income/expense:
                                                                                  
      total other income/expense
                 247,605,000 318,684,000 267,291,000 404,445,000 318,291,000 200,178,000 219,499,000 239,112,000 443,215,000 225,494,000 251,049,000 190,626,000                                                      
      less negative provision for loan losses
                    -435,000                                                              
      interest expense:
                                                                                  
      interest on bonds and notes payable and bank deposits
                     48,294,000 50,176,000 49,991,000 27,773,000                                                          
      communications revenue
                         19,253,000 20,211,000 18,998,000 18,181,000 17,499,000 16,470,000 15,758,000 14,543,000  13,326,000 11,818,000 10,320,000 9,189,000  8,123,000 6,751,000 5,719,000 5,106,000 4,492,000 4,343,000 4,478,000 4,346,000                                    
      cost to provide communications services
                         5,572,000 5,914,000 5,743,000 5,582,000 5,327,000 5,236,000 5,101,000 4,759,000  5,034,000 4,310,000 3,865,000 3,717,000  3,161,000 2,632,000 2,203,000 1,954,000 1,697,000 1,784,000 1,681,000 1,703,000                                    
      interest on bonds and notes payable
                         69,447,000 58,423,000 85,248,000 134,118,000 148,106,000 172,488,000 186,963,000 191,770,000  182,732,000 180,175,000 171,450,000 135,550,000  123,401,000 121,650,000 113,236,000 106,899,000 107,336,000 96,386,000 94,052,000 90,408,000 80,866,000 77,164,000 72,626,000 71,554,000 72,061,000 71,937,000 69,235,000 60,004,000 59,135,000 55,315,000 58,127,000 58,358,000 65,391,000 66,402,000 67,476,000 69,297,000 64,062,000 60,866,000 51,054,000 52,307,000 54,515,000 68,243,000 59,243,000 50,859,000 56,262,000 76,016,000 106,082,000 146,502,000 234,868,000 234,016,000 232,464,000 325,141,000    
      other income
                         17,477,500 1,502,000 60,127,000 8,281,000 26,521,000 13,439,000 16,152,000 9,067,000  9,997,000 16,673,000 9,580,000 18,198,000  7,952,000 19,756,000 12,485,000 12,632,000 15,218,000 15,150,000 9,765,000 13,796,000 6,685,000 6,523,000 7,504,000 6,918,000 12,906,000 7,650,000 15,315,000 18,131,000 15,981,000 8,613,000 12,288,000 9,416,000 7,023,000 12,699,000 8,800,000 10,954,000 12,264,000 3,931,000 6,826,000 6,492,000 6,122,000 9,432,000 8,496,000 7,260,000 28,669,000 11,094,000 11,527,000 16,862,000 462,000 1,242,000 1,646,000 1,429,000    
      loan servicing fees to third parties
                             2,357,750 3,382,000 3,156,000 2,893,000                                                  
      gain from debt repurchases
                                     359,000  1,384,250 116,000 442,000 4,980,000                                        
      derivative market value and foreign currency transaction adjustments and derivative settlements
                                  -29,842,000 17,098,000 17,031,000 66,799,000  7,014,000 7,173,000 -27,910,000 -4,830,000                                        
      loan servicing fees
                                  2,357,000 3,087,000 3,204,000 3,136,000  3,150,000 7,939,000 5,620,000 6,025,000 5,726,000 5,880,000 7,216,000 6,928,000 7,384,000 7,793,000 7,420,000 7,685,000                                
      loan systems and servicing revenue
                                       55,921,000 55,950,000 56,899,000 54,229,000                                        
      tuition payment processing, school information, and campus commerce revenue
                                       32,458,000 35,450,000 34,224,000 43,620,000 30,519,000 33,071,000 30,483,000 38,657,000 27,560,000 30,439,000 27,686,000 34,680,000                                
      enrollment services revenue
                                              4,326,000 16,181,000 19,500,000 17,161,000 17,863,000 17,791,000 22,936,000 20,145,000 22,011,000 21,735,000 22,563,000 24,823,000 28,957,000 25,890,000 30,661,000 29,710,000 31,664,000 28,782,000 35,505,000 32,315,000 33,868,000 34,784,000 36,439,000 35,403,000 33,271,000 31,209,000 30,670,000 28,747,000 28,771,000        
      cost to provide enrollment services
                                              3,623,000 10,137,000 12,534,000 11,162,000 11,702,000 11,343,000 14,178,000 13,311,000 14,475,000 13,864,000 14,668,000 16,787,000 19,642,000 16,172,000 20,151,000 20,374,000 21,678,000 17,744,000 23,825,000 22,140,000 22,839,000 21,802,000 23,709,000 24,111,000 22,025,000 18,718,000 20,323,000 18,092,000 17,793,000        
      loan and guaranty servicing revenue
                                           40,270,500 54,350,000 54,402,000 52,330,000 56,694,000 61,520,000 63,833,000 57,811,000 56,538,000 52,659,000 66,460,000 64,757,000 63,167,000 64,582,000 60,078,000 55,601,000 54,584,000 53,285,000 52,391,000 49,488,000 64,705,000 37,927,000 37,389,000 35,636,000 33,126,000 33,464,000 36,652,000 36,394,000 27,467,000 26,006,000 28,803,000 26,471,000        
      gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases
                                           5,721,000 2,160,000  101,000 166,000 597,000 1,515,000 2,875,000 3,594,000  18,000 39,000 799,000 2,138,000 7,355,000 1,407,000 3,009,000 195,000 935,000  33,000   8,307,000 49,810,000 9,885,000 8,759,000 10,177,000            
      derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements
                                           83,186,000 36,001,000 -40,702,000 -28,691,000 31,635,000 -30,658,000 6,502,000 -3,078,000 -5,648,000 24,203,000 1,570,000 -4,265,000 -5,655,000 -16,648,000 40,188,000 1,072,000 6,657,000 -31,275,000 -21,618,000 -15,180,000   -20,335,000                 
      net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
                                               29,250 22,000 54,000 41,000 308,000 157,000 693,000 513,000 568,000 216,000 614,000 271,000 19,000 124,000 136,000 152,000                    
      tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue
                                                   18,367,000 26,399,000 21,834,000 25,235,000 18,988,000 19,927,000 18,356,000 23,411,000 17,735,000 17,928,000 16,834,000 21,913,000 16,893,000 16,774,000 14,761,000 19,369,000 15,120,000 14,527,000 12,795,000 17,382,000 13,521,000 12,987,000 11,848,000 15,538,000        
      net income attributable to nelnet, inc. shareholders - basic
                                                           1,200 780 870 910                    
      net income attributable to nelnet, inc. shareholders - diluted
                                                           1,190 770 870 910                    
      weighted-average common shares outstanding:
                                                                                  
      basic
                                                           47,010,034,000 47,086,098,000 47,049,055,000 46,989,773,000 47,860,824,000 48,059,747,000 48,302,779,000 48,171,317,000 49,127,934,000 48,938,333,000 49,735,398,000 49,716,696,000            
      diluted
                                                           47,236,391,000 47,321,797,000 47,292,147,000 47,184,079,000 48,047,669,000 48,253,888,000 48,488,046,000 48,363,035,000 49,326,686,000 48,938,333,000 49,934,648,000 49,912,589,000            
      dividends paid per common share
                                                              100    70 490 70 70 70            
      software services revenue
                                                               3,436,250 4,622,000 4,346,000 4,777,000 4,481,000 4,624,000 5,499,000 4,344,000 4,740,000 4,600,000 6,119,000 5,705,000        
      derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments
                                                                                  
      and derivative settlements
                                                               -9,250,500 -13,631,000                  
      litigation settlement
                                                                    55,000,000              
      restructure expense
                                                                    4,751,000              
      net earnings - basic
                                                               1,360 980 760 1,130 522.5 -10 1,000 1,090            
      net earnings - diluted
                                                               1,360 980 760 1,130 520 -10 990 1,080            
      derivative market value and foreign currency
                                                                                  
      adjustments and derivative settlements
                                                                  -3,036,000 -11,079,250 -35,391,000 -10,608,000 1,682,000            
      other operating expenses:
                                                                                  
      professional and other services
                                                                   12,174,000 11,428,000 15,151,000 11,241,000 6,883,000 6,584,000 7,721,000 6,077,000 8,005,000 10,963,000 8,478,000 8,107,000    
      occupancy and communications
                                                                   2,998,000 3,632,000 3,652,000 3,588,000 3,242,000 5,122,000 5,588,000 5,354,000 4,266,000 4,194,000 4,914,000 5,841,000    
      postage and distribution
                                                                   3,420,000 2,911,000 2,708,000 2,869,000 2,277,000 1,958,000 2,274,000 2,868,000 2,798,000 3,026,000 2,743,000 3,817,000    
      advertising and marketing
                                                                   2,744,000 2,403,000 2,524,000 3,459,000 2,414,000 1,936,000 1,986,000 1,710,000 17,862,000 18,388,000 16,143,000 16,203,000    
      trustee and other debt related fees
                                                                   1,098,000 1,097,000 1,146,000 1,202,000 1,680,000 2,387,000 2,444,000 2,656,000 3,131,000 2,423,000 2,464,000 2,390,000    
      total other operating expenses
                                                                   87,954,000 119,202,000 67,187,000 62,063,000 83,728,000 54,852,000 57,176,000 54,345,000 68,924,000 58,930,000 54,373,000 74,994,000    
      see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                  
      gain (loss) on sale of loans
                                                                       26,762,000 8,788,000     48,000     
      derivative market value, foreign currency,
                                                                                  
      and put option adjustments and derivative
                                                                                  
      settlements
                                                                       685,000 7,740,000          
      income (loss) before income taxes
                                                                       31,520,500 70,905,000     61,919,000     
      income (loss) from continuing operations
                                                                       20,015,500 46,404,000     42,724,000     
      income from discontinued operations, net of tax
                                                                           837,000       
      earnings (loss) per share, basic and diluted:
                                                                                  
      income from discontinued operations
                                                                           0.005       
      derivative market value, foreign currency, and put option adjustments and derivative settlements
                                                                         -24,478,000 19,478,000 56,016,000 6,874,000 20,192,000 -16,598,000    
      income from continuing operations
                                                                         8,203,000  30,160,000 23,785,000  -69,825,000    
      earnings per share, basic and diluted:
                                                                                  
      earnings per share, basic and diluted
                                                                          0.52        
      loan and guaranty servicing income
                                                                           22,526,000 30,633,000 24,904,000 26,113,000    
      other fee-based income
                                                                           46,082,000 45,887,000 40,817,000 45,913,000    
      software services income
                                                                           3,892,000 4,217,000 4,896,000 6,752,000    
      income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
                                                                             981,000     
      income (loss) from discontinued operations
                                                                             0.02     
      loss on sale of loans and reduction in fair value related to loans held for sale
                                                                              -47,493,000    
    Balance Sheets:
    Quarterly
    Annual
      Unit: USD2026-03-31 2025-12-31 2025-09-30 2025-06-30 2025-03-31 2024-12-31 2024-09-30 2024-06-30 2024-03-31 2023-12-31 2023-09-30 2023-06-30 2023-03-31 2022-12-31 2022-09-30 2022-06-30 2022-03-31 2021-12-31 2021-09-30 2021-06-30 2021-03-31 2020-12-31 2020-09-30 2020-06-30 2020-03-31 2019-12-31 2019-09-30 2019-06-30 2019-03-31 2018-12-31 2018-09-30 2018-06-30 2018-03-31 2017-09-30 2017-06-30 2017-03-31 2016-12-31 2016-09-30 2016-06-30 2016-03-31 2015-12-31 2015-09-30 2015-06-30 2015-03-31 2014-12-31 2014-09-30 2014-06-30 2014-03-31 2013-12-31 2013-09-30 2013-06-30 2013-03-31 2012-12-31 2012-09-30 2012-06-30 2012-03-31 2011-12-31 2011-09-30 2011-06-30 2011-03-31 2010-12-31 2010-09-30 2010-06-30 2010-03-31 2009-12-31 2009-09-30 2009-06-30 2009-03-31 2008-12-31 2008-09-30 2008-06-30 2008-03-31 2007-12-31 2006-12-31 2005-12-31 
                                                                                 
        assets:
                                                                                 
        loans and accrued interest receivable
      10,009,471,000 10,006,695,000 10,227,261,000 10,155,483,000 10,422,704,000 9,992,744,000 10,572,881,000 10,939,519,000 11,829,078,000 13,108,204,000 13,867,557,000 14,360,612,000 14,561,108,000 15,243,889,000 15,876,251,000 16,916,344,000 17,621,576,000 18,335,197,000 19,304,203,000 20,187,670,000 19,737,530,000 20,185,656,000 20,076,542,000 20,460,873,000 21,158,208,000                                                   
        cash and cash equivalents:
                                                                                 
        cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party
      118,660,000 128,142,000 126,956,000 135,256,000 67,107,000 48,838,000 90,731,000 33,000,000 39,407,000 34,912,000 23,722,000 24,834,000 26,539,000 24,584,000 30,800,000 32,849,000 36,111,000 30,128,000 31,966,000 37,243,000 50,586,000 33,292,000 31,998,000 14,242,000 16,045,000 13,922,000 20,897,000 14,065,000 11,844,000 9,472,000 10,766,000 20,739,000 17,200,000 11,313,000 8,538,000 9,616,000 7,841,000 7,678,000 9,225,000 7,519,000 11,379,000 27,613,000 32,222,000 38,071,000 37,781,000 32,610,000 29,863,000 18,374,000 8,537,000 6,421,000 7,819,000 7,219,000 7,567,000 5,776,000 9,845,000 6,693,000 7,299,000 10,465,000 12,851,000 8,915,000  13,667,000 10,968,000 34,107,000  15,077,000     15,629,000     
        cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party
      121,347,000 167,841,000 89,469,000 90,497,000 153,410,000 145,680,000 128,953,000 112,478,000 140,275,000 133,200,000 163,968,000 96,935,000 161,035,000 93,562,000 32,398,000 95,650,000 126,674,000 95,435,000 159,970,000 175,746,000 93,643,000 87,957,000 64,318,000 53,298,000 188,799,000 119,984,000 140,082,000 70,335,000 63,037,000 111,875,000 72,771,000 47,128,000 52,086,000 243,078,000 60,701,000 98,544,000 61,813,000 59,476,000 50,028,000 43,515,000 52,150,000 86,885,000 150,058,000 61,975,000 92,700,000 41,969,000 62,236,000 88,728,000 54,730,000 44,970,000 60,765,000 42,847,000 58,464,000 87,898,000 46,410,000 54,007,000 35,271,000 81,629,000 103,490,000 39,222,000  302,694,000 263,793,000 295,972,000  319,216,000     122,825,000     
        total cash and cash equivalents
      240,007,000 295,983,000 216,425,000 225,753,000 220,517,000 194,518,000 219,684,000 145,478,000 179,682,000 168,112,000 187,690,000 121,769,000 187,574,000 118,146,000 63,198,000 128,499,000 162,785,000 125,563,000 191,936,000 212,989,000 144,229,000 121,249,000 96,316,000 67,540,000 204,844,000 133,906,000 160,979,000 84,400,000 74,881,000 121,347,000 83,537,000 67,867,000 69,286,000 254,391,000 69,239,000 108,160,000 69,654,000 67,154,000 59,253,000 51,034,000 63,529,000 114,498,000 182,280,000 100,046,000 130,481,000 74,579,000 92,099,000 107,102,000 63,267,000 51,391,000 68,584,000 50,066,000 66,031,000 93,674,000 56,255,000 60,700,000 42,570,000 92,094,000 116,341,000 48,137,000 283,801,000 316,361,000 274,761,000 330,079,000 338,181,000 334,293,000 366,827,000 243,705,000 189,847,000 325,007,000 138,454,000 124,171,000 111,746,000 106,086,000 103,650,000 
        investments and notes receivable:
                                                                                 
        investments at fair value
      1,523,237,000 1,414,636,000 1,391,888,000 1,286,729,000 1,238,903,000 1,160,320,000                                                                      
        other investments and notes receivable
      954,124,000 933,335,000 847,637,000 818,210,000 1,063,647,000 1,040,376,000                                                                      
        total investments and notes receivable
      2,477,361,000 2,347,971,000 2,239,525,000 2,104,939,000 2,302,550,000 2,200,696,000                                                                      
        restricted cash
      308,177,000 357,639,000 394,074,000 317,958,000 317,139,000 332,100,000 344,366,000 538,446,000 618,363,000 488,723,000 445,983,000 484,223,000 576,267,000 945,159,000 799,212,000 754,693,000 757,954,000 741,981,000 764,089,000 616,711,000 609,881,000 553,175,000 519,143,000 585,236,000 675,589,000 650,939,000 667,919,000 690,580,000 760,273,000 701,366,000 723,338,000 741,726,000 727,471,000 725,463,000 780,141,000 787,635,000 980,961,000                                  912,252,000 1,700,229,000 842,020,000 1,388,719,000 1,228,570,000 
        restricted cash - due to customers
      282,341,000 319,924,000 156,297,000 258,065,000 294,471,000 404,402,000 334,968,000 259,479,000 142,778,000 368,656,000 158,872,000 208,033,000 134,202,000 294,311,000 180,919,000 290,850,000 256,927,000 326,645,000 295,053,000 247,673,000 193,081,000 283,971,000 286,082,000 268,539,000 219,905,000 437,756,000 309,309,000 279,017,000 216,471,000 369,678,000 188,591,000 154,760,000 128,515,000 105,299,000 136,900,000 93,699,000 119,702,000 91,505,000 132,018,000 85,805,000 144,771,000 100,089,000 117,820,000 71,890,000 118,488,000 72,836,000 98,005,000 180,469,000 167,576,000 93,695,000 84,182,000 47,445,000 96,516,000 98,327,000 63,753,000 38,642,000 109,809,000 52,300,000 64,452,000 63,292,000  54,532,000 37,076,000 39,199,000  50,783,000     29,543,000     
        accounts receivable
      196,910,000 193,453,000 147,822,000 127,490,000 129,864,000 159,934,000 153,638,000 159,836,000 134,647,000 196,200,000 130,068,000 135,690,000 151,172,000 194,851,000 121,945,000 119,774,000 144,902,000 163,315,000 78,508,000 85,884,000 80,283,000 76,460,000 69,916,000 73,783,000 63,206,000 115,391,000 67,079,000 65,414,000 76,013,000 59,531,000 76,899,000 59,171,000 61,394,000 70,628,000 60,246,000 45,944,000 43,972,000 53,408,000 41,964,000 45,465,000 51,345,000 64,640,000 60,893,000 55,968,000 50,552,000 59,510,000 58,321,000 62,423,000 56,072,000 62,951,000 66,016,000 73,239,000 63,638,000 71,399,000 67,001,000 64,215,000 63,654,000  51,116,000  52,614,000    42,043,000  52,106,000 42,575,000 42,088,000 49,204,000 45,986,000 47,752,000 49,084,000 64,859,000 36,331,000 
        goodwill
      203,930,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 158,029,000 176,902,000 176,902,000 176,902,000 176,902,000 172,033,000 149,117,000 142,092,000 142,092,000 142,092,000 142,092,000 142,092,000 142,092,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 156,912,000 153,802,000 153,802,000 158,456,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 147,312,000 146,000,000 126,200,000 126,200,000 126,200,000 126,200,000 126,200,000 126,200,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 117,118,000 143,717,000 143,717,000 143,717,000 143,717,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 175,178,000 164,695,000 191,420,000 99,535,000 
        intangible assets
      97,576,000 29,283,000 31,754,000 33,278,000 34,803,000 36,328,000 38,371,000 40,521,000 42,670,000 44,819,000 51,910,000 57,293,000 60,788,000 63,501,000 70,368,000 70,086,000 49,544,000 52,029,000 55,176,000 58,464,000 66,718,000 75,070,000 58,701,000 66,733,000 74,127,000 81,532,000 89,499,000 97,477,000 105,795,000 114,290,000 95,660,000 102,489,000 107,192,000 40,742,000 43,077,000 45,434,000 47,813,000 50,964,000 54,141,000 48,827,000 51,062,000 35,386,000 37,784,000 40,183,000 42,582,000 42,876,000 44,849,000 9,089,000 6,132,000 6,932,000 7,731,000 8,556,000 9,393,000 14,360,000 19,006,000 23,682,000 28,374,000 33,074,000 37,564,000 34,736,000 38,712,000 43,352,000 48,708,000 54,940,000 53,538,000 59,803,000 65,115,000 70,900,000 77,054,000 83,565,000 90,163,000 92,897,000 112,830,000 162,994,000 153,117,000 
        property and equipment
      84,606,000 75,532,000 93,174,000 85,040,000 89,584,000 95,185,000 124,575,000 131,666,000 149,249,000 127,008,000 126,699,000 130,451,000 132,628,000 122,526,000 127,094,000 123,738,000 120,779,000 119,413,000 117,296,000 128,527,000 130,450,000 123,527,000 360,490,000 350,043,000 351,097,000 348,259,000 342,401,000 337,418,000 335,070,000 344,784,000 339,730,000 328,016,000 299,837,000 208,441,000 181,098,000 143,062,000 123,786,000 107,505,000 96,079,000 88,708,000 80,482,000 46,706,000 48,047,000 51,003,000 45,894,000 44,647,000 35,498,000 33,302,000 33,829,000 33,013,000 34,392,000 31,107,000 31,869,000 32,752,000 33,105,000 34,119,000 34,819,000 33,335,000 34,593,000 31,440,000 30,573,000 28,011,000 27,397,000 27,649,000 26,606,000 28,116,000 31,541,000 34,890,000 38,747,000 43,629,000 46,429,000 48,089,000 55,797,000 67,924,000  
        other assets
      277,538,000 279,274,000 212,321,000 245,053,000 222,297,000 203,817,000 184,300,000 181,428,000 186,399,000 187,957,000 131,313,000 126,353,000 114,398,000 102,842,000 88,999,000 82,462,000 83,604,000 82,887,000 79,473,000 80,896,000 89,845,000 92,020,000 121,597,000 131,849,000 122,801,000 134,308,000 121,806,000 106,647,000 103,841,000 45,533,000 41,889,000 41,388,000 34,509,000 13,230,000 15,123,000 60,364,000 10,245,000 9,647,000 11,084,000 11,470,000 75,344,000 76,133,000 79,996,000 77,097,000 163,208,000 141,156,000 141,989,000 128,597,000 115,043,000 103,021,000 97,016,000 91,737,000 88,976,000 87,871,000 89,714,000 90,587,000 92,275,000 95,055,000 94,224,000 98,812,000 101,054,000 113,597,000 102,372,000 157,005,000 104,940,000 104,333,000 103,429,000 106,105,000 113,666,000 102,446,000 108,662,000 120,523,000 107,624,000 93,166,000 88,889,000 
        total assets
      14,177,917,000 14,063,783,000 13,876,682,000 13,711,088,000 14,191,958,000 13,777,753,000 14,084,128,000 14,501,193,000 15,398,662,000 16,736,645,000 17,222,682,000 17,807,632,000 18,082,609,000 19,374,044,000 19,563,533,000 20,624,013,000 20,989,741,000 21,678,041,000 22,402,739,000 23,028,863,000 22,167,208,000 22,646,160,000 22,222,526,000 22,611,208,000 23,280,628,000 23,708,970,000 23,936,719,000 24,219,800,000 24,721,927,000 25,220,968,000 25,104,925,000 25,209,244,000 23,898,402,000 24,768,710,000 25,323,087,000 26,141,220,000 27,180,108,000 27,669,611,000 28,715,798,000 29,589,347,000 30,485,905,000 31,045,395,000 30,246,823,000 29,955,794,000 30,098,143,000 30,698,649,000 31,371,022,000 27,487,007,000 27,770,849,000 26,536,928,000 26,303,177,000 26,645,224,000 26,607,895,000 24,408,844,000 25,269,142,000 25,446,312,000 25,852,217,000 26,236,227,000 24,871,511,000 25,294,699,000 25,893,892,000 28,586,579,000 28,568,023,000 26,841,945,000 25,876,427,000 27,591,862,000 28,110,542,000 28,093,137,000 27,854,897,000 28,970,015,000 28,431,925,000 30,019,816,000 29,162,783,000 26,796,873,000 22,798,622,000 
        liabilities:
                                                                                 
        bonds and notes payable
      7,699,400,000 7,780,927,000 7,822,531,000 7,903,561,000 8,656,157,000 8,309,797,000 8,938,446,000 9,567,708,000 10,582,513,000 11,828,393,000 12,448,109,000 13,070,140,000 13,438,416,000 14,637,195,000 15,042,595,000 16,115,269,000 16,736,701,000 17,631,089,000 18,610,748,000 19,381,835,000 18,754,715,000 19,320,726,000 19,215,053,000 19,726,158,000 20,466,730,000 20,529,054,000 20,910,190,000 21,294,192,000 21,835,723,000 22,218,740,000 22,251,433,000 22,468,364,000 21,227,349,000 22,240,279,000 22,790,780,000 23,594,516,000 24,668,490,000 25,320,878,000 26,399,686,000 27,349,891,000 28,172,682,000 28,827,603,000 28,070,423,000 27,815,324,000 28,027,350,000 28,737,456,000 29,492,560,000 25,589,287,000 25,955,289,000 24,858,455,000 24,690,952,000 25,125,177,000 25,098,835,000 22,884,096,000 23,836,250,000 24,060,609,000 24,434,540,000 24,926,512,000 23,605,413,000 24,066,092,000 24,672,472,000 27,391,188,000 27,428,772,000 25,756,182,000 24,805,289,000 26,586,093,000 27,169,573,000 27,130,406,000 26,787,959,000 28,004,835,000 27,530,237,000 29,129,133,000 28,115,829,000 25,562,119,000 21,673,620,000 
        accrued interest payable
      16,916,000 20,426,000 19,039,000 19,296,000 22,394,000 21,046,000 25,389,000 27,141,000 31,983,000 35,391,000 36,391,000 35,926,000 34,374,000 36,049,000 21,796,000 12,963,000 7,216,000 4,566,000 4,441,000 4,922,000 5,527,000 28,701,000 29,612,000 32,760,000 43,874,000 47,285,000 52,345,000 56,471,000 62,158,000 61,679,000 60,658,000 63,226,000 54,252,000 47,824,000 47,064,000 46,427,000 45,677,000 42,840,000 39,926,000 38,950,000 31,507,000 31,632,000 28,859,000 27,275,000 25,904,000 25,221,000 24,339,000 22,338,000 21,725,000 14,218,000 14,760,000 15,861,000 14,770,000 16,636,000 18,187,000 19,281,000 19,634,000 16,965,000 17,093,000 15,587,000 19,153,000 19,727,000 22,362,000 16,814,000 19,831,000 24,859,000 34,911,000 48,076,000 81,576,000 92,112,000 86,496,000 92,740,000 129,446,000 120,211,000 94,281,000 
        bank deposits
      1,744,527,000 1,669,173,000 1,476,765,000 1,382,042,000 1,313,407,000 1,186,131,000 1,070,758,000 890,472,000 802,061,000 743,599,000 718,053,000 731,046,000 675,767,000 691,322,000 580,825,000 588,474,000 484,047,000 344,315,000 200,651,000 202,841,000 111,830,000 54,633,000                                                      
        other liabilities
      566,618,000 558,184,000 528,917,000 494,387,000 457,714,000 483,193,000 434,938,000 406,974,000 449,568,000 481,840,000 419,152,000 423,454,000 430,099,000 461,259,000 445,606,000 406,686,000 400,523,000 379,231,000 375,393,000 307,474,000 315,454,000 312,280,000 288,948,000 242,965,000 224,319,000 303,781,000 310,210,000 263,502,000 277,281,000 256,092,000 272,891,000 231,138,000 237,459,000 214,763,000 171,528,000 199,816,000 197,488,000 168,239,000 136,181,000 165,367,000 169,906,000 170,611,000 157,096,000 174,248,000 167,881,000 190,765,000 160,444,000 164,692,000 164,300,000 171,134,000 168,791,000 176,340,000 161,671,000 153,282,000 143,845,000 177,586,000 178,189,000 179,620,000 172,386,000 181,335,000 191,017,000 175,156,000 179,722,000 184,463,000 172,514,000 193,055,000 176,390,000 187,379,000 179,336,000 192,550,000 162,761,000 160,850,000 220,899,000 261,163,000 137,572,000 
        due to customers
      544,444,000 457,844,000 442,735,000 429,109,000 379,277,000 478,469,000 404,459,000 388,876,000 274,757,000 425,507,000 341,822,000 299,552,000 280,624,000 348,317,000 306,352,000 409,476,000 276,191,000 366,002,000 354,543,000 303,173,000 230,581,000 301,471,000 286,082,000 268,539,000 219,905,000 437,756,000 309,309,000 279,017,000 216,471,000 369,678,000 188,591,000 154,760,000 128,515,000 105,299,000 136,900,000 93,699,000 119,702,000 91,505,000 132,018,000 85,805,000 144,771,000 100,089,000 117,820,000 71,890,000 118,488,000 72,836,000 98,005,000 180,469,000 167,576,000 93,695,000 84,182,000 47,445,000 96,516,000 98,327,000 63,753,000 38,642,000 109,809,000 52,300,000 64,452,000 63,292,000 88,528,000 54,532,000 37,076,000 39,199,000 91,741,000 50,783,000 41,127,000 55,610,000 160,985,000 47,859,000 29,543,000 48,955,000 81,845,000 153,557,000 153,098,000 
        total liabilities
      10,571,905,000 10,486,554,000 10,289,987,000 10,228,395,000 10,828,949,000 10,478,636,000 10,873,990,000 11,281,171,000 12,140,882,000 13,514,730,000 13,963,527,000 14,560,118,000 14,859,280,000 16,174,142,000 16,397,174,000 17,532,868,000 17,904,678,000 18,725,203,000 19,545,776,000 20,200,245,000 19,418,107,000 20,017,811,000 19,819,695,000 20,270,422,000 20,954,828,000 21,317,876,000 21,582,054,000 21,893,182,000 22,391,633,000 22,906,189,000 22,777,797,000 22,922,541,000 21,653,176,000 22,638,270,000 23,192,678,000 24,013,553,000 25,109,183,000 25,688,515,000 26,809,582,000 27,702,421,000 28,593,747,000 29,209,996,000 28,441,331,000 28,174,301,000 28,372,465,000 29,041,092,000 29,790,894,000 25,973,333,000 26,326,859,000 25,159,015,000 24,983,582,000 25,418,820,000 25,442,682,000 23,232,606,000 24,124,244,000 24,338,439,000 24,786,012,000 25,224,744,000 23,882,727,000 24,339,332,000 24,987,259,000 27,741,965,000 27,694,078,000 26,002,732,000 25,091,864,000 26,863,788,000 27,429,355,000 27,421,535,000 27,211,671,000 28,360,285,000 27,847,883,000 29,481,709,000 28,553,904,000 26,125,023,000 22,148,504,000 
        commitments and contingencies
                                                                                 
        equity:
                                                                                 
        nelnet, inc. shareholders' equity:
                                                                                 
        preferred stock, 0.01 par value. authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding
                                                                                 
        common stock:
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,334,870 shares and 25,259,718 shares, respectively
      253,000                                                                           
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,616,675 shares
      106,000                                                                           
        additional paid-in capital
      1,535,000 1,481,000 1,058,000 637,000 6,649,000 7,389,000 4,179,000 657,000 1,101,000 3,096,000 14,165,000 10,114,000 4,639,000 1,109,000 837,000 1,180,000 1,208,000 1,000,000 1,593,000 10,158,000 5,859,000 3,794,000 1,704,000 1,867,000 9,140,000 5,715,000 3,678,000 1,670,000 636,000 622,000 4,908,000 2,586,000 448,000 360,000 366,000 2,236,000 420,000 224,000 4,601,000 2,913,000  1,441,000  13,177,000 17,290,000 18,150,000 20,721,000 27,138,000 24,887,000 24,068,000 27,004,000 27,786,000 32,540,000 52,843,000 52,194,000 50,948,000 49,245,000 54,685,000 74,646,000 73,502,000 76,263,000 75,636,000 101,232,000 112,980,000 109,359,000 108,442,000 107,959,000 106,678,000 103,762,000 101,757,000 99,854,000 97,875,000 96,185,000 182,846,000 220,432,000 
        retained earnings
      3,732,931,000 3,681,333,000 3,648,375,000 3,576,192,000 3,412,939,000 3,340,540,000 3,287,541,000 3,295,301,000 3,312,869,000 3,279,273,000 3,305,881,000 3,270,250,000 3,251,677,000 3,234,844,000 3,208,044,000 3,127,687,000 3,092,226,000 2,940,523,000 2,843,799,000 2,812,315,000 2,736,923,000 2,621,762,000 2,393,113,000 2,331,312,000 2,310,282,000 2,377,627,000 2,343,185,000 2,317,115,000 2,321,407,000 2,299,556,000 2,307,573,000 2,271,171,000 2,231,875,000 2,106,895,000 2,110,158,000 2,100,214,000 2,056,084,000 1,971,862,000 1,894,551,000 1,873,500,000 1,881,708,000 1,830,387,000 1,801,457,000 1,762,711,000 1,702,560,000 1,633,577,000 1,552,988,000 1,482,637,000 1,413,492,000 1,347,609,000 1,289,416,000 1,192,822,000 1,129,389,000 1,124,806,000 1,092,715,000 1,056,058,000 1,017,629,000 957,463,000 914,823,000 882,550,000 831,057,000 769,665,000 773,468,000 726,982,000 676,154,000 620,583,000 574,179,000 565,976,000 540,521,000 509,524,000 485,739,000 442,034,000 515,317,000 496,341,000 428,186,000 
        accumulated other comprehensive earnings
      -3,534,000 2,619,000 3,497,000 -2,208,000 -429,000 1,470,000        -37,366,000 -28,639,000 -31,858,000 -5,500,000 9,304,000 13,479,000 10,941,000 9,022,000 6,102,000 4,284,000 3,233,000 859,000 2,972,000 2,890,000 3,144,000 3,552,000 3,883,000 3,975,000 2,704,000 3,022,000 4,187,000 4,251,000 5,315,000 4,730,000 -424,000 -2,277,000 1,416,000 2,284,000 2,876,000 3,283,000 4,872,000 5,135,000 5,099,000 5,569,000 2,679,000 4,819,000 5,722,000 2,597,000 5,050,000 2,813,000                       
        total nelnet, inc. shareholders' equity
      3,731,291,000 3,685,792,000 3,653,290,000 3,574,983,000 3,419,523,000 3,349,762,000 3,290,652,000 3,294,061,000 3,305,862,000 3,262,621,000 3,294,981,000 3,259,279,000 3,229,683,000 3,198,959,000 3,180,614,000 3,097,382,000 3,088,313,000 2,951,206,000 2,859,254,000 2,833,800,000 2,752,190,000 2,632,042,000 2,399,485,000 2,336,796,000 2,320,680,000 2,386,712,000 2,350,150,000 2,322,326,000 2,325,996,000 2,304,464,000 2,316,864,000 2,276,869,000 2,235,753,000 2,111,851,000 2,115,194,000 2,108,187,000 2,061,655,000 1,972,085,000 1,897,300,000 1,878,254,000 1,884,432,000 1,835,153,000 1,805,192,000 1,781,222,000 1,725,448,000 1,657,289,000 1,579,742,000 1,512,919,000 1,443,662,000 1,377,863,000 1,319,482,000 1,226,123,000 1,165,208,000 1,175,821,000 1,144,605,000 1,107,716,000                    
        noncontrolling interests
      -125,279,000 -108,563,000 -66,595,000 -92,290,000 -56,514,000 -50,645,000 -80,514,000 -74,039,000 -48,082,000 -40,706,000 -35,826,000 -11,765,000 -6,354,000 943,000 -14,255,000 -6,237,000 -3,250,000 1,632,000 -2,291,000 -5,182,000 -3,089,000 -3,693,000 3,346,000 3,990,000 5,120,000 4,382,000 4,515,000 4,292,000 4,298,000 10,315,000 10,264,000 9,834,000 9,473,000 18,589,000 15,215,000 19,480,000 9,270,000 9,011,000 8,916,000 8,672,000 7,726,000                                   
        total equity
      3,606,012,000 3,577,229,000 3,586,695,000 3,482,693,000 3,363,009,000 3,299,117,000 3,210,138,000 3,220,022,000 3,257,780,000 3,221,915,000 3,259,155,000 3,247,514,000 3,223,329,000 3,199,902,000 3,166,359,000 3,091,145,000 3,085,063,000 2,952,838,000 2,856,963,000 2,828,618,000 2,749,101,000 2,628,349,000 2,402,831,000 2,340,786,000 2,325,800,000 2,391,094,000 2,354,665,000 2,326,618,000 2,330,294,000 2,314,779,000 2,327,128,000 2,286,703,000 2,245,226,000 2,130,440,000 2,130,409,000 2,127,667,000 2,070,925,000 1,981,096,000 1,906,216,000 1,886,926,000 1,892,158,000 1,835,399,000 1,805,492,000 1,781,493,000 1,725,678,000 1,657,557,000 1,580,128,000 1,513,674,000 1,443,990,000 1,377,913,000 1,319,595,000 1,226,404,000 1,165,213,000 1,176,238,000 1,144,898,000 1,107,873,000                    
        total liabilities and equity
      14,177,917,000 14,063,783,000 13,876,682,000 13,711,088,000 14,191,958,000 13,777,753,000 14,084,128,000 14,501,193,000 15,398,662,000 16,736,645,000 17,222,682,000 17,807,632,000 18,082,609,000 19,374,044,000 19,563,533,000 20,624,013,000 20,989,741,000 21,678,041,000 22,402,739,000 23,028,863,000 22,167,208,000 22,646,160,000 22,222,526,000 22,611,208,000 23,280,628,000 23,708,970,000 23,936,719,000 24,219,800,000 24,721,927,000 25,220,968,000 25,104,925,000 25,209,244,000 23,898,402,000 24,768,710,000 25,323,087,000 26,141,220,000 27,180,108,000 27,669,611,000 28,715,798,000 29,589,347,000 30,485,905,000 31,045,395,000 30,246,823,000 29,955,794,000 30,098,143,000 30,698,649,000 31,371,022,000 27,487,007,000 27,770,849,000 26,536,928,000 26,303,177,000 26,645,224,000 26,607,895,000 24,408,844,000 25,269,142,000 25,446,312,000                    
        supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated education and other lending variable-interest entities:
                                                                                 
        accrued interest payable and other liabilities
      -127,257,000 -133,502,000 -172,765,000 -70,575,000 -89,043,000 -88,200,000 -98,744,000 -102,370,000 -121,130,000 -135,748,000 -181,730,000 -192,978,000 -140,221,000 -145,309,000 -96,004,000 -60,461,000 -48,267,000 -36,276,000 -66,913,000 -82,485,000 -67,348,000 -83,127,000 -88,911,000 -97,523,000 -108,801,000 -158,067,000 -212,160,000 -202,371,000 -189,112,000 -163,327,000 -214,554,000 -261,731,000 -186,611,000                                           
        net assets of consolidated education and other lending variable-interest entities
      840,518,000 861,233,000 820,575,000                                                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,259,718 shares and 25,634,748 shares, respectively
       253,000                                                                          
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,616,675 shares and 10,658,604 shares, respectively
       106,000 106,000                                                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,375,537 shares and 25,634,748 shares, respectively
        254,000                                                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,538,730 shares and 25,634,748 shares, respectively
         255,000                                                                        
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,658,604 shares
         107,000 107,000                                                                       
        supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated education and other lending variable interest entities:
                                                                                 
        net assets of consolidated education and other lending variable interest entities
         812,232,000 828,925,000 869,184,000 885,497,000 867,450,000 918,935,000 986,946,000 1,015,601,000 1,015,054,000 1,089,706,000 1,074,557,000   1,119,680,000 1,156,755,000 1,199,669,000 1,241,135,000 1,170,750,000 1,193,717,000 1,148,440,000 1,101,530,000 1,105,889,000 1,138,363,000 1,100,626,000 1,401,856,000                                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,697,581 shares and 25,634,748 shares, respectively
          257,000                                                                       
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,634,748 shares and 26,400,630 shares, respectively
           256,000                                                                      
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,658,604 shares and 10,663,088 shares, respectively
           107,000                                                                      
        investments and notes receivable
            1,903,561,000 1,896,433,000 1,921,691,000 1,870,968,000 1,945,688,000 2,006,306,000 1,987,570,000 2,111,917,000 2,063,514,000 1,988,450,000          246,973,000 212,416,000 221,936,000 230,512,000 249,370,000 246,815,000 256,647,000 258,426,000   273,818,000 254,144,000 257,528,000 285,996,000 273,451,000 303,681,000 236,010,000 245,748,000 276,904,000                                
        restricted investments
            49,755,000 50,358,000 36,076,000 17,969,000                                                             95,061,000 95,409,000 85,227,000 129,132,000 160,479,000 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,627,446 shares and 26,400,630 shares, respectively
            256,000                                                                     
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,663,088 shares
            107,000 107,000 107,000                                                                   
        accumulated other comprehensive loss
            -1,431,000 -2,260,000 -8,476,000 -20,119,000 -25,439,000 -21,458,000 -27,006,000                                         -1,933,000 -409,000                     
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 25,585,840 shares and 26,400,630 shares, respectively
             256,000                                                                    
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,055,314 shares and 26,400,630 shares, respectively
              261,000                                                                   
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,400,630 shares and 26,461,651 shares, respectively
               264,000                                                                  
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,663,088 shares and 10,668,460 shares, respectively
               107,000                                                                  
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,655,651 shares and 26,461,651 shares, respectively
                267,000                                                                 
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,668,460 shares
                107,000 107,000 107,000                                                               
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,646,490 shares and 26,461,651 shares, respectively
                 266,000                                                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,623,662 shares and 26,461,651 shares, respectively
                  266,000                                                               
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,461,651 shares and 27,239,654 shares, respectively
                   265,000                                                              
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,668,460 shares and 10,676,642 shares, respectively
                   107,000                                                              
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,483,298 shares and 27,239,654 shares, respectively
                    265,000                                                             
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,673,659 shares and 10,676,642 shares, respectively
                    107,000                                                             
        supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated education lending variable interest entities:
                                                                                 
        net assets of consolidated education lending variable interest entities
                    1,064,668,000 1,088,828,000             1,447,062,000 1,407,300,000 1,292,226,000 1,224,845,000 1,169,444,000 1,024,539,000 1,016,810,000 988,684,000 988,187,000                                       
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,613,733 shares and 27,239,654 shares, respectively
                     266,000                                                            
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,674,892 shares and 10,676,642 shares, respectively
                     107,000 107,000                                                           
        investments
                      1,649,578,000 1,588,919,000 1,374,913,000 1,267,957,000 973,099,000 992,940,000 476,827,000 449,700,000 253,939,000                    149,123,000 147,780,000 141,489,000 166,201,000 192,040,000 232,663,000 177,241,000 159,498,000 83,312,000 92,860,000 74,055,000 70,552,000 50,780,000                   
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,151,270 shares and 27,239,654 shares, respectively
                      272,000                                                           
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,239,654 shares and 27,193,154 shares, respectively
                       272,000                                                          
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,676,642 shares and 11,155,571 shares, respectively
                       107,000                                                          
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,556,370 shares and 27,193,154 shares, respectively
                        276,000                                                         
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 10,681,454 shares and 11,155,571 shares, respectively
                        107,000                                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,494,942 shares and 27,193,154 shares, respectively
                         275,000                                                        
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,054,171 shares and 11,155,571 shares, respectively
                         111,000                                                        
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,367,797 shares and 27,193,154 shares, respectively
                          274,000                                                       
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,154,171 shares and 11,155,571 shares, respectively
                          112,000                                                       
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,193,154 shares and 28,458,495 shares, respectively
                           272,000                                                      
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,155,571 shares and 11,271,609 shares, respectively
                           112,000                                                      
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,163,588 shares and 28,458,495 shares, respectively
                            272,000                                                     
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,171,609 shares and 11,271,609 shares, respectively
                            112,000 112,000                                                    
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 27,232,836 shares and 28,458,495 shares, respectively
                             272,000                                                    
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,582,032 shares and 28,458,495 shares, respectively
                              286,000                                                   
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,271,609 shares
                              113,000                                                   
        loans receivable
                               20,669,371,000 21,071,441,000 21,455,758,000 21,946,153,000 22,377,142,000 22,528,362,000 22,710,369,000 21,562,030,000                                           
        accrued interest receivable
                               733,623,000 736,901,000 724,011,000 715,838,000     396,827,000 395,734,000 392,754,000 391,264,000 381,804,000 380,140,000 384,277,000 383,825,000 380,441,000 364,211,000 355,372,000 351,588,000 352,205,000 360,075,000 305,672,000 314,553,000 303,350,000 296,538,000 305,177,000 307,518,000 267,856,000 286,133,000 296,378,000 308,401,000 331,071,000 302,481,000 308,484,000 318,152,000 418,083,000 397,495,000 336,242,000 329,313,000 389,238,000 385,158,000 388,315,000 471,878,000 530,102,000 501,544,000 526,544,000 593,322,000 503,365,000 394,630,000 
        fair value of derivative instruments
                                57,000 230,000 168,000 1,818,000 2,043,000 1,954,000 1,891,000 996,000 1,619,000 39,652,000 87,531,000 14,476,000 3,408,000 9,021,000 28,690,000 15,741,000 30,216,000 36,595,000 64,392,000 68,009,000 68,033,000 64,002,000 62,507,000 128,276,000 98,996,000 61,198,000 97,441,000 67,725,000 48,665,000 107,534,000 92,219,000 130,620,000 182,450,000 169,505,000 118,346,000 128,827,000 35,354,000 129,059,000 193,899,000 210,157,000 168,720,000 133,010,000 175,174,000 154,741,000 295,346,000 295,073,000 222,471,000 146,099,000 82,766,000 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,458,495 shares and 28,798,464 shares, respectively
                               285,000                                                  
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,271,609 shares and 11,459,641 shares, respectively
                               113,000                                                  
        loan accrued interest receivable and other assets
                               735,286,000 736,768,000 724,227,000 716,820,000 679,735,000 625,122,000 593,394,000 490,747,000                                           
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,411,506 shares and 28,798,464 shares, respectively
                                284,000                                                 
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,279,641 shares and 11,459,641 shares, respectively
                                113,000 113,000                                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,399,526 shares and 28,798,464 shares, respectively
                                 284,000                                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,628,528 shares and 28,798,464 shares, respectively
                                  286,000                                               
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,459,641 shares
                                  115,000                                               
        student loans receivable
                                  21,962,743,000 22,359,655,000 22,536,434,000 22,759,323,000 21,633,845,000 22,528,845,000 23,202,294,000 24,003,386,000 24,903,724,000 25,615,434,000 26,539,604,000 27,519,052,000 28,324,552,000 28,954,280,000 28,095,775,000 27,897,949,000 28,005,195,000 28,701,344,000 29,342,430,000 25,607,143,000 25,907,589,000 24,701,112,000 24,575,636,000 24,885,316,000 24,830,621,000 22,559,341,000 23,501,382,000 23,836,832,000 24,297,876,000  23,228,778,000  23,948,014,000    23,926,957,000  23,889,571,000 25,624,337,000 25,413,008,000 26,376,269,000 25,993,307,000 26,321,345,000 26,736,122,000 23,789,552,000 20,260,807,000 
        loan accrued interest receivable
                                   679,197,000 624,259,000 591,055,000 489,395,000                                           
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 28,798,464 shares and 29,341,517 shares, respectively
                                   288,000                                              
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,459,641 shares and 11,468,587 shares, respectively
                                   115,000                                              
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,341,791 shares and 29,341,517 shares, respectively
                                    293,000                                             
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,468,587 shares
                                    115,000 115,000 115,000                                           
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,331,002 shares and 29,341,517 shares, respectively
                                     293,000                                            
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,289,689 shares and 29,341,517 shares, respectively
                                      293,000                                           
        investments and other receivables
                                       276,536,000 290,304,000                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,436,022 shares and 30,628,112 shares, respectively
                                       294,000                                          
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,476,932 shares
                                       115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000                                    
        accrued interest receivable and other assets
                                       397,093,000 395,900,000 391,555,000 390,504,000 382,592,000 380,230,000                                     
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,373,691 shares and 30,628,112 shares, respectively
                                        304,000                                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,740,185 shares and 30,628,112 shares, respectively
                                         307,000                                        
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,628,112 shares and 32,476,528 shares, respectively
                                          306,000                                       
        restricted cash and investments
                                           872,874,000 964,799,000 924,925,000 832,624,000 895,271,000 857,853,000 866,587,000 850,440,000 867,507,000 862,034,000 705,889,000 735,123,000 674,926,000 679,727,000 814,767,000 815,462,000 905,561,000 912,955,000 705,953,000 614,322,000 601,218,000 610,730,000 796,229,000 668,757,000 692,702,000 669,889,000 727,858,000 625,492,000 798,636,000 1,082,480,000 1,218,512,000 997,272,000 1,082,015,000      
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,839,341 shares and 32,476,528 shares, respectively
                                           308,000                                      
        supplemental information - assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities:
                                                                                 
        net assets of consolidated variable interest entities
                                           845,845,000 856,405,000 868,568,000 874,884,000 780,200,000 773,622,000 687,330,000 687,159,000 618,491,000 617,045,000 563,952,000 556,618,000 507,504,000 507,224,000 493,334,000                        
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 31,024,230 shares and 32,476,528 shares, respectively
                                            310,000                                     
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 31,008,226 shares and 32,476,528 shares, respectively
                                             310,000                                    
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 32,476,528 shares and 34,756,384 shares, respectively
                                              325,000                                   
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,476,932 shares and 11,486,932 shares, respectively
                                              115,000 115,000                                  
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 33,388,556 shares and 34,756,384 shares, respectively
                                               334,000                                  
        noncontrolling interest
                                               246,000 300,000 271,000 230,000 268,000 386,000 755,000 328,000 50,000 113,000 281,000 5,000 417,000 293,000 157,000                    
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 33,724,471 shares and 34,756,384 shares, respectively
                                                337,000                                 
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,486,932 shares
                                                115,000 115,000                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,713,065 shares and 34,756,384 shares, respectively
                                                 347,000                                
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,756,384 shares and 34,881,338 shares, respectively
                                                  348,000                               
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,486,932 shares and 11,495,377 shares, respectively
                                                  115,000 115,000                              
        fair value of derivative instrument
                                                  -20,455,000                               
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,796,723 shares and 34,881,338 shares, respectively
                                                   348,000                              
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,859,786 shares and 34,881,338 shares, respectively
                                                    349,000                             
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,491,932 shares and 11,495,377 shares, respectively
                                                    115,000 115,000                            
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,019,924 shares and 34,881,338 shares, respectively
                                                     350,000                            
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,881,338 shares and 35,116,913 shares, respectively
                                                      349,000                           
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares
                                                      115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000                   
        non-federally insured student loans receivable - held for sale
                                                       28,480,000                          
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,876,145 shares and 35,116,913 shares, respectively
                                                       349,000                          
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 34,988,110 shares and 35,116,913 shares, respectively
                                                        350,000                         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,029,341 shares and 35,116,913 shares, respectively
                                                         350,000                        
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,116,913 shares and 35,643,102 shares, respectively
                                                          351,000                       
        employee notes receivable
                                                           -368,000 -368,000 -368,000 -1,140,000 -1,140,000 -1,170,000 -1,170,000 -1,170,000 -1,170,000 -1,250,000 -1,250,000 -1,449,000 -1,449,000 -1,449,000 -1,550,000 -1,550,000 -2,046,000 -2,046,000 -2,296,000 -3,118,000 -2,825,000  
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,839,076 shares and 35,643,102 shares, respectively
                                                           358,000                      
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,847,801 shares and 35,643,102 shares, respectively
                                                            358,000                     
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,821,057 shares and 35,643,102 shares, respectively
                                                             358,000                    
        accumulated other comprehensive income
                                                             605,000                    
        student loans receivable - held for sale
                                                                  84,987,000 2,109,440,000 1,995,869,000   1,627,794,000          
        shareholders' equity:
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 35,643,102 shares and 36,846,353 shares, respectively
                                                              356,000                   
        total shareholders' equity
                                                              1,066,205,000 1,011,483,000 988,784,000 955,367,000  844,614,000 873,945,000 839,213,000  728,074,000     584,042,000     
        total liabilities and shareholders' equity
                                                              25,852,217,000 26,236,227,000 24,871,511,000 25,294,699,000  28,586,579,000 28,568,023,000 26,841,945,000  27,591,862,000     28,431,925,000     
        student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses
                                                                                 
        of 45,773 and 43,626, respectively)
                                                               24,641,614,000                  
        investments - trading securities
                                                               49,834,000 31,664,000 37,719,000 43,236,000 33,082,000 31,017,000             
        accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts
                                                                                 
        of 1,495 and 1,221, respectively)
                                                               58,894,000                  
        preferred stock, 0.01 par value. authorized 50,000,000 shares;
                                                                                 
        no shares issued or outstanding
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares;
                                                                                 
        issued and outstanding 35,964,088 shares as of september 30, 2011 and 36,846,353 shares as of december 31, 2010
                                                               360,000                  
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares;
                                                                                 
        issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of september 30, 2011 and december 31, 2010
                                                               115,000                  
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,044,372 shares as of june 30, 2011 and 36,846,353 shares as of december 31, 2010
                                                                370,000                 
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of june 30, 2011 and december 31, 2010
                                                                115,000                 
        student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of
                                                                                 
        41,097 and 43,626 respectively)
                                                                 23,536,415,000                
        accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
                                                                                 
        1,577 and 1,221, respectively)
                                                                 52,812,000                
        issued and outstanding 36,983,557 shares as of march 31,
                                                                                 
        2011 and 36,846,353 shares as of december 31, 2010
                                                                 370,000                
        issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of march 31,
                                                                                 
        2011 and december 31, 2010
                                                                 115,000                
        cash and cash equivalents – not held at a related party
                                                                  6,952,000    12,301,000          49,863,000 
        cash and cash equivalents – held at a related party
                                                                  276,849,000    325,880,000          53,787,000 
        restricted cash – due to customers
                                                                  88,528,000    91,741,000          153,098,000 
        shareholders’ equity:
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
                                                                                 
        36,846,353 shares in 2010 and 38,396,791 shares in 2009
                                                                  368,000               
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
                                                                                 
        11,495,377 shares in 2010 and 2009
                                                                  115,000               
        total shareholders’ equity
                                                                  906,633,000    784,563,000  681,187,000 671,602,000 643,226,000 609,730,000  538,107,000 608,879,000 671,850,000 649,492,000 
        total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
                                                                  25,893,892,000    25,876,427,000  28,110,542,000 28,093,137,000 27,854,897,000 28,970,015,000  30,019,816,000 29,162,783,000 26,796,873,000 22,798,622,000 
        50,212 and 50,887 respectively)
                                                                   24,436,162,000              
        846 and 1,198, respectively)
                                                                   68,713,000              
        accrued litigation settlement charge
                                                                   55,000,000              
        issued and outstanding 36,848,473 shares as of september 30,
                                                                                 
        2010 and 38,396,791 shares as of december 31, 2009
                                                                   368,000 380,000 386,000            
        issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of september 30,
                                                                                 
        2010 and december 31, 2009
                                                                   115,000 115,000 115,000            
        see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                                 
        50,797 and 50,887 respectively)
                                                                    24,746,932,000             
        819 and 1,198, respectively)
                                                                    57,436,000             
        issued and outstanding 37,995,006 shares as of june 30,
                                                                                 
        issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of june 30,
                                                                                 
        49,400 and 50,887 respectively)
                                                                     24,835,493,000            
        1,125 and 1,198, respectively)
                                                                     60,704,000            
        issued and outstanding 38,587,293 shares as of march 31,
                                                                                 
        38,396,791 shares in 2009 and 37,794,067 shares in 2008
                                                                      384,000           
        11,495,377 shares in 2009 and 2008
                                                                      115,000           
        50,120 and 50,922, respectively)
                                                                       23,764,263,000          
        1,506 and 1,005, respectively)
                                                                       49,268,000          
        issued and outstanding 38,349,461 shares as of september 30,
                                                                                 
        2009 and 37,794,067 shares as of december 31, 2008
                                                                       383,000          
        2009 and december 31, 2008
                                                                       115,000          
        student loans receivable — held for sale
                                                                        1,749,290,000     423,651,000    
        cash and cash equivalents — not held at a related party
                                                                        14,171,000 15,070,000 13,129,000 16,062,000  15,881,000 38,305,000 38,705,000  
        cash and cash equivalents — held at a related party
                                                                        352,656,000 228,635,000 176,718,000 308,945,000  108,290,000 73,441,000 67,381,000  
        restricted cash — due to customers
                                                                        41,127,000 55,610,000 160,985,000 47,859,000  48,955,000 81,845,000 153,557,000  
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 38,325,492 shares as of june 30, 2009 and 37,794,067 shares as of december 31, 2008
                                                                        383,000         
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of june 30, 2009 and december 31, 2008
                                                                        115,000         
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 38,276,870 shares as of march 31, 2009 and 37,794,067 shares as of december 31, 2008
                                                                         383,000        
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of march 31, 2009 and december 31, 2008
                                                                         115,000        
        preferred stock, 0.01 par value. authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding common stock:
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,794,067 shares in 2008 and 37,980,617 shares in 2007
                                                                          378,000       
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares in 2008 and 2007
                                                                          115,000       
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,994,332 shares as of september 30, 2008 and 37,980,617 shares as of december 31, 2007
                                                                           380,000      
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of september 30, 2008 and december 31, 2007
                                                                           115,000      
        preferred stock, 0.01 par value. authorized 50,000,000 shares;no shares issued or outstanding
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,952,246 shares as of june 30, 2008 and 37,980,617 shares as of december 31, 2007
                                                                            380,000     
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of june 30, 2008 and december 31, 2007
                                                                            115,000     
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,912,773 shares as of march 31, 2008 and 37,980,617 shares as of december 31, 2007
                                                                             379,000    
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares as of march 31, 2008 and december 31, 2007
                                                                             115,000    
        assets of discontinued operations
                                                                                 
        liabilities of discontinued operations
                                                                                 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 37,980,617 shares in 2007 and 39,035,169 shares in 2006
                                                                              380,000   
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 11,495,377 shares in 2007 and 13,505,812 shares in 2006
                                                                              115,000   
        accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
                                                                               131,000 420,000 
        minority interest
                                                                                626,000 
        class a, 0.01 par value. authorized 600,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 39,035,169 shares in 2006 and 40,040,841 shares in 2005
                                                                               390,000  
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 13,505,812 shares in 2006 and 13,962,954 shares in 2005
                                                                               135,000  
        unearned compensation
                                                                               -5,168,000 -86,000 
        furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements
                                                                                36,750,000 
        deferred income taxes
                                                                                89,933,000 
        40,040,841 shares in 2005 and 39,687,037 shares in 2004
                                                                                400,000 
        class b, convertible, 0.01 par value. authorized 15,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
                                                                                 
        13,962,954 shares in 2005 and 13,983,454 shares in 2004
                                                                                140,000 
      Cashflow Statements:
      Quarterly
      Annual
        Unit: USD2026-03-31 2025-12-31 2025-09-30 2025-06-30 2025-03-31 2024-12-31 2024-09-30 2024-06-30 2024-03-31 2023-12-31 2023-09-30 2023-06-30 2023-03-31 2022-12-31 2022-09-30 2022-06-30 2022-03-31 2021-12-31 2021-09-30 2021-06-30 2021-03-31 2020-12-31 2020-09-30 2020-06-30 2020-03-31 2019-12-31 2019-09-30 2019-06-30 2019-03-31 2018-12-31 2018-09-30 2018-06-30 2018-03-31 2017-06-30 2017-03-31 2016-12-31 2016-06-30 2016-03-31 2015-12-31 2015-06-30 2015-03-31 2014-12-31 2014-06-30 2014-03-31 2013-12-31 2013-03-31 2012-12-31 2012-09-30 2012-06-30 2012-03-31 2011-12-31 2011-09-30 2011-06-30 2011-03-31 2010-12-31 2010-09-30 2010-06-30 2010-03-31 2009-12-31 2009-09-30 2009-06-30 2009-03-31 2008-12-31 2008-09-30 2008-06-30 2008-03-31 
                                                                          
          net income attributable to nelnet, inc.
        71,126,000 57,771,000 106,685,000 181,458,000 82,560,000 63,159,000 2,388,000 45,288,000 73,210,000 -8,554,000 45,332,000 28,267,000 26,487,000 30,774,000 104,797,000 85,129,000 186,647,000 132,683,000 53,138,000 83,867,000 123,598,000 234,991,000 71,502,000 86,482,000 -40,532,000 42,380,000 33,213,000 24,619,000 41,591,000 21,626,000 42,928,000 49,434,000 113,925,000 78,763,000 50,026,000 98,346,000 74,111,000 47,961,000 83,350,000 135,674,000 64,765,000 73,611,000 148,780,000 73,786,000 70,520,000 68,079,000 56,634,000 36,828,000 41,394,000 43,141,000                 
          net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
        -15,526,000 -19,084,000 -6,009,000 -3,605,000 -1,430,000 268,000   -2,202,000 -21,359,000   -3,470,000 -2,791,000   -1,761,000              199,000 103,000 -740,000                                  
          net income
        55,600,000 38,687,000 100,676,000 177,853,000 81,130,000 63,427,000 -1,941,000 43,421,000 71,008,000 -29,913,000 42,236,000 19,095,000 23,017,000 27,983,000 100,469,000 82,903,000 184,886,000 129,147,000 51,219,000 83,013,000 122,904,000 231,606,000 71,175,000 86,610,000 -39,765,000 41,833,000 33,136,000 24,678,000 41,647,000 21,675,000 43,127,000 49,537,000 113,185,000 72,571,000 47,920,000 98,931,000 74,208,000 48,029,000 83,518,000 135,769,000 64,806,000 73,919,000 149,986,000 74,299,000 71,088,000 68,350,000 56,653,000 36,952,000 41,530,000 43,293,000 64,879,000 47,451,000 37,125,000 54,880,000   49,993,000 54,322,000 59,063,000 46,404,000 8,203,000 25,455,000 30,997,000 23,785,000 43,705,000 -69,825,000 
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of acquisitions:
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and loan premiums and deferred origination costs
        21,163,000 22,361,000 15,855,000 29,283,000 23,123,000 26,505,000 36,399,000 35,666,000 33,957,000 16,735,000 35,085,000 59,362,000 34,211,000 62,593,000 39,575,000 37,745,000 36,335,000 18,674,000 36,897,000 38,339,000 38,415,000 49,298,000 49,893,000 50,519,000 48,763,000 50,143,000 48,398,000 47,173,000 46,948,000 47,866,000 47,591,000 45,924,000 43,301,000                                  
          loan discount and deferred lender fees accretion
        -44,131,000 -49,172,000 -15,605,000 -23,095,000 -19,407,000 -17,215,000 -14,300,000                                                            
          provision for loan losses
        53,244,000 38,147,000 -3,563,000 17,930,000 15,337,000 22,056,000   10,928,000             -10,116,000 -5,821,000   13,000,000 10,000,000 9,000,000 7,000,000  10,500,000 3,500,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 4,500,000 2,500,000  4,150,000 2,000,000  4,000,000 2,500,000  5,000,000  5,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 5,250,000 5,250,000 3,750,000 6,000,000 5,500,000 6,200,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 7,500,000 8,000,000 7,500,000 7,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 
          provision for beneficial interests
        4,130,000                                                                  
          derivative market value adjustments
        -1,587,000 -1,880,000 788,000 3,866,000 6,324,000 -13,792,000 13,165,000 -1,533,000 -7,964,000 9,507,000 -3,141,000 -2,004,000 37,411,000 7,434,000 -52,990,000 -40,401,000 -145,734,000 -48,358,000 -7,261,000 1,615,000 -38,809,000 7,072,000 -3,441,000 3,911,000 20,602,000 2,930,000 5,630,000 37,061,000 30,574,000                                      
          loss on sale of loans
        105,000 158,000 2,471,000 -909,000 -42,000 106,000 1,538,000 41,000                                                    196,000 206,000     
          loss on investments
        14,949,000 22,518,000 -27,426,000 -11,343,000 -8,307,000 -14,547,000 -390,000   50,028,000 20,680,000 22,916,000 24,344,000 11,038,000 10,398,000 406,000 2,801,000                                                  
          deferred income tax expense
        -10,895,000    4,316,000     -27,251,000   -13,750,000 -22,993,000 7,743,000 10,447,000 39,443,000 22,544,000 14,905,000 2,768,000 15,405,000     2,327,000 5,431,000 -12,216,000 -2,807,000 -12,593,000 2,280,000 4,411,000 16,883,000    -20,260,000 -4,260,000  3,119,000 224,000 -1,732,000 5,653,000 2,497,000 -10,740,000 4,874,000    -7,190,000   -8,815,000 100,000   -280,000 7,509,000    1,323,000     
          non-cash compensation expense
        3,628,000 3,210,000 3,551,000 3,398,000 3,115,000 3,091,000 2,950,000 2,838,000 3,166,000 4,495,000 4,171,000 3,972,000 3,838,000 4,304,000 3,701,000 3,251,000 2,920,000 2,849,000 2,844,000 2,928,000 2,052,000 11,201,000 1,957,000 1,724,000 1,857,000 1,833,000 1,810,000 1,662,000 1,476,000 1,758,000 2,046,000 1,574,000 1,161,000 2,260,000 1,121,000    1,227,000   1,335,000 2,082,000    854,000 754,000 712,000 700,000 455,000 482,000 535,000 557,000 561,000 600,000 596,000 523,000     1,650,000 1,298,000 1,273,000 3,099,000 
          other
        -1,424,000 6,522,000 464,000 15,000 996,000  -116,000 -329,000 -36,000        -110,000         -2,506,000 73,000 -194,000 -20,000 3,075,000 -3,597,000 7,043,000 -4,302,000 2,209,000 581,000 -2,368,000 6,069,000 3,212,000 1,406,000 6,376,000 3,115,000  2,885,000 2,285,000 -2,445,000 -355,000                     
          changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                                          
          decrease in loan and investment accrued interest receivable
        -13,967,000 25,780,000 -324,000 1,730,000 13,488,000 52,143,000   79,841,000 41,604,000   16,630,000    10,694,000                                                  
          decrease in accounts receivable
        15,334,000 -45,590,000 -20,304,000 2,436,000 30,087,000 -6,447,000 6,224,000 -25,165,000 61,494,000  5,596,000 15,467,000 43,675,000 -73,872,000   18,442,000  7,309,000 -5,615,000 -3,831,000 -4,595,000 3,867,000     10,599,000 -16,571,000   2,223,000 177,000 -16,274,000 -1,972,000  9,462,000 5,961,000             -4,760,000 -7,778,000         -9,531,000 -487,000 6,551,000   1,332,000 
          increase in other assets
        -52,299,000           -1,720,000 -9,760,000                     -2,155,000   -2,579,000                              
          decrease in the carrying amount of rou asset
        1,005,000 882,000 907,000 1,004,000 954,000 1,007,000 946,000 958,000 953,000 1,022,000 1,469,000 1,139,000 1,251,000 1,226,000 1,741,000 1,296,000 1,439,000 1,518,000 1,690,000 2,544,000 1,418,000 2,444,000 3,202,000                                            
          decrease in accrued interest payable
        -3,510,000 1,387,000 -257,000 -3,098,000 -2,974,000   -4,842,000 -3,408,000         125,000 -481,000 -605,000 -23,174,000  -3,148,000                      119,000  -1,866,000 -1,551,000 -1,094,000 -353,000    -3,566,000 -574,000   -3,017,000  -10,052,000 -13,165,000 -33,500,000   -6,244,000 -36,706,000 
          increase in other liabilities
        32,939,000 -27,907,000 13,727,000   38,791,000    66,405,000    34,613,000    -11,265,000    3,174,000    -15,601,000    -5,347,000   -36,205,000  6,954,000 -9,178,000  2,551,000 -26,714,000  16,414,000 -18,088,000  -185,000 4,184,000 13,614,000 1,408,000   14,040,000 -9,622,000   -11,637,000 7,338,000 7,437,000 -4,625,000 1,319,000   7,799,000 2,817,000 -15,816,000    
          decrease in the carrying amount of lease liability
        -1,169,000 -1,000,000 -981,000 -2,487,000 -897,000 -939,000 -886,000 -957,000 -1,025,000 -1,444,000 -1,340,000 -1,293,000 -1,275,000 -1,415,000 -1,367,000 -1,360,000 -1,500,000 -1,820,000 -1,870,000 -2,041,000 -1,247,000 -917,000 -3,655,000 -2,447,000 -2,382,000                                          
          total adjustments
        17,515,000 98,928,000 11,765,000 -96,093,000 10,039,000                                                              
          net cash from operating activities
        73,115,000 137,615,000 112,441,000 81,760,000 91,169,000 180,533,000 137,038,000 133,404,000 211,915,000 79,761,000 154,235,000 76,134,000 122,845,000 27,187,000 173,158,000 298,249,000 185,465,000 155,174,000 202,082,000 138,953,000 48,658,000 39,780,000 278,636,000 38,854,000 -144,455,000 155,997,000 160,753,000 121,830,000 -139,665,000 77,335,000 121,926,000 13,679,000 57,952,000 132,132,000 73,833,000 66,430,000 175,229,000 104,494,000 84,010,000 191,985,000 129,348,000 94,382,000 156,472,000 88,604,000 184,574,000 84,991,000 38,721,000 99,330,000 60,696,000 100,571,000 98,916,000 43,730,000 86,549,000 81,667,000 179,038,000 -45,581,000 58,725,000 2,686,000 110,056,000 58,634,000 45,650,000 110,366,000 63,526,000 70,480,000 112,154,000 74,943,000 
          capital expenditures
        -11,550,000 -7,494,000 -11,670,000 -3,696,000 -3,378,000 17,377,000 -4,438,000 -10,617,000 -23,225,000 -21,448,000 -15,351,000 -12,823,000 -24,430,000 -14,998,000 -10,271,000 -18,358,000 -15,794,000 -16,358,000 -13,810,000 -10,886,000 -17,898,000 -32,614,000 -33,704,000 -21,433,000 -25,561,000 -24,818,000 -23,966,000 -18,902,000 -24,813,000 -28,543,000 -31,471,000 -36,941,000 -28,068,000 -70,814,000 -26,469,000 -20,781,000 -29,577,000 -15,258,000 -4,005,000 -9,519,000 -8,372,000 -4,797,000 -9,022,000 -3,146,000 -5,290,000 -2,778,000 -2,574,000 -2,965,000 -2,099,000 -2,306,000 -4,391,000 -1,495,000 -5,289,000 -2,992,000 -5,274,000 -2,826,000 -1,787,000 -2,883,000 -738,000 -22,000 -382,000 -62,000 -47,000 -1,373,000 -2,371,000 -1,350,000 
          free cash flows
        61,565,000 130,121,000 100,771,000 78,064,000 87,791,000 197,910,000 132,600,000 122,787,000 188,690,000 58,313,000 138,884,000 63,311,000 98,415,000 12,189,000 162,887,000 279,891,000 169,671,000 138,816,000 188,272,000 128,067,000 30,760,000 7,166,000 244,932,000 17,421,000 -170,016,000 131,179,000 136,787,000 102,928,000 -164,478,000 48,792,000 90,455,000 -23,262,000 29,884,000 61,318,000 47,364,000 45,649,000 145,652,000 89,236,000 80,005,000 182,466,000 120,976,000 89,585,000 147,450,000 85,458,000 179,284,000 82,213,000 36,147,000 96,365,000 58,597,000 98,265,000 94,525,000 42,235,000 81,260,000 78,675,000 173,764,000 -48,407,000 56,938,000 -197,000 109,318,000 58,612,000 45,268,000 110,304,000 63,479,000 69,107,000 109,783,000 73,593,000 
          cash flows from investing activities, net of acquisitions:
                                                                          
          purchases and originations of loans, including cash paid for student loan trusts, net of cash and restricted cash acquired
        -3,070,037,000 -3,350,438,000 -1,616,279,000 -194,568,000 -173,931,000                                                              
          purchases of loans from a related party
        -299,380,000 -479,377,000 -70,001,000 -136,667,000     -35,000   -68,000 -567,000 -6,626,000 -1,049,000 -1,202,000 -629,000 -1,116,000 -19,731,000 -72,421,000 -33,901,000 -41,217,000                                         
          proceeds from loan repayments, claims, and capitalized interest
        3,253,780,000                                                                  
          proceeds from sale of loans
        213,000 127,000 167,772,000 124,000 72,502,000 402,557,000 -19,317,000 111,047,000 199,963,000 211,258,000 50,803,000 133,513,000 157,444,000 84,570,000 23,281,000 108,000 15,170,000 20,682,000   45,661,000 4,000 90,461,000 154,349,000   22,320,000                                    
          proceeds from sale of loans to a related party
        107,969,000 658,929,000 229,983,000 242,000 59,939,000                                                              
          purchases of available-for-sale securities
        -143,321,000 -136,777,000 -175,608,000 -101,469,000 -139,007,000 -212,534,000 -118,987,000 -108,421,000 -163,610,000 -70,718,000 -214,336,000 -54,098,000 -242,370,000 -84,850,000 -209,448,000 -595,945,000 -139,195,000 -213,252,000 -158,080,000 -319,150,000 -44,335,000 -250,083,000 -108,752,000 -83,017,000 -29,658,000   -8,360,000 -9,900,000 -28,164,000 -77,118,000 -53,530,000 -27,940,000 -51,735,000 -14,595,000 -93,537,000 -5,550,000 -512,000 -49,303,000 -135,890,000 -69,930,000 -23,237,000 -86,776,000 -35,193,000 -101,395,000 -25,943,000 -27,719,000                 
          proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
        47,533,000 83,047,000 96,345,000 34,828,000 74,781,000 75,050,000 105,009,000 112,854,000 153,033,000 187,021,000 198,548,000 85,375,000 492,173,000 60,667,000 130,705,000 205,772,000 113,980,000 56,456,000 66,009,000 20,434,000 18,077,000 76,506,000 73,906,000 1,175,000 22,197,000 -64,000 -23,000   12,821,000 26,809,000 9,834,000 21,951,000 66,492,000 37,809,000 43,829,000 58,232,000 44,675,000 46,480,000 47,951,000 1,317,000 41,695,000 195,938,000 99,799,000 50,517,000 13,405,000 53,000,000 84,638,000 21,373,000 6,843,000                 
          proceeds from beneficial interest in loan securitizations
        14,715,000 21,685,000 17,630,000 19,287,000 18,948,000 18,336,000 14,385,000 13,638,000 5,875,000  10,516,000 8,512,000 4,725,000  4,542,000 5,941,000 7,271,000    8,603,000 9,842,000 12,606,000 10,501,000 11,264,000                                          
          purchases of other investments and issuance of notes receivable
        -99,521,000 -341,845,000 -88,162,000 -81,737,000 -80,091,000 -196,124,000 -90,150,000 -126,465,000 -70,975,000 -165,286,000 -39,503,000 -69,620,000 -70,509,000 -70,573,000 -45,373,000                                                    
          proceeds from other investments and repayments of notes receivable
        32,273,000 21,819,000 56,390,000 439,161,000 15,668,000 18,789,000 25,460,000 42,815,000 10,820,000                                                          
          redemption of held-to-maturity debt securities
        1,406,000 883,000 2,753,000 4,020,000 3,776,000 12,888,000 6,849,000 3,262,000 1,779,000 1,686,000 1,406,000                                                        
          purchases of property and equipment
        -11,550,000 -7,494,000 -11,670,000 -3,696,000 -3,378,000 17,377,000 -4,438,000 -10,617,000 -23,225,000 -21,448,000 -15,351,000 -12,823,000 -24,430,000 -14,998,000 -10,271,000 -18,358,000 -15,794,000 -16,358,000 -13,810,000 -10,886,000 -17,898,000 -32,614,000 -33,704,000 -21,433,000 -25,561,000 -24,818,000 -23,966,000 -18,902,000 -24,813,000 -28,543,000 -31,471,000 -36,941,000 -28,068,000 -70,814,000 -26,469,000 -20,781,000 -29,577,000 -15,258,000 -4,005,000 -9,519,000 -8,372,000 -4,797,000 -9,022,000 -3,146,000 -5,290,000 -2,778,000 -2,574,000 -2,965,000 -2,099,000 -2,306,000 -4,391,000 -1,495,000 -5,289,000 -2,992,000 -5,274,000 -2,826,000 -1,787,000 -2,883,000 -738,000 -22,000 -382,000 -62,000 -47,000 -1,373,000 -2,371,000 -1,350,000 
          business acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired
        197,007,000                                                                  
          net cash from investing activities
        31,087,000 -162,643,000 -190,781,000 573,471,000 136,357,000 334,866,000 254,245,000 737,543,000 1,086,079,000 631,607,000 416,142,000 166,401,000 723,932,000 532,753,000 902,320,000 233,885,000 603,069,000 642,493,000 786,864,000 -711,784,000 468,362,000 -332,418,000 236,351,000 611,614,000 105,672,000 331,951,000 337,135,000 469,179,000 386,301,000 204,154,000 149,078,000 -1,187,913,000 102,330,000 1,824,311,000 1,051,415,000 595,461,000 1,629,415,000 729,680,000 569,244,000 324,251,000 31,825,000 447,965,000 -1,175,874,000 340,511,000 402,658,000 -134,291,000 -2,168,141,000 924,171,000 114,481,000 336,835,000 309,583,000 311,452,000 466,336,000 352,452,000 2,493,233,000 251,921,000 -1,869,875,000 -1,036,576,000 1,639,709,000 529,423,000 97,442,000 -452,969,000 1,015,933,000 -487,375,000 1,507,579,000 -976,211,000 
          nelnet, inc. and subsidiaries
                                                                          
          consolidated statements of cash flows
                                                                          
          cash flows from financing activities, net of acquisitions:
                                                                          
          payments on bonds and notes payable
        -353,098,000 -876,674,000 -621,392,000 -770,635,000 -347,217,000 -633,744,000 -727,533,000 -1,007,221,000 -1,276,160,000 -609,244,000 -579,294,000 -1,002,198,000 -1,415,424,000 -1,304,082,000 -1,339,385,000 -777,427,000 -918,270,000 -1,204,188,000 -1,406,059,000 -489,220,000 -584,303,000 -326,271,000 -729,504,000 -810,506,000 -1,263,204,000 -980,027,000 -1,711,368,000 -1,075,476,000 -932,007,000 -964,054,000 -505,799,000 -742,642,000 -901,008,000 -2,549,189,000 -1,128,899,000 -1,136,873,000 -1,972,880,000 -858,147,000 -884,376,000 -2,629,565,000 -1,459,807,000 -619,363,000 -1,821,723,000 -1,347,517,000 -993,978,000 -2,244,266,000 -1,649,080,000 -1,274,892,000 -827,719,000 -692,408,000 -552,152,000 -603,508,000 -692,156,000 -1,090,797,000 -3,022,961,000 -763,523,000 -749,738,000 -1,028,622,000 -2,665,743,000 -1,794,398,000 -1,563,514,000 -620,595,000 -1,551,044,000 115,626,000 -4,894,090,000 -550,318,000 
          proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable
        270,658,000 835,829,000 557,346,000   -54,385,000 85,000,000 -18,071,000 18,108,000 4,914,000 -49,880,000 601,264,000 204,884,000 888,163,000 253,460,000 146,419,000 13,512,000 209,154,000 623,584,000 1,107,021,000 7,800,000 424,165,000 208,164,000 58,972,000 1,193,388,000 587,609,000 1,318,177,000 521,654,000 570,532,000 918,114,000 277,436,000 1,970,712,000 756,700,000 612,279,000 37,496,000 496,290,000 226,194,000 67,698,000 212,602,000 2,233,630,000 1,285,760,000 140,089,000 2,901,639,000 972,384,000 423,948,000 2,295,865,000 3,834,700,000 295,690,000 656,893,000 279,667,000 104,740,000 250,090,000 212,457,000 533,097,000 347,773,000 517,881,000 2,524,743,000 2,061,893,000 926,861,000 1,176,863,000 1,544,738,000 1,039,942,000 415,317,000 464,405,000 3,301,721,000 1,459,422,000 
          payments of debt issuance costs
        -2,056,000 -3,018,000 -804,000 -3,930,000 -69,000 -136,000 -1,498,000 -662,000 -31,000 -3,511,000 -19,000 -2,045,000 -169,000 -2,635,000 -309,000 -539,000 -312,000 -315,000 -3,743,000 -2,421,000 -614,000 -1,530,000 -1,281,000 -1,009,000 -4,854,000 -3,879,000 -5,012,000 -2,739,000 -2,776,000 -2,855,000 -5,508,000 -3,795,000 -1,650,000 -2,256,000 -364,000 -3,747,000 -1,084,000 -164,000 -1,303,000 -8,707,000 -5,256,000 -1,000 -12,241,000 -4,700,000 -402,000 -7,093,000 -10,567,000 -2,037,000 -3,998,000 -1,595,000 -776,000 -46,000 -1,460,000 -1,347,000 -928,000 -2,974,000 -4,069,000 -3,363,000 -3,046,000 -1,382,000 -1,448,000 -108,000 -144,000 -11,450,000 -3,184,000 
          increase in bank deposits
        75,354,000 192,408,000 94,723,000 68,635,000 127,276,000 115,373,000 180,286,000 88,411,000 58,462,000 25,546,000 -12,993,000 55,279,000 -15,555,000 110,497,000 -7,649,000 104,427,000 139,732,000 143,664,000 -2,190,000 91,011,000 57,197,000                                              
          decrease in due to customers
        -212,085,000  13,627,000 49,687,000 -99,176,000  15,457,000 114,070,000 -150,712,000    -67,642,000    -89,884,000    -70,849,000  17,543,000 48,634,000 -217,851,000   62,546,000 -153,207,000    -58,606,000                                  
          dividends paid
        -11,834,000 -11,836,000 -10,835,000 -10,161,000 -10,161,000 -10,160,000 -10,148,000 -10,158,000 -10,370,000 -10,370,000 -9,701,000 -9,694,000 -9,654,000 -9,648,000 -8,925,000 -8,972,000 -9,063,000 -9,138,000 -8,407,000 -8,475,000 -8,437,000 -8,435,000 -7,664,000 -7,733,000 -7,946,000 -7,939,000 -7,143,000 -7,171,000 -7,232,000 -7,300,000 -6,525,000 -6,508,000 -6,506,000 -11,803,000 -5,896,000 -5,895,000 -10,192,000 -5,093,000 -5,366,000 -9,173,000 -4,614,000 -4,628,000 -9,284,000 -4,641,000 -4,637,000 -4,646,000 -52,051,000 -4,737,000 -4,737,000 -4,712,000 -4,713,000 -4,811,000 -4,852,000 -3,387,000 -23,695,000 -3,435,000 -3,507,000 -3,494,000     -3,458,000 
          repurchases of common stock
        -16,280,000 -16,255,000 -27,273,000 -21,360,000 -4,458,000 -403,000 -576,000 -46,842,000 -35,469,000 -23,718,000 -543,000 -465,000 -3,302,000 -4,461,000 -14,293,000 -46,032,000 -32,899,000 -30,625,000 -25,078,000 -399,000 -2,009,000 -213,000 -4,618,000 -67,274,000 -1,253,000 -149,000 -221,000 -23,683,000 -16,358,000 -28,811,000 -192,000 -4,910,000 -11,418,000 -18,195,000 -1,369,000 -8,948,000 -52,468,000 -52,069,000 -29,526,000 -51,028,000 -7,939,000 -2,376,000 -9,304,000 -869,000 -121,000 -6,704,000 -21,293,000 -206,000 -199,000 -1,116,000 -6,004,000 -20,595,000 -225,000 -310,000 -133,000 -26,614,000 -12,822,000 -236,000 -260,000 -108,000 -26,000 -36,000 -766,000 -103,000 -179,000 -488,000 
          proceeds from issuance of common stock
        379,000 490,000 472,000 579,000 341,000 522,000 457,000 593,000 374,000 465,000 425,000 495,000 395,000 427,000 405,000 366,000 435,000 357,000 419,000 308,000 381,000 403,000 469,000 370,000 411,000 381,000 447,000 263,000 461,000 366,000 492,000 227,000 274,000 221,000  233,000 417,000 228,000 184,000 431,000 248,000 180,000 295,000 149,000 124,000 174,000 131,000 100,000 133,000 116,000 106,000 141,000 141,000 124,000 157,000 124,000 130,000 117,000 120,000 98,000 113,000 118,000 144,000 143,000   
          redemption of noncontrolling interest
        -1,500,000                                                                  
          issuance of noncontrolling interests
        7,658,000 98,041,000 39,404,000 6,711,000 8,869,000 28,380,000 23,849,000 13,298,000 14,098,000 55,808,000 18,563,000 12,817,000 1,201,000 36,397,000 14,238,000 3,138,000 2,004,000 36,811,000 6,425,000 5,540,000 1,940,000     512,000    150,000 300,000   12,600,000 12,600,000  1,312,000 975,000                             
          distribution to noncontrolling interests
        -1,371,000 -2,368,000 -1,860,000 -1,501,000 -1,850,000 -2,388,000 -1,252,000 -1,536,000 -799,000 -2,138,000 -599,000 -927,000 -993,000 -2,395,000 -454,000 -334,000 -365,000 -330,000 -125,000 -321,000 -102,000 -428,000 -327,000 -311,000 -22,000 -62,000 -60,000 -91,000 -22,000 -174,000 -95,000 -237,000 -19,000 -515,000 -310,000  -219,000 -97,000                             
          net cash from financing activities
        -244,175,000 231,793,000 43,408,000 -685,894,000 -326,445,000 -482,757,000 -435,958,000 -868,443,000 -1,382,499,000 -478,644,000 -591,735,000 -326,560,000 -1,306,259,000 -245,940,000 -1,205,923,000 -535,410,000 -805,226,000 -854,610,000 -815,174,000 703,044,000 -528,147,000 349,492,000 -534,761,000 -829,491,000 -83,480,000 -403,554,000 -413,678,000 -588,637,000 -387,402,000 -84,564,000 -239,891,000 1,213,315,000 -177,076,000 -1,956,858,000 -1,086,742,000 -659,391,000 -1,808,920,000 -846,669,000 -704,223,000 -464,437,000 -191,608,000 -486,445,000 1,048,234,000 -385,280,000 -575,356,000 33,335,000 2,101,777,000 -986,082,000 -179,622,000 -419,276,000 -458,023,000 -379,429,000 -484,681,000 -669,783,000 -2,704,831,000 -164,740,000 1,755,832,000 1,025,788,000 -1,745,877,000 -620,591,000 -19,970,000 396,461,000 -1,214,619,000 603,448,000 -1,605,450,000 913,693,000 
          effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
        -3,048,000 -15,000 -48,000 312,000 26,000 -640,000 290,000 76,000 -163,000                                                          
          net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
        -143,021,000  -34,980,000 -30,351,000 -98,893,000  -44,385,000 2,580,000 -84,668,000  -21,480,000 -84,018,000 -459,573,000    -16,523,000    -11,204,000  -19,774,000 -179,023,000 -122,263,000    -140,766,000    -16,794,000                                  
          cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period
        973,546,000 931,020,000 1,025,491,000 1,357,616,000 1,194,189,000 958,395,000  1,222,601,000  1,192,391,000  942,066,000                                  
          cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period
        830,525,000 206,750,000 -34,980,000 -30,351,000 832,127,000 32,002,000 -44,385,000 2,580,000 940,823,000 232,946,000 -21,480,000 -84,018,000 898,043,000 314,287,000 -130,713,000 -3,624,000 1,177,666,000 -56,889,000 173,705,000 130,182,000 947,191,000  -19,774,000 -179,023,000 1,100,338,000  84,210,000 2,372,000 1,051,625,000  31,113,000 39,081,000 925,272,000                                  
          proceeds from termination of derivative instruments
                 164,079,000 23,765,000             2,119,000     3,013,000 913,000  3,523,000 3,522,000  51,947,000 34,447,000                      4,965,000 7,856,000 7,547,000 
          (payments to) proceeds from clearinghouse - initial and variation margin
           -3,220,000 -810,000     -3,755,000 -282,000 398,000 -210,284,000             -10,718,000 17,262,000 -63,255,000 -13,974,000                                      
          gain on partial redemption of allo investment
                                                                        
          deferred income tax benefit
         78,158,000 6,459,000    -17,893,000 -2,580,000 -2,234,000              3,787,000 11,238,000 -26,000,000         -15,249,000 -1,753,000             -8,658,000           11,597,000 -3,790,000   14,511,000 258,000 3,152,000 -27,389,000 
          impairment expense
                 26,951,000             332,000 34,087,000     7,814,000                                 18,834,000 
          decrease in other assets
         14,215,000 19,978,000 42,396,000 -18,886,000 16,783,000   10,443,000 -3,179,000    62,016,000   -1,963,000  3,140,000 27,094,000 5,147,000 39,691,000 -3,501,000    -20,433,000 30,781,000 -32,324,000  -4,994,000 4,834,000 49,415,000  294,000 -1,062,000  -2,922,000 -1,473,000 -1,967,000 605,000  1,383,000 1,303,000  293,000 -8,000 66,000 1,124,000 1,140,000 356,000 -2,193,000 2,242,000 1,016,000 10,433,000 -12,013,000 55,107,000 -51,071,000  -60,000 2,800,000 7,236,000 -12,320,000 4,509,000 21,097,000 -11,678,000 
          net proceeds from loan repayments, claims, and capitalized interest
         3,367,093,000 1,200,066,000 457,279,000 423,817,000 434,668,000 620,032,000 977,639,000 1,147,413,000 649,005,000 561,552,000 663,865,000 684,962,000 1,439,086,000 1,162,167,000 944,742,000 848,188,000 1,093,131,000 963,000,000 410,370,000 637,275,000 434,550,000 409,511,000 1,282,939,000 517,347,000                                          
          purchases of held-to-maturity debt securities
                 -1,100,000 -8,436,000                                                        
          years ended december 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023
                                                                          
          increase in due to customers
                     41,797,000 -103,011,000   11,393,000 51,400,000       128,447,000    57,918,000 33,831,000                                    
          acquisition of noncontrolling interest
                         1,400,000       -13,449,000                                  
          net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
                     314,287,000 -130,713,000   -56,889,000 173,705,000        84,210,000    31,113,000                                    
          payments to clearinghouse - initial and variation margin
                              4,048,000 -4,067,000 -20,386,000                                          
          loss from repurchases of debt
                         3,269,000                                                
          impairment expense and provision for beneficial interests
          9,145,000 10,288,000 1,591,000 5,764,000                                                             
          decrease in other liabilities
            -37,102,000   -12,420,000 -50,218,000   -5,187,000 -3,729,000   -376,000 -11,824,000   -3,288,000 -10,375,000   15,230,000 -42,047,000   1,072,000 -5,741,000     -7,891,000   -10,006,000   -4,526,000   -16,690,000                       -26,027,000 
          proceeds from (payments to) clearinghouse - initial and variation margin
               1,662,000 4,054,000         50,261,000 2,593,000 359,000 38,081,000                                              
          proceeds from sale of equity securities, net of purchases
                                                                          
          increase in accrued interest payable
             -4,534,000    -1,000,000 465,000 1,552,000 -1,675,000 14,253,000 8,833,000 5,747,000 2,650,000        -3,411,000 -5,060,000 -4,126,000 -5,687,000 479,000 1,021,000 -2,568,000 8,974,000 4,213,000 1,387,000 750,000 2,837,000 8,419,000 7,443,000 -125,000 2,566,000 1,371,000 695,000 1,432,000 613,000  1,091,000     2,669,000 -1,147,000           -10,536,000    
          purchases and originations of loans, including purchase of student loan residual interests
                                                                          
          years ended december 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
                                                                          
          cash flows from investing activities:
                                                                          
          purchases and originations of loans
              -181,020,000 -273,528,000 -157,047,000 -178,748,000 -144,387,000 -122,691,000 -289,177,000 -912,900,000 -142,632,000 -235,152,000 -161,334,000 -172,830,000 -105,202,000 -888,244,000 -152,329,000                                              
          purchases of restricted available-for-sale securities
              -5,001,000 -18,287,000                                                          
          proceeds from sales of restricted available-for-sale securities
              620,000 320,000 340,000                                                          
          cash flows from financing activities:
                                                                          
          net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                         -3,536,000 -1,919,000 -854,000 -694,000  -327,000 128,000 767,000  -77,000 59,000 56,000     -6,192,000 -2,106,000  97,000 68,000                             
          benefit from loan losses
                                76,299,000                                          
          impairment expense and benefit from beneficial interests
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in loan and investment accrued interest receivable
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in other assets
                                31,363,000                                          
          loan discount accretion
                -7,433,000 -8,286,000 -7,115,000 -7,736,000 -7,676,000 -39,517,000 -8,409,000 -9,627,000 -9,927,000 17,058,000 -10,442,000 -7,388,000 -7,218,000 -7,471,000 -8,618,000 -9,754,000 -9,442,000 -8,270,000 -8,748,000 -9,113,000 -9,693,000 -9,485,000 -9,516,000 -10,108,000 -11,691,000                                  
          loss on investments, net of gains
                8,348,000                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          provision (negative provision) for loan losses
                    34,275,000 27,801,000 9,666,000                                                    
          gain on sale of loans
                 -6,988,000 -5,362,000 -15,511,000 -11,812,000 2,713,000 -2,627,000 -2,989,000      -14,817,000                 -351,000 -351,000    1,000 -33,000 -36,000 -47,000   -33,000 -1,345,000             
          increase in accounts receivable
                                               -10,341,000 -5,416,000  -695,000 -5,758,000  -9,601,000    -561,000    -198,000  -11,277,000 3,268,000 -18,661,000         
          cash flows from investing activities, net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          proceeds from and sale of beneficial interest in loan securitizations
                         9,791,000 11,734,000                                                
          cash flows from financing activities, net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          effect of exchange rate changes on cash
                 222,000 -122,000 7,000 -91,000 287,000 -268,000 -348,000 169,000 54,000 -67,000 -31,000 -77,000                                              
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of business acquisition:
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale of equity securities
                  75,000                                                      
          proceeds from other investments
                  15,365,000 3,289,000 11,114,000 22,845,000 18,569,000 14,179,000 9,776,000 -17,813,000 41,813,000 57,531,000 110,290,000 4,483,000 1,758,000 3,635,000 3,135,000                                          
          business acquisition, net of cash acquired
                                      -109,152,000           -1,909,000            -3,000,000         
          deferred income tax (benefit) expense
                                                                          
          increase in loan and investment accrued interest receivable
                          -1,443,000 -40,374,000 -114,000 -33,898,000                                             
          gain from deconsolidation of allo, including cash impact
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale (purchases) of equity securities
                     -22,000 465,000 41,826,000 572,000                                                  
          proceeds from clearinghouse - initial and variation margin, net of payments
                      93,826,000 -16,027,000 149,649,000                                                  
          provision for beneficial interests and impairment expense
                                                                          
          business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
                                                  -45,583,000                    -18,000,000 
          (gain) income from repurchases of debt
                                                                          
          provision (negative provision) for beneficial interests and impairment expense
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
                                52,185,000                                          
          negative provision for loan losses
                        -435,000                                                  
          negative provision for beneficial interests
                                                                          
          purchases of other investments
                        -73,944,000 -87,230,000 -38,653,000 -56,421,000 -71,590,000 -45,632,000 -4,986,000 -84,706,000 -32,892,000                 -10,471,000 -27,011,000 -14,467,000 -11,986,000                      
          (negative provision) benefit from loan losses
                                                                          
          payments to terminate derivative instruments
                                                                      -12,688,000    
          gain from sale of loans
                         -3,444,000      -18,206,000 -15,549,000                                        
          gain from investments
                         -3,518,000    23,711,000 10,636,000                                            
          loss on (gain from) repurchases and extinguishments of debt
                                                                          
          purchases of equity securities
                                                                          
          benefit from beneficial interests and impairment expense
                                                                          
          payments to extinguish debt
                                                                          
          (negative provision) provision for loan losses
                          5,827,000 374,000 -17,048,000                                              
          purchases of equity securities - trading
                          -21,827,000 -6,252,000 -13,512,000                                              
          loss from investments
                           -13,037,000 13,849,000                                              
          (negative provision) provision for beneficial interests and impairment expense
                           500,000 -2,436,000                                              
          cash flows from investing activities, net of acquisition:
                                                                          
          (payments to) proceeds from termination of derivative instruments
                                                                          
          (gain from) loss on repurchases and extinguishment of debt
                                                                          
          purchases of loans
                             -427,060,000 -159,649,000 -463,583,000 -409,404,000 -647,334,000 -363,750,000 -652,492,000 -344,631,000 -615,597,000 -638,724,000 -1,982,377,000 -610,855,000                                  
          net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
                                                                          
          cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of year
                                                                          
          cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of year
                                                                          
          payments from termination of derivative instruments
                                                                          
          loss on repurchases and extinguishment of debt
                              -105,000                                            
          increase in accrued interest receivable
                               -90,109,000 -33,167,000 3,278,000 -12,897,000 -8,245,000 -36,722,000      -1,490,000   -452,000  -743,000                           
          income from investments
                                4,046,000                                          
          increase in the carrying amount of rou asset
                                -1,000,000                                          
          unrealized foreign currency transaction adjustment
                                         31,951,000                                 
          loss on extinguishment of debt
                                 874,000 14,014,000                                        
          purchases of investments and issuance of notes receivable
                                 -32,650,000 -44,286,000 -10,344,000 -15,970,000 -17,824,000 -24,992,000 -7,854,000 -16,370,000  -4,898,000 -7,449,000 -10,222,000 -3,021,000 -28,400,000 -53,770,000 -49,953,000                          
          proceeds from investments and notes receivable
                                 15,653,000 30,088,000 23,012,000 1,719,000 1,578,000 5,369,000 6,374,000 9,718,000  1,605,000 3,729,000 5,360,000 3,087,000 2,026,000 8,824,000 4,709,000                          
          business (acquisitions) sale, net of cash and restricted cash acquired
                                                                          
          payment of contingent consideration
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of acquisition:
                                                                          
          gain from debt repurchases
                                     -359,000 -5,421,000 -4,980,000 -5,721,000 -101,000 -101,000 -166,000 -4,039,000 -2,524,000 -6,558,000 -57,000 -39,000 -800,000 -1,374,000 -2,973,000 -148,000   -6,962,000             
          gain from investments and notes receivable
                                  -1,921,000                                        
          net proceeds from loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other
                                  739,072,000 1,119,088,000 769,996,000 838,187,000 789,767,000 831,559,000 863,270,000                                  
          business acquisition, net of cash and restricted cash acquired
                                                                          
          payment of debt extinguishment costs
                                  -12,636,000                                        
          loss from investments and notes receivable
                                    1,151,000                                      
          derivative market value adjustment
                                     48,895,000 5,226,000 4,898,000 -60,033,000 -951,000 -1,238,000 -61,451,000 48,649,000 3,674,000 -28,029,000 19,457,000 46,072,000 19,879,000 -7,950,000 -2,916,000 -10,135,000 19,507,000 -39,516,000 5,426,000 78,758,000 -16,835,000 31,830,000 87,341,000 -2,208,000 -66,450,000 -17,405,000 -73,662,000 100,631,000 67,570,000 13,060,000 -42,182,000 -29,852,000 52,122,000 -33,823,000 119,861,000 -11,459,000 -36,003,000 
          proceeds (payments) from termination of derivative instruments
                                                                          
          payments to enter into derivative instruments
                                         -929,000 -929,000                                
          proceeds from clearinghouse - initial and variation margin
                                     -6,036,000 6,157,000                                    
          (gain) income from investments and notes receivable
                                                                          
          increase in loan accrued interest receivable
                                     -54,943,000 -33,228,000 -101,660,000 -59,038,000                                  
          proceeds from sale of business
                                                                          
          gain from equity securities, net of losses
                                      -521,000 -921,000 -6,838,000                                  
          proceeds from clearinghouse to settle variation margin
                                        62,689,000 25,927,000                                 
          depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and student loan premiums and deferred origination costs
                                         66,805,000 34,310,000 38,559,000 62,298,000 31,078,000 32,691,000 60,191,000 30,225,000 29,651,000 49,206,000 21,999,000 21,154,000 20,079,000                     
          student loan discount accretion
                                         -22,934,000 -12,014,000 -10,178,000 -21,524,000 -10,917,000 -11,082,000 -21,506,000 -10,746,000 -11,086,000 -21,087,000 -10,023,000 -9,925,000 -9,075,000                     
          gain from sales of available-for-sale securities, net of losses
                                                                          
          proceeds related to trading securities
                                                                          
          decrease in accrued interest receivable
                                         -4,470,000  -9,460,000 3,685,000    -3,784,000 902,000 -3,567,000 8,881,000 4,173,000 2,341,000 -39,662,000 18,277,000 10,245,000 12,023,000 22,670,000 -9,121,000 6,003,000 9,668,000 99,931,000 -20,588,000 -61,253,000 -6,929,000  -4,080,000 3,157,000 83,563,000 58,224,000   66,778,000 
          purchases of student loans
                                         -100,843,000 -50,126,000   -108,543,000   -844,120,000   -385,963,000  -758,508,000  -146,071,000                   
          net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, and other
                                         1,807,765,000 953,698,000 827,034,000 1,927,319,000 870,898,000 825,183,000                            
          proceeds from sale of student loans
                                           44,738,000 44,738,000 3,996,000 3,996,000 50,182,000 6,000  32,005,000 11,284,000 14,944,000 32,184,000 27,373,000 32,592,000 26,166,000 47,000 95,131,000 2,175,236,000 6,155,000 1,004,000 20,032,000 1,766,917,000 549,835,000 216,000 125,000 539,987,000 426,739,000 841,087,000 
          purchases of investments and loans receivable and issuance of notes receivable
                                         -33,131,000                                 
          proceeds from investments and other receivables
                                         5,551,000                                 
          decrease in restricted cash
                                         226,409,000 193,326,000           695,000                    -858,209,000 
          net increase in cash and cash equivalents
                                          38,506,000 2,500,000 -4,276,000  -50,969,000 51,799,000 -30,435,000 55,902,000 28,832,000 43,835,000 11,876,000 -15,965,000 -27,643,000 37,419,000 -4,445,000 18,130,000     -32,560,000 41,600,000 -55,318,000 -8,102,000 3,888,000 -32,534,000 123,122,000 53,858,000 -135,160,000 186,553,000 14,283,000 12,425,000 
          cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
                                         69,654,000 69,654,000  63,529,000 63,529,000  130,481,000 130,481,000  63,267,000 63,267,000  66,031,000  42,570,000  283,801,000  338,181,000  189,847,000  111,746,000 
          cash and cash equivalents, end of period
                                         69,239,000 108,160,000  59,253,000 51,034,000  182,280,000 100,046,000  92,099,000 107,102,000  50,066,000  37,419,000 -4,445,000 60,700,000  -24,247,000 68,204,000 48,137,000  41,600,000 -55,318,000 330,079,000  -32,534,000 123,122,000 243,705,000  186,553,000 14,283,000 124,171,000 
          cash disbursements made for:
                                                                          
          interest
                                         183,821,000 88,066,000 81,446,000 142,446,000 66,091,000 62,363,000 108,436,000 53,235,000 54,738,000 97,668,000 48,750,000                       
          income taxes, net of refunds
                                         46,193,000 1,180,000 27,782,000 55,988,000 1,323,000 42,832,000 67,211,000 45,000 36,962,000 83,706,000 13,378,000                       
          loss from sales of available-for-sale securities
                                         -740,000 -331,000  409,000 132,000                             
          proceeds (purchases) related to trading securities
                                         23,000 7,000 147,000                               
          net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
                                         -415,000    -12,495,000              -24,247,000 68,204,000 -235,664,000             
          foreign currency transaction adjustment
                                          4,690,000 -25,392,000 8,712,000 18,480,000 -11,321,000 -33,538,000 -48,209,000 -18,797,000 -1,798,000 952,000 9,383,000 -28,763,000 25,747,000 20,798,000 -59,226,000 32,242,000 -43,608,000 -73,452,000 19,020,000 65,334,000 -22,113,000 106,467,000 -93,400,000 -71,675,000 -18,325,000 39,356,000 63,865,000 -47,242,000 -12,526,000 -128,890,000 -4,407,000 92,937,000 
          supplemental noncash operating activities:
                                                                          
          increase in other assets related to centrally cleared variation margin settlements on derivative instruments
                                          50,401,000                                
          net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
                                              168,000 95,000 41,000 308,000 1,206,000 513,000 568,000 271,000 19,000 124,000 136,000 152,000                 
          proceeds to terminate/amend derivative instruments, net of payments
                                                                          
          gain from sales of available-for-sale securities
                                           -1,825,000   -585,000 -2,297,000 -205,000 -187,000 -8,311,000 -7,073,000 -3,692,000 -957,000                     
          purchases of student loans and student loan residual interests
                                           -114,874,000 -183,375,000  -195,034,000 -1,637,650,000  -542,783,000 -2,843,061,000                        
          business and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired
                                                                          
          cash flows from financing activities, net of borrowings assumed:
                                                                          
          issuance of noncontrolling interest
                                              3,670,000 19,000  201,000 201,000 5,000                    
          distribution to noncontrolling interest
                                              -108,000 -44,000  -346,000 -1,349,000 -287,000 -290,000                      
          cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
                                                                          
          cash and cash equivalents, end of year
                                                                          
          noncash investing and financing activities:
                                                                          
          student loans and other assets acquired
                                                                          
          sale of education lending subsidiary, including student loans and other assets
                                                                          
          note receivable obtained in connection with sale of education lending subsidiary
                                                                          
          borrowings and other liabilities transferred in sale of education lending subsidiary
                                                                          
          borrowings and other liabilities assumed in acquisition of student loans
                                                                          
          proceeds from termination of derivative instruments, net of payments
                                                                          
          payment to enter into interest rate caps
                                               -585,000                           
          decrease in restricted cash and investments
                                            -131,325,000   16,532,000 -16,147,000  -27,247,000 29,356,000    7,394,000   -13,104,000 42,982,000   23,945,000        84,743,000    
          noncash activity:
                                                                          
          investing activity - student loans and other assets acquired
                                               517,845,000  2,571,997,000                        
          financing activity - borrowings and other liabilities assumed in acquisition of student loans
                                               451,845,000  2,444,874,000                        
          payments for purchases of trading securities
                                            -235,000   -11,697,000                           
          (payments for) proceeds from (purchases) sales of trading securities
                                             -3,436,000                             
          increase in restricted cash and investments
                                             -92,301,000            -91,631,000    -127,472,000   57,969,000 -102,366,000   136,032,000 -221,240,000     
          (purchases) proceeds related to trading securities
                                                                          
          issuance of minority interest
                                                                          
          payment to enter into derivative instruments
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in restricted cash and investments
                                                                  173,144,000        
          net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other
                                               1,953,437,000 940,907,000 978,119,000 1,712,350,000 686,908,000 582,924,000 688,387,000 612,739,000 1,050,395,000 852,576,000 597,034,000 456,990,000 428,385,000 719,738,000 630,606,000   434,281,000 615,431,000 365,685,000 330,526,000 443,010,000 734,445,000 708,897,000 476,624,000 637,195,000 424,315,000 
          proceeds from sales (purchases) of trading securities
                                                1,304,000                          
          payment for interest rate swap option
                                                                         
          proceeds to terminate/amend derivative instruments
                                                                          
          proceeds from sales of trading securities
                                                                          
          repayments of receivables and other assets
                                                                          
          payments received on employee stock notes receivable
                                                      368,000 772,000    80,000 199,000   177,000 398,000 
          investing activity - sale of education lending subsidiary, including student loans and other assets
                                                                          
          investing activity - note receivable obtained in connection with sale of education lending subsidiary
                                                                          
          financing activity - borrowings and other liabilities transferred in sale of education lending subsidiary
                                                                          
          payments to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments, net of proceeds
                                                                          
          purchases of student loans - held for sale
                                                                          
          purchases of trading securities
                                                                          
          other non-cash items
                                                      304,000 1,923,000 -605,000 -697,000 677,000 -232,000 297,000 -189,000 611,000 -697,000 241,000 254,000 -1,593,000 -5,123,000 7,668,000 1,024,000 530,000 914,000 153,000 191,000 
          purchase of student loans from a related party
                                                  -175,000 -137,000                       
          repayments of notes and other receivables
                                                  3,821,000                        
          purchases of trading investments
                                                   -731,000                       
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of asset acquisitions:
                                                                          
          proceeds from the termination/amendment of derivative instruments, net of payments
                                                                          
          cash flows from investing activities, net of asset acquisitions:
                                                                          
          purchases of student loans from a related party
                                                       -9,000 -69,000 -221,000      -4,000           
          asset acquisitions, including contingency payments
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in restricted cash
                                                                          
          supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
                                                                          
          interest paid
                                                     48,696,000 55,599,000 58,184,000 59,485,000 61,338,000 52,950,000 52,160,000 47,333,000 53,674,000  68,873,000 53,006,000 49,777,000 54,291,000 86,502,000 116,831,000 177,210,000 242,171,000 224,891,000 234,674,000 354,904,000 
          income taxes paid, net of refunds
                                                     5,489,000 27,960,000 29,685,000 54,193,000 2,920,000 35,540,000 34,309,000 31,038,000 32,293,000 28,181,000 25,887,000 26,764,000 25,123,000 31,567,000 39,625,000 22,203,000 8,096,000 -244,000 10,176,000 8,783,000 5,343,000 
          purchases of cost-method investments
                                                                          
          business acquisition contingency payment
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities, net of business and asset acquisitions:
                                                                          
          (payments) proceeds to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments
                                                                          
          originations and purchases of student loans - held for sale
                                                                          
          change in investments - trading securities
                                                      277,000 -1,795,000 523,000 -752,000 -946,000 -18,170,000 6,055,000 5,517,000 -10,154,000 -2,065,000           
          cash flows from investing activities, net of business and asset acquisitions:
                                                                          
          originations and purchases of student loans
                                                         -176,212,000                 
          business and asset acquisitions, including contingency payments
                                                                          
          distribution from equity method investment
                                                                          
          distribution made to noncontrolling interest
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including loan and debt premiums/discounts and deferred origination costs
                                                       18,153,000 18,003,000 17,521,000                 
          proceeds to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments
                                                          1,238,000 12,369,000   13,909,000 855,000 50,000 2,388,000 1,382,000 50,000     
          gain from sale of available-for-sale securities
                                                                          
          business and asset acquisition contingency payments
                                                         -1,550,000                 
          payments on bonds payable due to a related party
                                                          -107,050,000             
          investing activity - student loans acquired
                                                                          
          operating activity - other assets acquired and other liabilities assumed
                                                                          
          financing activity - borrowings assumed in acquisition of student loans and other assets
                                                                          
          issuance of minority membership interest
                                                        5,000                 
          payments to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments
                                                          -174,000 -9,546,000 -381,000 -141,000 -2,586,000   -3,359,000 50,000 -11,760,000     
          originations and purchases of student loans, including loan premiums and deferred origination costs, net of discounts
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale of student loans to a related party
                                                                  14,996,000 21,419,000 20,017,000 20,016,000     
          business and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired, including contingency payments
                                                                          
          proceeds from issuance of bonds payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities,
                                                                          
          net of business and asset acquisitions:
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including loan premiums/discount and deferred origination costs
                                                           18,621,000 16,877,000 18,964,000             
          originations and purchases of student loans-held for sale
                                                                          
          accrued litigation settlement
                                                                          
          originations and purchases of student loans, including loan premiums/discounts
                                                                          
          and deferred origination costs
                                                                  -672,323,000        
          purchases of student loans, including loan premiums, from a related party
                                                           -30,000 -29,000    -535,907,000 -7,972,000 -19,257,000 -6,589,000 -13,803,000 -35,100,000 -177,788,000 
          business and asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired, including contingency payments/receipts
                                                                          
          supplemental disclosures of non-cash operating, investing, and financing activities regarding the company's acquisition of student loans from an affiliate of greystone & co., inc. are contained in note 2.
                                                                          
          see accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                                                          
          cash flows from investing activities, net of business acquisition:
                                                                          
          originations and purchases of student loans, including loan premiums/discounts and deferred origination costs
                                                            -426,725,000 -235,599,000             
          adjustments to reconcile income to net cash from operating activities, net of business acquisition:
                                                                          
          business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, including contingency payments
                                                             -7,193,000             
          income from discontinued operations
                                                                      837,000    
          income from continuing operations
                                                                      30,160,000   -69,825,000 
          adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities, net of business acquisition:
                                                                          
          change in value of put options issued in business acquisitions
                                                                      2,945,000 111,000 427,000 
          gain from repurchase of bonds and notes payable
                                                              -16,062,000 -9,885,000 -8,759,000 -10,177,000 -22,498,000        
          loss on sale of student loans
                                                                      3,988,000    
          net cash flows from operating activities - continuing operations
                                                                  110,056,000        
          net cash flows from operating activities - discontinued operations
                                                                          
          originations, purchases, and consolidations of student loans, including loan premiums and deferred origination costs
                                                                    -494,862,000 -972,450,000 -317,647,000 -887,924,000 -305,939,000 -1,174,366,000 
          purchase of equity method investment
                                                                          
          net cash flows from investing activities - continuing operations
                                                                  1,639,709,000        
          net cash flows from investing activities - discontinued operations
                                                                          
          payments on bonds and notes payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          payment on settlement of put option
                                                                          
          net cash flows from financing activities - continuing operations
                                                                  -1,745,877,000        
          net cash flows from financing activities - discontinued operations
                                                                          
          interest paid:
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile income to net cash from operating
                                                                          
          activities, net of business acquisition:
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including loan premiums
                                                                          
          proceeds received to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments
                                                                          
          originations and purchases of student loans, including loan
                                                                          
          premiums/discounts and deferred origination costs
                                                                          
          net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims,
                                                                          
          capitalized interest, participations, and other
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including loan premiums and deferred origination costs
                                                                23,329,000 26,864,000 27,920,000 30,228,000 27,756,000 30,134,000 33,661,000 33,632,000 35,360,000 38,952,000 
          originations and purchases of student loans, including loan premiums and deferred origination costs
                                                                 -1,027,883,000         
          income (loss) from discontinued operations
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided
                                                                          
          by operating activities:
                                                                          
          loss on sale of business
                                                                          
          gain on sale of equity method investment
                                                                          
          (gain) loss on sale of student loans
                                                                          
          decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable
                                                                          
          (decrease) increase in accrued interest payable
                                                                          
          increase (decrease) in other liabilities
                                                                  -31,898,000        
          originations, purchases, and consolidations of student loans, including loan premiums
                                                                          
          purchases of equity method investments
                                                                      -1,270,000 -1,718,000 
          distributions from equity method investments
                                                                          
          sale of business, net of cash sold
                                                                          
          business acquisitions - contingent consideration and purchase price adjustments
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale of equity method investment
                                                                          
          payments from issuance of notes payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
                                                                          
          supplemental disclosures of noncash financing activities:
                                                                          
          notes payable assumed in connection with an acquisition of an entity under common control
                                                                          
          common stock issued in consideration for notes receivable
                                                                          
          income (loss) from continuing operations
                                                                          
          (gain) loss on sale of loans
                                                                          
          (increase) decrease in accounts receivable
                                                                          
          business acquisition - contingent consideration
                                                                          
          (payments) proceeds from issuance of notes payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash from operating activities:
                                                                          
          change in value of put options issued in business combinations
                                                                          
          gain from purchase of debt
                                                                          
          net cash flows from operating activities — continuing operations
                                                                      63,526,000   74,943,000 
          net cash flows from operating activities — discontinued operations
                                                                          
          business acquisition — contingent consideration
                                                                          
          net cash flows from investing activities — continuing operations
                                                                      1,015,933,000   -976,211,000 
          net cash flows from investing activities — discontinued operations
                                                                          
          proceeds from issuance of notes payable due to a related party
                                                                    -21,520,000 -68,562,000   11,321,000 
          net cash flows from financing activities — continuing operations
                                                                      -1,214,619,000   913,693,000 
          net cash flows from financing activities — discontinued operations
                                                                          
          gain from purchase of unsecured debt
                                                                     -8,075,000     
          adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash from operating activities, net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale of floor contracts
                                                                          
          loans to employees for purchases of common stock
                                                                          
          notes payable assumed in connection with acquisition of entities under common control
                                                                          
          adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities, net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          payments to terminate floor contracts
                                                                          
          loss (gain) on sale of student loans
                                                                          
          (decrease) increase in other liabilities
                                                                          
          (increase) decrease in restricted cash
                                                                          
          purchases of restricted investments
                                                                        -80,936,000 -89,576,000 
          proceeds from maturities of restricted investments
                                                                        81,284,000 79,394,000 
          proceeds from sale of business, net of cash sold
                                                                          
          proceeds (payments) from issuance of notes payable due to a related party
                                                                          
          loss on sale of student loans and reduction in fair value related to loans held for sale
                                                                         47,474,000 
          proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps
                                                                          
          gain on sale of student loans
                                                                          
          purchase of loan origination rights
                                                                          
          consideration paid to expand customer relationships
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including amortization of loan premiums and deferred origination costs
                                                                          
          income from equity method investments
                                                                          
          gain on sale of fixed asset
                                                                          
          provision (recovery) for loan losses
                                                                          
          proceeds from sale of fixed asset
                                                                          
          purchase of equity method investments
                                                                          
          note payable assumed in connection with purchase of property
                                                                          
          supplemental disclosures of noncash operating, investing, and financing activities regarding business acquisitions and the company’s cash flow hedge are contained in notes 4 and 8, respectively.
                                                                          
          net of business acquisitions:
                                                                          
          depreciation and amortization, including amortization of loan premiums and deferred
                                                                          
          origination costs
                                                                          
          ineffectiveness of cash flow hedge
                                                                          
          put option adjustment
                                                                          
          minority interest in net income of subsidiaries
                                                                          
          increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable
                                                                          
          net proceeds from student loan principal payments and loan consolidations
                                                                          
          purchases of furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements
                                                                          
          consideration paid to expand customer relationships with college access network
                                                                          
          redemption of common stock