Nelnet (NNI) 10-Q 7 Aug 14 2014 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014
		Common Class A [Member]	Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'NELNET INC	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	34,807,168	11,491,932
Entity Public Float	$940,529,760.75	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001258602	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Document Period End Date	30-Jun-14	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q2	'	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'	'
Student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses)	$29,342,430	$25,907,589
Cash and cash equivalents:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents - not held at a related party	29,863	8,537
Cash and cash equivalents - held at a related party	62,236	54,730
Total cash and cash equivalents	92,099	63,267
Investments	141,489	192,040
Restricted cash and investments	862,034	735,123
Restricted cash - due to customers	98,005	167,576
Accrued interest receivable	360,075	314,553
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts)	58,321	56,072
Goodwill	126,200	117,118
Intangible assets, net	44,849	6,132
Property and equipment, net	35,498	33,829
Other assets	141,989	115,043
Fair value of derivative instruments	68,033	62,507
Total assets	31,371,022	27,770,849
Liabilities:	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,492,560	25,955,289
Accrued interest payable	24,339	21,725
Other liabilities	160,444	164,300
Due to customers	98,005	167,576
Fair value of derivative instruments	15,546	17,969
Total liabilities	29,790,894	26,326,859
Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock:	'	'
Additional paid-in capital	20,721	24,887
Retained earnings	1,552,988	1,413,492
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	5,569	4,819
Total Nelnet, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,579,742	1,443,662
Noncontrolling interest	386	328
Total equity	1,580,128	1,443,990
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	31,371,022	27,770,849
Common Class A [Member]	'	'
Common stock:	'	'
Common stock	349	349
Total equity	349	349
Common Class B [Member]	'	'
Common stock:	'	'
Common stock	115	115
Total equity	115	115
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Student loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses)	29,479,249	26,020,629
Cash and cash equivalents:	'	'
Restricted cash and investments	859,441	732,771
Other assets	358,646	313,748
Fair value of derivative instruments	33,797	36,834
Liabilities:	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,778,096	26,244,222
Other liabilities	335,992	303,142
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Net assets of consolidated variable interest entities	$617,045	$556,618

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_un1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for loan losses	$52,467	$55,122
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$1,490	$3,845
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, authorized shares	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, issued shares	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding shares	0	0
Common Class A [Member]	'	'
Par Value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Shares Authorized	600,000,000	600,000,000
Shares Issued	34,859,786	34,881,338
Shares Outstanding	34,859,786	34,881,338
Common Class B [Member]	'	'
Par Value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Shares Authorized	60,000,000	60,000,000
Shares Issued	0	11,495,377
Shares Outstanding	0	11,495,377

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Interest income:	'	'	'	'
Loan interest	$175,466	$158,063	$332,362	$313,602
Investment interest	1,482	1,483	3,461	3,100
Total interest income	176,948	159,546	335,823	316,702
Interest expense:	'	'	'	'
Interest on bonds and notes payable	69,235	58,127	129,239	116,485
Net interest income	107,713	101,419	206,584	200,217
Less provision for loan losses	1,500	5,000	4,000	10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	106,213	96,419	202,584	190,217
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460	60,078	131,217	115,679
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	21,834	18,356	47,069	41,767
Enrollment services revenue	20,145	24,823	42,156	53,780
Other income	15,315	12,288	33,446	21,704
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	18	7,355	57	8,762
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net	1,570	40,188	-2,695	41,260
Total other income (expense)	125,342	163,088	251,250	282,952
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	53,888	47,432	106,372	95,337
Cost to provide enrollment services	13,311	16,787	27,786	36,429
Depreciation and amortization	5,214	4,320	9,997	8,697
Other	40,377	34,365	76,004	69,306
Total operating expenses	112,790	102,904	220,159	209,769
Income before income taxes	118,765	156,603	233,675	263,400
Income tax expense	-43,078	-54,746	-83,689	-93,193
Net income	75,687	101,857	149,986	170,207
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	693	614	1,206	885
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$74,994	$101,243	$148,780	$169,322
Earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. shareholders - basic and diluted	$1.61	$2.17	$3.20	$3.63
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,529,377	46,626,853	46,528,651	46,642,356

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net income	$75,687	$101,857	$149,986	$170,207
Available-for-sale securities:	'	'	'	'
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period, net	5,826	-3,335	9,501	1,185
Less reclassification adjustment for gains recognized in net income, net	-1,238	-559	-8,311	-1,516
Income tax effect	-1,698	1,441	-440	115
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,890	-2,453	750	-216
Comprehensive income	78,577	99,404	150,736	169,991
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	693	614	1,206	885
Comprehensive income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$77,884	$98,790	$149,530	$169,106

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (unaudited) (USD $)	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Class A [Member]	Common Class B [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling interest [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$1,226,404	$0	$350	$115	$27,786	$1,192,822	$5,050	$281
Balance (in Shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	'	0	35,029,341	11,495,377	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	101,243	'	'	'	'	101,243	'	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	614	'	'	'	'	'	'	-614
Net income	101,857	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-2,453	'	'	'	'	'	-2,453	'
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	782	'	'	'	'	'	'	782
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock	-4,649	'	'	'	'	-4,649	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	695	'	1	0	694	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures (in Shares)	'	'	24,390	0	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense for stock based awards	808	'	'	'	808	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-2,285	'	-1	0	-2,284	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in Shares)	'	'	-65,621	0	'	'	'	'
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,319,595	0	350	115	27,004	1,289,416	2,597	113
Balance (in Shares) at Jun. 30, 2013	'	0	34,988,110	11,495,377	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,165,213	0	351	115	32,540	1,129,389	2,813	5
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	0	35,116,913	11,495,377	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	169,322	'	'	'	'	169,322	'	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	885	'	'	'	'	'	'	885
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Sale of Parent Equity Interest	5	'	'	'	'	'	'	5
Net income	170,207	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-216	'	'	'	'	'	-216	'
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	-782	'	'	'	'	'	'	-782
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock	-9,295	'	'	'	'	-9,295	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	1,969	'	2	0	1,967	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures (in Shares)	'	'	150,353	0	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense for stock based awards	1,483	'	'	'	1,483	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-8,989	'	-3	0	-8,986	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in Shares)	'	'	-279,156	0	'	'	'	'
Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,319,595	0	350	115	27,004	1,289,416	2,597	113
Balance (in Shares) at Jun. 30, 2013	'	0	34,988,110	11,495,377	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,443,990	0	349	115	24,887	1,413,492	4,819	328
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	0	34,881,338	11,495,377	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	148,780	'	'	'	'	148,780	'	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,206	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,206
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Sale of Parent Equity Interest	201	'	'	'	'	'	'	201
Net income	149,986	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	750	'	'	'	'	'	750	'
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	-1,349	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,349
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock	-9,284	'	'	'	'	-9,284	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	3,128	'	2	0	3,126	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures (in Shares)	'	'	205,507	0	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense for stock based awards	2,010	'	'	'	2,010	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-9,304	'	-2	0	-9,302	'	'	'
Conversion of Common Stock, Shares Converted	'	'	-3,445	-3,445	'	'	'	'
Conversion of Common Stock, Amount Converted	0	'	0	0	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in Shares)	'	'	-230,504	0	'	'	'	'
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	1,580,128	0	349	115	20,721	1,552,988	5,569	386
Balance (in Shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	'	0	34,859,786	11,491,932	'	'	'	'
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	1,513,674	0	350	115	27,138	1,482,637	2,679	755
Balance (in Shares) at Mar. 31, 2014	'	0	35,019,924	11,491,932	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	74,994	'	'	'	'	74,994	'	'
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	693	'	'	'	'	'	'	-693
Net income	75,687	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,890	'	'	'	'	'	2,890	'
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	1,062	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,062
Cash dividend on Class A and Class B common stock	-4,643	'	'	'	'	-4,643	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures	883	'	1	0	882	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of forfeitures (in Shares)	'	'	49,802	0	'	'	'	'
Compensation expense for stock based awards	1,135	'	'	'	1,135	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-8,436	'	-2	0	-8,434	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in Shares)	'	'	-209,940	0	'	'	'	'
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$1,580,128	$0	$349	$115	$20,721	$1,552,988	$5,569	$386
Balance (in Shares) at Jun. 30, 2014	'	0	34,859,786	11,491,932	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sha1

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Common Class A [Member]	'	'
Dividends paid per common share	$0.10	$0.10
Common Class B [Member]	'	'
Dividends paid per common share	$0.10	$0.10

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$148,780	$169,322
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,206	885
Net income	149,986	170,207
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization, including debt discounts and student loan premiums and deferred origination costs	49,206	39,160
Student loan discount accretion	-21,087	-17,769
Provision for loan losses	4,000	10,000
Derivative market value adjustment	-7,950	-43,729
Foreign currency transaction adjustment	-1,798	-14,072
Payments to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments, net of proceeds	0	-3,819
Gain on sale of loans	0	-34
Gain from debt repurchases	-57	-8,728
Gain from sales of available-for-sale securities, net	-8,311	-1,516
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	5,653	21,244
Non-cash compensation expense	2,082	1,558
Other	2,885	-27
(Increase) decrease in accrued interest receivable	-3,567	10,980
Increase in accounts receivable	-695	-2,378
(Increase) decrease in other assets	1,383	566
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable	1,432	-10
Decrease in other liabilities	-16,690	-8,447
Net cash provided by operating activities	156,472	153,186
Cash flows from investing activities, net of acquisitions:	'	'
Purchases of student loans and student loan residual interests	-2,843,061	-1,158,245
Purchases Of Student Loans From Related Party	-175	0
Net proceeds from student loan repayments, claims, capitalized interest, participations, and other	1,712,350	1,393,949
Proceeds from sale of student loans	6	11,287
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	-135,890	-132,496
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	195,938	37,656
Purchases of other investments, net	-27,011	-3,893
Repayments of notes and other receivables	3,821	0
Purchases of property and equipment, net	-9,022	-9,558
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	-27,247	135,735
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	-45,583	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-1,175,874	274,435
Cash flows from financing activities, net of borrowings assumed:	'	'
Payments on bonds and notes payable	-1,821,723	-3,538,437
Proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes payable	2,901,639	3,143,612
Payments of debt issuance costs	-12,241	-11,485
Dividends paid	-9,284	-9,295
Repurchases of common stock	-9,304	-8,989
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	295	303
Issuance of noncontrolling interest	201	5
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	-1,349	-782
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	1,048,234	-425,068
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	28,832	2,553
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	63,267	66,031
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	92,099	'
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:	'	'
Interest paid	97,668	100,292
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	83,706	69,866
Noncash activity:	'	'
Investing activity - student loans and other assets acquired	2,571,997	0
Financing activity - borrowings and other liabilities assumed in acquisition of student loans	$2,444,874	$0

Basis_of_Financial_Reporting

Basis of Financial Reporting	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Financial Reporting	'
	Basis of Financial Reporting
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nelnet, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2014 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 and, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for the interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2014. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the "2013 Annual Report").

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Financing Receivables [Text Block]	'
	Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses
	Student loans receivable consisted of the following:
		As of			As of
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Federally insured loans
	Stafford and other	$	6,479,493		6,686,626
	Consolidation	23,032,622			19,363,577
	Total	29,512,115			26,050,203
	Non-federally insured loans	67,670			71,103
		29,579,785			26,121,306
	Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs (a)	(184,888		)	(158,595	)
	Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans	(40,921		)	(43,440	)
	Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans	(11,546		)	(11,682	)
		$	29,342,430		25,907,589
	(a)	For loans purchased where there is evidence of credit deterioration since the origination of the loan, the Company records a credit discount, separate from the allowance for loan losses, which is non-accretable to interest income. Remaining discounts and premiums for purchased loans are recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated lives of the loans. The Company continues to evaluate credit losses associated with purchased loans based on current information and changes in expectations to determine the need for any additional allowance for loan losses. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, "loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs" included $29.9 million and $20.2 million, respectively, of non-accretable discount associated with purchased loans.
	Student Loan Residual Interests
	On April 25, 2014, the Company acquired the ownership interest in three Federal Family Education Loan Program ("FFEL Program" or "FFELP") student loan securitization trusts giving the Company rights to the residual interest in a total of $2.6 billion of securitized federally insured loans and related assets. The three trusts include loans funded to term with $2.6 billion (par value) of notes payable that carry interest rates on a spread to LIBOR or are set and periodically reset via a "dutch auction".
	The Company has consolidated these trusts on its consolidated balance sheet because management has determined the Company is the primary beneficiary of the trusts. Upon acquisition, the Company recorded all assets and liabilities of the trusts at fair value, resulting in the recognition of a student loan discount of $68.7 million and a notes payable discount of $163.7 million. These discounts will be accreted using the effective interest method over the lives of the underlying assets and liabilities. All other assets acquired and liabilities assumed (restricted cash, accrued interest receivable/payable, and other assets/liabilities) were recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.
	Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses
	The provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance appropriate to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in the portfolio of student loans. Activity in the allowance for loan losses is shown below.
		Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	54,628		49,409		55,122		51,902
	Provision for loan losses:
	Federally insured loans	2,000			5,000		5,000		11,000
	Non-federally insured loans	(500		)	—		(1,000	)	(1,000	)
	Total provision for loan losses	1,500			5,000		4,000		10,000
	Charge-offs:
	Federally insured loans	(4,138		)	(3,340	)	(7,769	)	(9,330	)
	Non-federally insured loans	(598		)	(592	)	(1,019	)	(1,364	)
	Total charge-offs	(4,736		)	(3,932	)	(8,788	)	(10,694	)
	Recoveries - non-federally insured loans	339			442		710		810
	Purchase (sale) of federally insured loans, net	150			275		250		(1,943	)
	Transfer from repurchase obligation related to non-federally insured loans repurchased, net	586			417		1,173		1,536
	Balance at end of period	$	52,467		51,611		52,467		51,611
	Allocation of the allowance for loan losses:
	Federally insured loans	$	40,921		39,848		40,921		39,848
	Non-federally insured loans	11,546			11,763		11,546		11,763
	Total allowance for loan losses	$	52,467		51,611		52,467		51,611
	Repurchase Obligations
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company had participated a cumulative amount of $117.1 million (par value) of non-federally insured loans to third parties. Loans participated under these agreements have been accounted for by the Company as loan sales. Accordingly, the participation interests sold are not included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Per the terms of the servicing agreements, the Company’s servicing operations are obligated to repurchase loans subject to the participation interests in the event such loans become 60 days or 90 days delinquent.
	In addition, in 2011, the Company sold a portfolio of non-federally insured loans for proceeds of $91.3 million (100% of par value).  The Company retained credit risk related to this portfolio and will pay cash to purchase back any loans which become 60 days delinquent. As of June 30, 2014, the balance of this portfolio was $58.9 million (par value).
	The Company’s estimate related to its obligation to repurchase these loans is included in “other liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The activity related to this accrual is detailed below.
		Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
	Beginning balance	$	15,413		15,011		16,143		16,130
	Loans repurchased	(586		)	(417	)	(1,316	)	(1,536	)
	Ending balance	$	14,827		14,594		14,827		14,594
	Student Loan Status and Delinquencies
	Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s earnings through increased servicing and collection costs and account charge-offs.  The percent of non-federally insured loans that were delinquent 31 days or greater as of June 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and June 30, 2013 was 12.6 percent, 12.7 percent, and 27.1 percent, respectively. The table below shows the Company’s federally insured student loan delinquency amounts.
		As of June 30, 2014					As of December 31, 2013					As of June 30, 2013
	Federally insured loans:
	Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	3,095,741				$	2,872,505				$	2,983,795
	Loans in forbearance	3,593,891					3,370,025					3,320,101
	Loans in repayment status:
	Loans current	19,164,660			84	%	16,337,922			82.5	%	15,355,379		83.6	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days	1,026,046			4.5		967,318			4.9		776,577		4.2
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days	674,918			3		550,333			2.8		531,339		2.9
	Loans delinquent 91-120 days	376,068			1.5		390,791			2		291,732		1.6
	Loans delinquent 121-270 days	1,133,527			5		1,117,936			5.6		1,016,571		5.5
	Loans delinquent 271 days or greater	447,264			2		443,373			2.2		413,240		2.2
	Total loans in repayment	22,822,483			100	%	19,807,673			100	%	18,384,838		100	%
	Total federally insured loans	$	29,512,115				$	26,050,203				$	24,688,734

Bonds_and_Notes_Payable

Bonds and Notes Payable	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Bonds and Notes Payable	'
	Bonds and Notes Payable
	The following tables summarize the Company’s outstanding debt obligations by type of instrument:
		As of June 30, 2014
		Carrying				Interest rate		Final maturity
		amount				range
	Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
	Bonds and notes based on indices	$	26,983,517			0.24% - 6.90%		5/25/18 - 8/26/52
	Bonds and notes based on auction or remarketing	1,562,325				0.06% - 2.09%		5/1/28 - 11/26/46
	Total variable-rate bonds and notes	28,545,842
	FFELP warehouse facilities	1,139,750				0.15% - 0.25%		1/17/16 - 6/11/17
	Unsecured line of credit	65,000				1.65%		6/30/19
	Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	96,457				3.61%		9/15/61
	Other borrowings	63,068				1.66% - 5.10%		10/31/14 - 11/11/15
		29,910,117
	Discount on bonds and notes payable	(417,557		)
	Total	$	29,492,560
		As of December 31, 2013
		Carrying				Interest rate		Final maturity
		amount				range
	Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
	Bonds and notes based on indices	$	23,479,893			0.25% - 6.90%		5/25/18 - 8/26/52
	Bonds and notes based on auction or remarketing	1,134,250				0.07% - 2.17%		5/1/28 - 11/26/46
	Total variable-rate bonds and notes	24,614,143
	FFELP warehouse facilities	1,396,344				0.17% - 0.25%		1/17/16 - 6/12/16
	Unsecured line of credit	45,000				1.67%		3/28/18
	Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	96,457				3.62%		9/15/61
	Other borrowings	61,401				1.67% - 5.10%		4/11/14 - 11/11/15
		26,213,345
	Discount on bonds and notes payable	(258,056		)
	Total	$	25,955,289
	FFELP Warehouse Facilities
	The Company funds a portion of its FFELP loan acquisitions using its FFELP warehouse facilities. Student loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage student loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements.
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities as summarized below.
			NHELP-III				NHELP-II		NFSLW-I (a)		Total
	Maximum financing amount		$	750,000			500,000		500,000		1,750,000
	Amount outstanding		659,668				92,803		387,279		1,139,750
	Amount available		$	90,332			407,197		112,721		610,250
	Expiration of liquidity provisions		February 5, 2015				September 30, 2014		June 11, 2015
	Final maturity date		January 17, 2016				September 30, 2016		June 11, 2017
	Maximum advance rates		92.2 - 95.0%				84.5 - 94.5%		92.0 - 98.0%
	Minimum advance rates		92.2 - 95.0%				84.5 - 94.5%		84.0 - 90.0%
	Advanced as equity support		$	39,496			8,264		18,870		66,630
	(a) On April 15, 2014, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility to temporarily increase the maximum financing amount to $1.0 billion, change the expiration date for the liquidity provisions to June 11, 2015, and change the maturity date to June 11, 2017. As a result of the completion of the 2014-3 asset-backed securitization summarized in the table below, on April 30, 2014, the Company determined that it no longer needed the increased capacity on this warehouse facility, and the $500.0 million temporary increase was terminated on May 22, 2014.
	Asset-backed Securitizations
	The following table summarizes the asset-backed securitization transactions completed during the six months ended June 30, 2014.
			2014-1				2014-2								2014-3		2014-4						2014-5		Total
							Class A-1 notes		Class A-2 notes		Class A-3 notes		2014-2 total				Class A-1 notes		Class A-2 notes		2014-4 total
	Date securities issued		2/6/14				3/12/14		3/12/14		3/12/14		3/12/14		4/30/14		5/23/14		5/23/14		5/23/14		6/18/14
	Total original principal amount		$	458,500									509,000		719,800						384,500		603,000		$	2,674,800
	Class A senior notes:
	Total original principal amount		$	445,000			191,000		222,000		84,000		497,000		700,700		267,500		107,500		375,000		587,000		2,604,700
	Bond discount		—				—		—		(535	)	(535	)	—		—		—		—		—		(535		)
	Issue price		$	445,000			191,000		222,000		83,465		496,465		700,700		267,500		107,500		375,000		587,000		2,604,165
	Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		0.57		%		0.28	%	0.6	%	0.85	%			0.58	%	0.54	%	0.95	%			0.55	%
	Final maturity date		9/25/41				6/25/21		3/25/30		7/27/37				6/25/41		11/27/34		11/25/43				7/25/41
	Class B subordinated notes:
	Total original principal amount		$	13,500									12,000		19,100						9,500		16,000		70,100
	Bond discount		(1,132		)								(1,046	)	(1,467	)					(1,138	)	(1,232	)	(6,015		)
	Issue price		$	12,368									10,954		17,633						8,362		14,768		64,085
	Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		1.5		%								1.5	%	1.5	%					1.5	%	1.5	%
	Final maturity date		10/25/47										6/25/41		10/25/50						9/25/51		5/25/49
	Unsecured Line of Credit
	On June 30, 2014, the Company's unsecured line of credit was amended to increase the line of credit from $275.0 million to $350.0 million and extend the maturity date from March 28, 2018 to June 30, 2019. In addition, the amendment revised certain covenants related to maintenance of a minimum consolidated net worth, limitations on recourse indebtedness and liens, and a limitation on the amount of non-federally insured student loans in the Company’s portfolio. As of June 30, 2014, the $350.0 million unsecured line of credit had an outstanding balance of $65.0 million and $285.0 million available for future use.
Debt Repurchases
The Company repurchased $0.2 million (par value) and $56.4 million (par value) of its own asset-backed debt securities during the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and recognized gains on such purchases of approximately $18,000 and $7.4 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company repurchased $1.6 million (par value) and $69.4 million (par value), respectively, of its own asset-backed debt securities and recognized gains on such purchases of approximately $57,000 and $8.7 million, respectively.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily to manage interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. Derivative instruments used as part of the Company's risk management strategy are further described in note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Annual Report. A tabular presentation of such derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is presented below.
	Basis Swaps
	The following table summarizes the Company’s basis swaps outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").
		Maturity			Notional amount
		2021			$	250,000
		2022			1,900,000
		2023			3,650,000
		2024			250,000
		2026			800,000
		2028			100,000
		2036			700,000
		2039	(a)		150,000
		2040	(b)		200,000
					$	8,000,000		(c)
	(a)This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2015.
	(b)This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2020.
	(c)	The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was one-month LIBOR plus 3.5 basis points.
	Interest Rate Swaps – Floor Income Hedges
	The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
			As of June 30, 2014							As of December 31, 2013
	Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)			Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
	2014		$	1,250,000			0.67	%		$	1,750,000			0.71	%
	2015		1,100,000				0.89			1,100,000				0.89
	2016		750,000				0.85			750,000				0.85
	2017		1,250,000				0.86			1,250,000				0.86
			$	4,350,000			0.81	%		$	4,850,000			0.81	%
	(a)	For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.
	Interest Rate Swaps – Unsecured Debt Hedges
	The Company had the following derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 that are used to effectively convert the variable interest rate on a portion of the Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities ("Hybrid Securities") to a fixed rate.
	Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
	2036		$	25,000			4.28	%
	(a)	For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.
	Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
	In 2006, the Company issued €352.7 million of student loan asset-backed Euro Notes (the "Euro Notes") with an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index. As a result of the Euro Notes, the Company is exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Euro. The principal and accrued interest on these notes are re-measured at each reporting period and recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in U.S. dollars based on the foreign currency exchange rate on that date.
	The Company entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap in connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes. Under the terms of the cross-currency interest rate swap, the Company receives from the counterparty a spread to the EURIBOR index based on a notional amount of €352.7 million and pays a spread to the LIBOR index based on a notional amount of $450.0 million. In addition, under the terms of this agreement, all principal payments on the Euro Notes will effectively be paid at the exchange rate in effect between the U.S. dollar and Euro as of the issuance of the notes.
	The following table shows the income statement impact as a result of the re-measurement of the Euro Notes and the change in the fair value of the related derivative instrument.
		Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
		2014				2013 (b)			2014			2013 (b)
	Re-measurement of Euro Notes	$	2,751			(14,691	)		1,798			14,072
	Change in fair value of cross-currency interest rate swaps	(2,999		)		14,748			(3,037	)		(20,096	)
	Total impact to consolidated statements of income - income (expense) (a)	$	(248	)		57			(1,239	)		(6,024	)
	(a)	The financial statement impact of the above items is included in "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income.
	(b)	The 2013 operating results include the re-measurement of an additional €420.5 million of student loan asset-backed Euro notes and the change in fair value of a related cross-currency interest rate swap entered into in connection with the issuance of such notes. In November 2013, the principal amount outstanding on the notes was changed to U.S. dollars and the cross-currency interest swap was terminated.
	The re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds generally correlates with the change in fair value of the corresponding cross-currency interest rate swap. However, the Company will experience unrealized gains or losses related to the cross-currency interest rate swap if the two underlying indices (and related forward curve) do not move in parallel.
	Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives
	The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivatives as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets:
		Fair value of asset derivatives							Fair value of liability derivatives
		As of				As of			As of			As of
		June 30,				December 31,			June 30,			December 31,
		2014				2013			2014			2013
	1:3 basis swaps	$	31,510			18,490			—			—
	Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	2,726				7,183			10,849			15,849
	Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	—				—			4,697			2,120
	Cross-currency interest rate swap	33,797				36,834			—			—
	Total	$	68,033			62,507			15,546			17,969
	During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company terminated certain derivatives for gross proceeds and payments of $2.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively. There were no derivative terminations during the first six months of 2014.
	Offsetting of Derivative Assets/Liabilities
	The Company records derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Certain of the Company's derivative instruments are subject to right of offset provisions with counterparties. The following tables include the gross amounts related to the Company's derivative portfolio recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, reconciled to the net amount when excluding derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangements and cash collateral received/pledged:
							Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
	Derivative assets		Gross amounts of recognized assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral received			Net asset (liability)
	Balance as of June 30, 2014		$	68,033			(15,546	)		(323	)		52,164
	Balance as of December 31, 2013		62,507				(15,437	)		(15,959	)		31,111
						Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
Derivative liabilities		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral pledged			Net asset (liability)
Balance as of June 30, 2014		$	(15,546	)		15,546			—			—
Balance as of December 31, 2013		(17,969		)		15,437			3,630			1,098
The following table summarizes the effect of derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income.
	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2014				2013			2014			2013
Settlements:
1:3 basis swaps	$	858			782			1,739			1,692
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(6,974		)		(8,534	)		(13,924	)		(16,839	)
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(256		)		(512	)		(508	)		(1,157	)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	158				(93	)		250			(237	)
Total settlements - expense	(6,214		)		(8,357	)		(12,443	)		(16,541	)
Change in fair value:
1:3 basis swaps	11,910				9,630			13,020			11,563
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(2,813		)		33,408			545			42,830
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(1,065		)		5,450			(2,578	)		9,090
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	(2,999		)		14,748			(3,037	)		(20,096	)
Other	—				—			—			342
Total change in fair value - income (expense)	5,033				63,236			7,950			43,729
Re-measurement of Euro Notes (foreign currency transaction adjustment) - income (expense)	2,751				(14,691	)		1,798			14,072
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net - income (expense)	$	1,570			40,188			(2,695	)		41,260

Investments

Investments	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Investments [Abstract]	'
Investments	'
	Investments
	A summary of the Company's investments and restricted investments follows:
		As of June 30, 2014													As of December 31, 2013
		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses (a)			Fair value			Amortized cost	Gross unrealized gains	Gross unrealized losses		Fair value
	Investments:
	Available-for-sale investments:
	Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities (b)	$	124,556			7,090			(212	)		131,434			171,931	7,111	(1,241	)	177,801
	Equity securities	1,527				1,969			(7	)		3,489			1,502	1,783	(3	)	3,282
	Total available-for-sale investments	$	126,083			9,059			(219	)		134,923			173,433	8,894	(1,244	)	181,083
	Trading investments:
	Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities											6,566							10,957
	Total available-for-sale and trading investments											$	141,489						192,040
	Restricted Investments (c):
	Guaranteed investment contracts - held-to-maturity											$	6,921						7,285
	(a)	As of June 30, 2014, the Company considered the decline in market value of its available-for-sale investments to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired.
	(b)	As of June 30, 2014, the stated maturities of the majority of the Company's student loan asset-backed and other debt securities classified as available-for-sale were greater than 10 years.
	(c)	Restricted investments are included in "restricted cash and investments" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
	The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income related to the realized gains and losses on available-for-sale-securities is summarized below.
			Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	Affected line item in the consolidated statements of income - income (expense):		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Other income		$	1,238			559			8,311			1,516
	Income tax expense		(458		)		(207	)		(3,075	)		(561	)
	Net		$	780			352			5,236			955

Business_Combination_Notes

Business Combination (Notes)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Business Combination [Abstract]	'
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Business Combination
	The Company uses the acquisition method in accounting for acquired businesses. Under the acquisition method, the financial statements reflect the operations of an acquired business starting from the completion of the acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. All contingent consideration is measured at fair value on the acquisition date and included in the consideration transferred in the acquisition. Contingent consideration classified as a liability is remeasured to fair value at each reporting date until the contingency is resolved, and changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.
	Wilcomp Software, L.P. (d.b.a. RenWeb School Management Software) (“RenWeb”)
	On June 3, 2014, the Company purchased 100 percent of the ownership interests of RenWeb. RenWeb provides school information systems for private and faith-based schools that help schools automate administrative processes such as admissions, scheduling, student billing, attendance, and grade book management. The combination of RenWeb’s school administration software and the Company’s tuition management and financial needs assessment services are expected to significantly increase the value of the Company’s offerings in this area, allowing the Company to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions to schools.
	The initial consideration paid by the Company for RenWeb was $44.0 million. In addition to the initial purchase price, additional payments are to be paid by the Company to the former owners of RenWeb based on certain operating results and other performance measures of RenWeb as defined in the purchase agreement. The contingent payments, if any, are payable when earned and the potential undiscounted amount of all future payments that the Company could be required to make under the contingent consideration arrangement is between $0 and $4.0 million. Such payments, if any, will be paid no later than January 2017. As of the acquisition date, the Company had accrued $2.3 million as additional consideration, which represents the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration arrangement.
	The following table summarizes the initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The fair values of the assets and liabilities related to RenWeb are subject to refinement as the Company completes its analysis relative to the fair values at the date of acquisition.
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	326
	Accounts receivable	961
	Property and equipment	105
	Other assets	22
	Intangible assets	37,188
	Excess cost over fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill)	9,082
	Other liabilities	(1,341		)
	Net assets acquired	$	46,343
	The $37.2 million of acquired intangible assets on the date of acquisition had a weighted-average useful life of approximately 18 years. The intangible assets that made up this amount included customer relationships of $25.5 million (20-year useful life), trade name of $6.4 million (20-year useful life), computer software of $4.9 million (5-year useful life), and non-competition agreements of $0.4 million (10-year useful life).
	The $9.1 million of goodwill was assigned to the Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce operating segment and is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The amount allocated to goodwill was primarily attributable to anticipated synergies as discussed previously.
	The proforma impacts of the acquisition on the Company's historical results prior to the acquisition were not material.

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
		Weighted average remaining useful life as of June 30, 2014 (months)		As of June 30, 2014		As of December 31, 2013
	Amortizable intangible assets:
	Customer relationships (net of accumulated amortization of $21,595 and $19,821, respectively)	223		$	29,884	6,132
	Computer software (net of accumulated amortization of $634 and $0, respectively)	47		8,231		—
	Trade names (net of accumulated amortization of $39 and $0, respectively)	239		6,383		—
	Covenants not to compete (net of accumulated amortization of $3 and $0, respectively)	119		351		—
	Total - amortizable intangible assets	192		$	44,849	6,132
	The Company recorded amortization expense on its intangible assets of $1.4 million and $0.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $2.4 million and $1.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company will continue to amortize intangible assets over their remaining useful lives. As of June 30, 2014 the Company estimates it will record amortization expense as follows:
	2014 (Q3 - Q4)	$	2,843
	2015	6,402
	2016	5,982
	2017	4,406
	2018	4,000
	2019 and thereafter	21,216
		$	44,849

Goodwill_Goodwill

Goodwill Goodwill	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Goodwill
	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment was as follows:
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing		Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce	Enrollment Services	Asset Generation and Management	Total
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	8,596	58,086	8,553	41,883	117,118
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—		9,082	—	—	9,082
	Balance as of June 30, 2014	$	8,596	67,168	8,553	41,883	126,200

Earnings_per_Common_Share

Earnings per Common Share	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Common Share	'
	Earnings per Common Share
	Presented below is a summary of the components used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share. The Company applies the two-class method in computing both basic and diluted earnings per share, which requires the calculation of separate earnings per share amounts for common stock and unvested share based awards. Unvested share-based awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are considered securities which participate in undistributed earnings with common stock.
		Three months ended June 30,
		2014				2013
		Common shareholders		Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total	Common shareholders	Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	74,263	731	74,994	100,339	904	101,243
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,075,869		453,508	46,529,377	46,210,571	416,282	46,626,853
	Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	1.61	1.61	1.61	2.17	2.17	2.17
		Six months ended June 30,
		2014				2013
		Common shareholders		Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total	Common shareholders	Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	147,388	1,392	148,780	167,868	1,454	169,322
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,093,314		435,337	46,528,651	46,241,277	401,079	46,642,356
	Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	3.2	3.2	3.2	3.63	3.63	3.63
	Unvested restricted stock awards are the Company's only potential common shares and, accordingly, there were no awards that were antidilutive and not included in average shares outstanding for the diluted earnings per share calculation.

Segment_Reporting

Segment Reporting	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting	'
	Segment Reporting
	See note 13 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Annual Report for a description of the Company's operating segments. The following tables include the results of each of the Company's operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.
		Three months ended June 30, 2014
		Fee-Based
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
							Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
											Management		and
													Overhead
	Total interest income	$	9		3		—		12		175,562		2,036		(662	)	176,948
	Interest expense	—			—		—		—		67,936		1,961		(662	)	69,235
	Net interest income	9			3		—		12		107,626		75		—		107,713
	Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		1,500		—		—		1,500
	Net interest income after provision for loan losses	9			3		—		12		106,126		75		—		106,213
	Other income:
	Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460			—		—		66,460		—		—		—		66,460
	Intersegment servicing revenue	13,800			—		—		13,800		—		—		(13,800	)	—
	Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			21,834		—		21,834		—		—		—		21,834
	Enrollment services revenue	—			—		20,145		20,145		—		—		—		20,145
	Other income	—			—		—		—		4,496		10,819		—		15,315
	Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		18		—		—		18
	Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		8,848		(1,064	)	—		7,784
	Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(5,958	)	(256	)	—		(6,214	)
	Total other income	80,260			21,834		20,145		122,239		7,404		9,499		(13,800	)	125,342
	Operating expenses:
	Salaries and benefits	33,093			11,112		4,132		48,337		570		4,981		—		53,888
	Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		13,311		13,311		—		—		—		13,311
	Depreciation and amortization	2,819			1,845		41		4,705		—		509		—		5,214
	Other	19,815			2,956		1,844		24,615		8,845		6,917		—		40,377
	Intersegment expenses, net	1,124			1,404		944		3,472		13,968		(3,640	)	(13,800	)	—
	Total operating expenses	56,851			17,317		20,272		94,440		23,383		8,767		(13,800	)	112,790
	Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	23,418			4,520		(127	)	27,811		90,147		807		—		118,765
	Corporate overhead allocation	(2,060		)	(687	)	(687	)	(3,434	)	(1,249	)	4,683		—		—
	Income before income taxes	21,358			3,833		(814	)	24,377		88,898		5,490		—		118,765
	Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,116		)	(1,456	)	309		(9,263	)	(33,781	)	(34	)	—		(43,078	)
	Net income	13,242			2,377		(505	)	15,114		55,117		5,456		—		75,687
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		693		—		693
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	13,242		2,377		(505	)	15,114		55,117		4,763		—		74,994
		Three months ended June 30, 2013
		Fee-Based
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
							Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
											Management		and
													Overhead
	Total interest income	$	9		—		—		9		158,175		2,196		(834	)	159,546
	Interest expense	—			—		—		—		56,920		2,041		(834	)	58,127
	Net interest income	9			—		—		9		101,255		155		—		101,419
	Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		5,000		—		—		5,000
	Net interest income after provision for loan losses	9			—		—		9		96,255		155		—		96,419
	Other income:
	Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	60,078			—		—		60,078		—		—		—		60,078
	Intersegment servicing revenue	13,903			—		—		13,903		—		—		(13,903	)	—
	Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			18,356		—		18,356		—		—		—		18,356
	Enrollment services revenue	—			—		24,823		24,823		—		—		—		24,823
	Other income	—			—		—		—		3,030		9,258		—		12,288
	Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		7,355		—		—		7,355
	Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		43,096		5,449		—		48,545
	Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(7,845	)	(512	)	—		(8,357	)
	Total other income	73,981			18,356		24,823		117,160		45,636		14,195		(13,903	)	163,088
	Operating expenses:
	Salaries and benefits	28,091			9,427		4,809		42,327		592		4,513		—		47,432
	Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		16,787		16,787		—		—		—		16,787
	Depreciation and amortization	2,731			1,132		61		3,924		—		396		—		4,320
	Other	18,031			2,192		1,243		21,466		7,923		4,976		—		34,365
Intersegment expenses, net	851			1,494		1,130		3,475		14,108		(3,680	)	(13,903	)	—
Total operating expenses	49,704			14,245		24,030		87,979		22,623		6,205		(13,903	)	102,904
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	24,286			4,111		793		29,190		119,268		8,145		—		156,603
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,513		)	(504	)	(504	)	(2,521	)	(1,081	)	3,602		—		—
Income before income taxes	22,773			3,607		289		26,669		118,187		11,747		—		156,603
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,655		)	(1,370	)	(109	)	(10,134	)	(44,911	)	299		—		(54,746	)
Net income	14,118			2,237		180		16,535		73,276		12,046		—		101,857
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		614		—		614
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	14,118		2,237		180		16,535		73,276		11,432		—		101,243
	Six months ended June 30, 2014
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
						Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
										Management		and
												Overhead
Total interest income	$	20		3		—		23		332,565		4,694		(1,459	)	335,823
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		127,412		3,286		(1,459	)	129,239
Net interest income	20			3		—		23		205,153		1,408		—		206,584
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		4,000		—		—		4,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	20			3		—		23		201,153		1,408		—		202,584
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	131,217			—		—		131,217		—		—		—		131,217
Intersegment servicing revenue	28,021			—		—		28,021		—		—		(28,021	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			47,069		—		47,069		—		—		—		47,069
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		42,156		42,156		—		—		—		42,156
Other income	—			—		—		—		8,660		24,786		—		33,446
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		57		—		—		57
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		12,325		(2,577	)	—		9,748
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(11,935	)	(508	)	—		(12,443	)
Total other income	159,238			47,069		42,156		248,463		9,107		21,701		(28,021	)	251,250
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	65,400			21,139		8,512		95,051		1,179		10,142		—		106,372
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		27,786		27,786		—		—		—		27,786
Depreciation and amortization	5,608			3,273		88		8,969		—		1,028		—		9,997
Other	38,267			5,603		3,293		47,163		15,991		12,850		—		76,004
Intersegment expenses, net	2,207			2,824		1,950		6,981		28,339		(7,299	)	(28,021	)	—
Total operating expenses	111,482			32,839		41,629		185,950		45,509		16,721		(28,021	)	220,159
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	47,776			14,233		527		62,536		164,751		6,388		—		233,675
Corporate overhead allocation	(3,920		)	(1,307	)	(1,307	)	(6,534	)	(2,578	)	9,112		—		—
Income before income taxes	43,856			12,926		(780	)	56,002		162,173		15,500		—		233,675
Income tax (expense) benefit	(16,665		)	(4,911	)	296		(21,280	)	(61,625	)	(784	)	—		(83,689	)
Net income	27,191			8,015		(484	)	34,722		100,548		14,716		—		149,986
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		1,206		—		1,206
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	27,191		8,015		(484	)	34,722		100,548		13,510		—		148,780
	Six months ended June 30, 2013
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
						Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
										Management		and
												Overhead
Total interest income	$	19		—		—		19		313,829		4,507		(1,653	)	316,702
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		114,402		3,736		(1,653	)	116,485
Net interest income	19			—		—		19		199,427		771		—		200,217
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		10,000		—		—		10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	19			—		—		19		189,427		771		—		190,217
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	115,679			—		—		115,679		—		—		—		115,679
Intersegment servicing revenue	28,856			—		—		28,856		—		—		(28,856	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			41,767		—		41,767		—		—		—		41,767
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		53,780		53,780		—		—		—		53,780
Other income	—			—		—		—		7,226		14,478		—		21,704
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		8,762		—		—		8,762
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		48,371		9,430		—		57,801
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(15,384	)	(1,157	)	—		(16,541	)
Total other income	144,535			41,767		53,780		240,082		48,975		22,751		(28,856	)	282,952
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	56,535			18,786		10,576		85,897		1,154		8,286		—		95,337
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		36,429		36,429		—		—		—		36,429
Depreciation and amortization	5,520			2,270		122		7,912		—		785		—		8,697
Other	36,421			4,479		2,894		43,794		15,436		10,076		—		69,306
Intersegment expenses, net	1,786			2,919		2,279		6,984		29,250		(7,378	)	(28,856	)	—
Total operating expenses	100,262			28,454		52,300		181,016		45,840		11,769		(28,856	)	209,769
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	44,292			13,313		1,480		59,085		192,562		11,753		—		263,400
Corporate overhead allocation	(2,510		)	(836	)	(836	)	(4,182	)	(1,793	)	5,975		—		—
Income before income taxes	41,782			12,477		644		54,903		190,769		17,728		—		263,400
Income tax (expense) benefit	(15,878		)	(4,741	)	(244	)	(20,863	)	(72,492	)	162		—		(93,193	)
Net income	25,904			7,736		400		34,040		118,277		17,890		—		170,207
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		885		—		885
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	25,904		7,736		400		34,040		118,277		17,005		—		169,322

Major_Customer

Major Customer	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]	'
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Major Customer
	The Company is one of four private sector companies awarded a student loan servicing contract by the Department of Education (the "Department") in June 2009 to provide additional servicing capacity for loans owned by the Department, with new loan volume currently being allocated among the four servicers based on certain performance metrics established by the Department. The servicing contract was originally scheduled to expire in June 2014, with a five-year extension at the option of the Department. Effective as of June 17, 2014, the Department exercised its optional ordering period to extend the servicing contract for an additional five years through June 16, 2019, with loan servicing volume under the extended contract remaining subject to task orders issued by the Department. Revenue earned by the Company's Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing operating segment related to this contract was $31.0 million and $22.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $60.9 million and $42.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	Related Party Transactions
	The Company has entered into certain contractual arrangements with related parties as described in note 19 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Annual Report.  The following provides an update for a related party transaction that occurred during the first half of 2014.
	On January 1, 2014, the Company subparticipated the Company's participation interest in a loan receivable from an unrelated third party to Union Bank and Trust Company ("Union Bank"), an entity under common control with the Company. As of June 30, 2014, the participated portion of the loan was $1.7 million, with an obligation to fund an additional $1.4 million. As part of this agreement, Union Bank will pay the Company monthly servicing fees equal to 40 basis points on the participated portion of the outstanding principal balance of the loan.

Fair_Value

Fair Value	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value	'
	Fair Value
	The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers into or out of level 1, level 2, or level 3 for the six months ended June 30, 2014.
		As of June 30, 2014				As of December 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2	Total	Level 1	Level 2	Total
	Assets:
	Investments:
	Student loan asset-backed securities	$	—	137,567	137,567	—	188,279	188,279
	Equity securities	3,489		—	3,489	3,282	—	3,282
	Debt securities	433		—	433	479	—	479
	Total investments	3,922		137,567	141,489	3,761	188,279	192,040
	Fair value of derivative instruments	—		68,033	68,033	—	62,507	62,507
	Total assets	$	3,922	205,600	209,522	3,761	250,786	254,547
	Liabilities:
	Fair value of derivative instruments	$	—	15,546	15,546	—	17,969	17,969
	Total liabilities	$	—	15,546	15,546	—	17,969	17,969
	The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:
		As of June 30, 2014
		Fair value		Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	30,629,142	29,342,430	—	—	30,629,142
	Cash and cash equivalents	92,099		92,099	92,099	—	—
	Investments	141,489		141,489	3,922	137,567	—
	Restricted cash	855,113		855,113	855,113	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	98,005		98,005	98,005	—	—
	Restricted investments	6,921		6,921	6,921	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	360,075		360,075	—	360,075	—
	Derivative instruments	68,033		68,033	—	68,033	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	29,493,178		29,492,560	—	29,493,178	—
	Accrued interest payable	24,339		24,339	—	24,339	—
	Due to customers	98,005		98,005	98,005	—	—
	Derivative instruments	15,546		15,546	—	15,546	—
		As of December 31, 2013
		Fair value		Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	26,641,383	25,907,589	—	—	26,641,383
	Cash and cash equivalents	63,267		63,267	63,267	—	—
	Investments	192,040		192,040	3,761	188,279	—
	Restricted cash	727,838		727,838	727,838	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	167,576		167,576	167,576	—	—
	Restricted investments	7,285		7,285	7,285	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	314,553		314,553	—	314,553	—
	Derivative instruments	62,507		62,507	—	62,507	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	25,577,250		25,955,289	—	25,577,250	—
	Accrued interest payable	21,725		21,725	—	21,725	—
	Due to customers	167,576		167,576	167,576	—	—
	Derivative instruments	17,969		17,969	—	17,969	—
	The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities are described in note 20 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Annual Report.

Legal_Proceedings

Legal Proceedings	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Legal Proceedings	'
	Legal Proceedings
	General
	The Company is subject to various legal proceedings that arise in the normal course of business, including the legal proceedings discussed below. These matters frequently involve claims by student loan borrowers disputing the manner in which their student loans have been serviced or the accuracy of reports to credit bureaus, claims by student loan borrowers or other consumers alleging that state or Federal consumer protection laws have been violated in the process of collecting loans or conducting other business activities, and disputes with other business entities. From time to time, lawsuits may be brought as, or subsequently amended to assert claims in the form of, putative class action cases.
	In evaluating each of its legal proceedings, the Company considers many factors that involve significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the overall litigation process, including (i) the amount of damages and the nature of any other relief sought in the proceeding, if specified; (ii) whether the proceeding is at an early stage; (iii) the impact of discovery; (iv) whether novel or unsettled legal theories are at issue; (v) the outcome of pending motions or appeals; (vi) whether there are significant factual issues to be resolved; (vii) whether class action status is sought and the Company's views of the likelihood of a class being certified by the court and the ultimate size of the class; (viii) the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending; (ix) the Company's views of the merits of the claims and of the strength of the Company's defenses; and (x) the progress of any negotiations with opposing parties. In assessing whether a legal proceeding may be material, the Company considers these and other quantitative and qualitative factors, including whether disclosure of the proceeding might be important to a reader of the Company's financial statements in light of all of the information about the Company that is available to the reader.
	Actions Requesting Certifications of Classes
	Proceedings or complaints that involve or ask for certifications of classes generally expand the scope of legal defense costs, as well as alleged potential claim amounts. The Company is currently subject to legal proceedings in which the plaintiffs have made allegations that one or more putative classes should be certified by the applicable court. With respect to the three proceedings discussed below, it is significant to note that no putative class has actually been certified in any of these proceedings, the Company's position is that class certification would be inappropriate in each such proceeding, the Company has entered into agreements in principle to resolve two of the matters for immaterial amounts through a court-approved class-wide settlement, and the Company has been granted a motion for a summary judgment dismissing the case and upon any appeal intends to vigorously contest class certification in the remaining matter. The Company has accrued an immaterial amount related to the legal proceedings described below. However, due to the uncertainty and risks inherent in class determination and the overall litigation process, the Company believes that a meaningful estimate of its exposure to any reasonably possible losses or range of reasonably possible losses, in excess of the amount accrued, cannot currently be made.
	Bais Yaakov of Spring Valley v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC
	On January 4, 2011, a complaint against Peterson's Nelnet, LLC (“Peterson's”), a subsidiary of Nelnet, Inc. ("Nelnet"), was filed in the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey (the “New Jersey District Court”). The complaint alleges that Peterson's sent six advertising faxes to the named plaintiff in 2008-2009 that were not the result of express invitation or permission granted by the plaintiff and did not include certain opt out language. The complaint also alleges that such faxes violated the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the “TCPA”), purportedly entitling the plaintiff to $500 per violation, trebled for willful violations for each of the six faxes. The complaint further alleges that Peterson's had sent putative class members more than 10,000 faxes that violated the TCPA, amounting to more than $5 million in statutory penalty damages and more than $15 million if trebled for willful violations. The complaint seeks to establish a class action. On September 13, 2013, the named plaintiff filed a motion for class certification, and on October 7, 2013, Peterson's filed a motion to dismiss the named plaintiff's motion for class certification. As of the filing date of this report, the New Jersey District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class. On January 23, 2014, Peterson's and the named plaintiff reached an agreement in principle whereby Peterson's would, without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, settle all claims in the lawsuit, including potential class action claims, for payment of an immaterial amount. The settlement agreement in principle is subject to finalization and court approval.
	Than Zaw v. Nelnet, Inc.
	On January 18, 2013, a Third Amended Complaint was served on Nelnet in connection with a lawsuit by Than Zaw against Nelnet (erroneously referred to in the lawsuit as Nelnet Business Solutions, Inc.) in the Superior Court of the State of California, Contra Costa County. The case has since been moved to the U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern District of California (the “California District Court”). The lawsuit was originally instituted on December 30, 2010, and alleges that Nelnet violated the California Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in its interactions with the plaintiff, a California resident. The plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint added additional allegations claiming that Nelnet violated Section 632 of the California Penal Code by allegedly recording one or more telephone calls to the plaintiff without the plaintiff's consent, and sought $5,000 in statutory damages per alleged violation. The Third Amended Complaint further alleged that Nelnet improperly recorded telephone calls to other California residents without such persons' consent, and sought to establish a class action with respect to the California Section 632 claim. As of the filing date of this report, the California District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class. On October 16, 2013, Nelnet and the named plaintiff reached an agreement in principle whereby Nelnet would, without admitting any wrongdoing or liability, settle all claims in the lawsuit, including potential class action claims, for payment of an immaterial amount. The settlement agreement in principle is subject to finalization and court approval.
	Grant Keating v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC et al
	On August 6, 2012, an Amended Complaint was served on Peterson's, CUnet, LLC (“CUnet”), a subsidiary of Nelnet, and on Nelnet (collectively, the "Keating Defendants"), in connection with a lawsuit by Grant Keating in the U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (the “Ohio District Court”). The lawsuit was originally instituted on August 24, 2011, and alleges that the Keating Defendants sent an advertising text message to the named plaintiff in June 2011 using an automatic telephone dialing system, and without the plaintiff's express consent. The complaint also alleges that this text message violated the TCPA, purportedly entitling the plaintiff to $500, trebled for a willful violation. The complaint further alleges that the Keating Defendants sent putative class members similar text messages using an automatic telephone dialing system, without such purported class members' consent. The complaint seeks to establish a class action. On August 29, 2013, the Keating Defendants filed motions for summary judgment, and the named plaintiff filed a motion for class certification. On May 12, 2014, the Ohio District Court granted the Keating Defendants' motion for summary judgment, dismissing the case. On June 12, 2014, the named plaintiff filed a Notice of Intent to Appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals. As of the filing date of this report, the Ohio District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class. The Keating Defendants intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously in this lawsuit.

Basis_of_Financial_Reporting_S

Basis of Financial Reporting Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Financial Reporting	'
	Basis of Financial Reporting
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nelnet, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2014 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 and, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for the interim periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2014. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the "2013 Annual Report").

Business_Combination_Business_

Business Combination Business Combination Policy (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	The Company uses the acquisition method in accounting for acquired businesses. Under the acquisition method, the financial statements reflect the operations of an acquired business starting from the completion of the acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. All contingent consideration is measured at fair value on the acquisition date and included in the consideration transferred in the acquisition. Contingent consideration classified as a liability is remeasured to fair value at each reporting date until the contingency is resolved, and changes in fair value are recognized in earnings.

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A1

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable	'
	Student loans receivable consisted of the following:
		As of			As of
		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Federally insured loans
	Stafford and other	$	6,479,493		6,686,626
	Consolidation	23,032,622			19,363,577
	Total	29,512,115			26,050,203
	Non-federally insured loans	67,670			71,103
		29,579,785			26,121,306
	Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs (a)	(184,888		)	(158,595	)
	Allowance for loan losses – federally insured loans	(40,921		)	(43,440	)
	Allowance for loan losses – non-federally insured loans	(11,546		)	(11,682	)
		$	29,342,430		25,907,589
	(a)	For loans purchased where there is evidence of credit deterioration since the origination of the loan, the Company records a credit discount, separate from the allowance for loan losses, which is non-accretable to interest income. Remaining discounts and premiums for purchased loans are recognized in interest income over the remaining estimated lives of the loans. The Company continues to evaluate credit losses associated with purchased loans based on current information and changes in expectations to determine the need for any additional allowance for loan losses. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, "loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs" included $29.9 million and $20.2 million, respectively, of non-accretable discount associated with purchased loans.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Financing Receivables	'
	Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses
	The provision for loan losses represents the periodic expense of maintaining an allowance appropriate to absorb losses, net of recoveries, inherent in the portfolio of student loans. Activity in the allowance for loan losses is shown below.
		Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	54,628		49,409		55,122		51,902
	Provision for loan losses:
	Federally insured loans	2,000			5,000		5,000		11,000
	Non-federally insured loans	(500		)	—		(1,000	)	(1,000	)
	Total provision for loan losses	1,500			5,000		4,000		10,000
	Charge-offs:
	Federally insured loans	(4,138		)	(3,340	)	(7,769	)	(9,330	)
	Non-federally insured loans	(598		)	(592	)	(1,019	)	(1,364	)
	Total charge-offs	(4,736		)	(3,932	)	(8,788	)	(10,694	)
	Recoveries - non-federally insured loans	339			442		710		810
	Purchase (sale) of federally insured loans, net	150			275		250		(1,943	)
	Transfer from repurchase obligation related to non-federally insured loans repurchased, net	586			417		1,173		1,536
	Balance at end of period	$	52,467		51,611		52,467		51,611
	Allocation of the allowance for loan losses:
	Federally insured loans	$	40,921		39,848		40,921		39,848
	Non-federally insured loans	11,546			11,763		11,546		11,763
	Total allowance for loan losses	$	52,467		51,611		52,467		51,611
Accrual Related to Repurchase Obligation Rollforward	'
	Repurchase Obligations
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company had participated a cumulative amount of $117.1 million (par value) of non-federally insured loans to third parties. Loans participated under these agreements have been accounted for by the Company as loan sales. Accordingly, the participation interests sold are not included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Per the terms of the servicing agreements, the Company’s servicing operations are obligated to repurchase loans subject to the participation interests in the event such loans become 60 days or 90 days delinquent.
	In addition, in 2011, the Company sold a portfolio of non-federally insured loans for proceeds of $91.3 million (100% of par value).  The Company retained credit risk related to this portfolio and will pay cash to purchase back any loans which become 60 days delinquent. As of June 30, 2014, the balance of this portfolio was $58.9 million (par value).
	The Company’s estimate related to its obligation to repurchase these loans is included in “other liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The activity related to this accrual is detailed below.
		Three months ended June 30,					Six months ended June 30,
		2014			2013		2014		2013
	Beginning balance	$	15,413		15,011		16,143		16,130
	Loans repurchased	(586		)	(417	)	(1,316	)	(1,536	)
	Ending balance	$	14,827		14,594		14,827		14,594
Financing Receivable Credit Quality Indicators	'
	Student Loan Status and Delinquencies
	Delinquencies have the potential to adversely impact the Company’s earnings through increased servicing and collection costs and account charge-offs.  The percent of non-federally insured loans that were delinquent 31 days or greater as of June 30, 2014, December 31, 2013, and June 30, 2013 was 12.6 percent, 12.7 percent, and 27.1 percent, respectively. The table below shows the Company’s federally insured student loan delinquency amounts.
		As of June 30, 2014					As of December 31, 2013					As of June 30, 2013
	Federally insured loans:
	Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$	3,095,741				$	2,872,505				$	2,983,795
	Loans in forbearance	3,593,891					3,370,025					3,320,101
	Loans in repayment status:
	Loans current	19,164,660			84	%	16,337,922			82.5	%	15,355,379		83.6	%
	Loans delinquent 31-60 days	1,026,046			4.5		967,318			4.9		776,577		4.2
	Loans delinquent 61-90 days	674,918			3		550,333			2.8		531,339		2.9
	Loans delinquent 91-120 days	376,068			1.5		390,791			2		291,732		1.6
	Loans delinquent 121-270 days	1,133,527			5		1,117,936			5.6		1,016,571		5.5
	Loans delinquent 271 days or greater	447,264			2		443,373			2.2		413,240		2.2
	Total loans in repayment	22,822,483			100	%	19,807,673			100	%	18,384,838		100	%
	Total federally insured loans	$	29,512,115				$	26,050,203				$	24,688,734

Bonds_and_Notes_payable_Tables

Bonds and Notes payable (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Bonds and Notes Payable [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt	'
	The following tables summarize the Company’s outstanding debt obligations by type of instrument:
		As of June 30, 2014
		Carrying				Interest rate		Final maturity
		amount				range
	Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
	Bonds and notes based on indices	$	26,983,517			0.24% - 6.90%		5/25/18 - 8/26/52
	Bonds and notes based on auction or remarketing	1,562,325				0.06% - 2.09%		5/1/28 - 11/26/46
	Total variable-rate bonds and notes	28,545,842
	FFELP warehouse facilities	1,139,750				0.15% - 0.25%		1/17/16 - 6/11/17
	Unsecured line of credit	65,000				1.65%		6/30/19
	Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	96,457				3.61%		9/15/61
	Other borrowings	63,068				1.66% - 5.10%		10/31/14 - 11/11/15
		29,910,117
	Discount on bonds and notes payable	(417,557		)
	Total	$	29,492,560
		As of December 31, 2013
		Carrying				Interest rate		Final maturity
		amount				range
	Variable-rate bonds and notes issued in asset-backed securitizations:
	Bonds and notes based on indices	$	23,479,893			0.25% - 6.90%		5/25/18 - 8/26/52
	Bonds and notes based on auction or remarketing	1,134,250				0.07% - 2.17%		5/1/28 - 11/26/46
	Total variable-rate bonds and notes	24,614,143
	FFELP warehouse facilities	1,396,344				0.17% - 0.25%		1/17/16 - 6/12/16
	Unsecured line of credit	45,000				1.67%		3/28/18
	Unsecured debt - Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities	96,457				3.62%		9/15/61
	Other borrowings	61,401				1.67% - 5.10%		4/11/14 - 11/11/15
		26,213,345
	Discount on bonds and notes payable	(258,056		)
	Total	$	25,955,289
Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities	'
	FFELP Warehouse Facilities
	The Company funds a portion of its FFELP loan acquisitions using its FFELP warehouse facilities. Student loan warehousing allows the Company to buy and manage student loans prior to transferring them into more permanent financing arrangements.
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company had three FFELP warehouse facilities as summarized below.
			NHELP-III				NHELP-II		NFSLW-I (a)		Total
	Maximum financing amount		$	750,000			500,000		500,000		1,750,000
	Amount outstanding		659,668				92,803		387,279		1,139,750
	Amount available		$	90,332			407,197		112,721		610,250
	Expiration of liquidity provisions		February 5, 2015				September 30, 2014		June 11, 2015
	Final maturity date		January 17, 2016				September 30, 2016		June 11, 2017
	Maximum advance rates		92.2 - 95.0%				84.5 - 94.5%		92.0 - 98.0%
	Minimum advance rates		92.2 - 95.0%				84.5 - 94.5%		84.0 - 90.0%
	Advanced as equity support		$	39,496			8,264		18,870		66,630
	(a) On April 15, 2014, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility to temporarily increase the maximum financing amount to $1.0 billion, change the expiration date for the liquidity provisions to June 11, 2015, and change the maturity date to June 11, 2017. As a result of the completion of the 2014-3 asset-backed securitization summarized in the table below, on April 30, 2014, the Company determined that it no longer needed the increased capacity on this warehouse facility, and the $500.0 million temporary increase was terminated on May 22, 2014.
Schedule of asset-backed securitizations [Table Text Block]	'
	Asset-backed Securitizations
	The following table summarizes the asset-backed securitization transactions completed during the six months ended June 30, 2014.
			2014-1				2014-2								2014-3		2014-4						2014-5		Total
							Class A-1 notes		Class A-2 notes		Class A-3 notes		2014-2 total				Class A-1 notes		Class A-2 notes		2014-4 total
	Date securities issued		2/6/14				3/12/14		3/12/14		3/12/14		3/12/14		4/30/14		5/23/14		5/23/14		5/23/14		6/18/14
	Total original principal amount		$	458,500									509,000		719,800						384,500		603,000		$	2,674,800
	Class A senior notes:
	Total original principal amount		$	445,000			191,000		222,000		84,000		497,000		700,700		267,500		107,500		375,000		587,000		2,604,700
	Bond discount		—				—		—		(535	)	(535	)	—		—		—		—		—		(535		)
	Issue price		$	445,000			191,000		222,000		83,465		496,465		700,700		267,500		107,500		375,000		587,000		2,604,165
	Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		0.57		%		0.28	%	0.6	%	0.85	%			0.58	%	0.54	%	0.95	%			0.55	%
	Final maturity date		9/25/41				6/25/21		3/25/30		7/27/37				6/25/41		11/27/34		11/25/43				7/25/41
	Class B subordinated notes:
	Total original principal amount		$	13,500									12,000		19,100						9,500		16,000		70,100
	Bond discount		(1,132		)								(1,046	)	(1,467	)					(1,138	)	(1,232	)	(6,015		)
	Issue price		$	12,368									10,954		17,633						8,362		14,768		64,085
	Cost of funds (1-month LIBOR plus:)		1.5		%								1.5	%	1.5	%					1.5	%	1.5	%
	Final maturity date		10/25/47										6/25/41		10/25/50						9/25/51		5/25/49

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Interest Rate Swaps - 1:3 Basis swaps	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s basis swaps outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 in which the Company receives three-month LIBOR set discretely in advance and pays one-month LIBOR plus or minus a spread as defined in the agreements (the "1:3 Basis Swaps").
		Maturity			Notional amount
		2021			$	250,000
		2022			1,900,000
		2023			3,650,000
		2024			250,000
		2026			800,000
		2028			100,000
		2036			700,000
		2039	(a)		150,000
		2040	(b)		200,000
					$	8,000,000		(c)
	(a)This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2015.
	(b)This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2020.
	(c)	The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was one-month LIBOR plus 3.5 basis points
Interest Rate Swaps - Floor Income Hedges	'
	nterest Rate Swaps – Floor Income Hedges
	The following table summarizes the outstanding derivative instruments used by the Company to economically hedge loans earning fixed rate floor income as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
			As of June 30, 2014							As of December 31, 2013
	Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)			Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
	2014		$	1,250,000			0.67	%		$	1,750,000			0.71	%
	2015		1,100,000				0.89			1,100,000				0.89
	2016		750,000				0.85			750,000				0.85
	2017		1,250,000				0.86			1,250,000				0.86
			$	4,350,000			0.81	%		$	4,850,000			0.81	%
	(a)	For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.
Interest Rate Swaps - Unsecured Debt Hedges	'
	The Company had the following derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 that are used to effectively convert the variable interest rate on a portion of the Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities ("Hybrid Securities") to a fixed rate.
	Maturity		Notional amount				Weighted average fixed rate paid by the Company (a)
	2036		$	25,000			4.28	%
	(a)	For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.
Impact of Foreign Exchange Contracts on the Statement of Income	'
	Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
	In 2006, the Company issued €352.7 million of student loan asset-backed Euro Notes (the "Euro Notes") with an interest rate based on a spread to the EURIBOR index. As a result of the Euro Notes, the Company is exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Euro. The principal and accrued interest on these notes are re-measured at each reporting period and recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in U.S. dollars based on the foreign currency exchange rate on that date.
	The Company entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap in connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes. Under the terms of the cross-currency interest rate swap, the Company receives from the counterparty a spread to the EURIBOR index based on a notional amount of €352.7 million and pays a spread to the LIBOR index based on a notional amount of $450.0 million. In addition, under the terms of this agreement, all principal payments on the Euro Notes will effectively be paid at the exchange rate in effect between the U.S. dollar and Euro as of the issuance of the notes.
	The following table shows the income statement impact as a result of the re-measurement of the Euro Notes and the change in the fair value of the related derivative instrument.
		Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
		2014				2013 (b)			2014			2013 (b)
	Re-measurement of Euro Notes	$	2,751			(14,691	)		1,798			14,072
	Change in fair value of cross-currency interest rate swaps	(2,999		)		14,748			(3,037	)		(20,096	)
	Total impact to consolidated statements of income - income (expense) (a)	$	(248	)		57			(1,239	)		(6,024	)
	(a)	The financial statement impact of the above items is included in "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income.
	(b)	The 2013 operating results include the re-measurement of an additional €420.5 million of student loan asset-backed Euro notes and the change in fair value of a related cross-currency interest rate swap entered into in connection with the issuance of such notes. In November 2013, the principal amount outstanding on the notes was changed to U.S. dollars and the cross-currency interest swap was terminated.
	The re-measurement of the Euro-denominated bonds generally correlates with the change in fair value of the corresponding cross-currency interest rate swap. However, the Company will experience unrealized gains or losses related to the cross-currency interest rate swap if the two underlying indices (and related forward curve) do not move in parallel.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value	'
	Consolidated Financial Statement Impact Related to Derivatives
	The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivatives as reflected in the consolidated balance sheets:
		Fair value of asset derivatives							Fair value of liability derivatives
		As of				As of			As of			As of
		June 30,				December 31,			June 30,			December 31,
		2014				2013			2014			2013
	1:3 basis swaps	$	31,510			18,490			—			—
	Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	2,726				7,183			10,849			15,849
	Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	—				—			4,697			2,120
	Cross-currency interest rate swap	33,797				36,834			—			—
	Total	$	68,033			62,507			15,546			17,969
	During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company terminated certain derivatives for gross proceeds and payments of $2.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively. There were no derivative terminations during the first six months of 2014.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block]	'
	Offsetting of Derivative Assets/Liabilities
	The Company records derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Certain of the Company's derivative instruments are subject to right of offset provisions with counterparties. The following tables include the gross amounts related to the Company's derivative portfolio recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, reconciled to the net amount when excluding derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangements and cash collateral received/pledged:
							Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
	Derivative assets		Gross amounts of recognized assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral received			Net asset (liability)
	Balance as of June 30, 2014		$	68,033			(15,546	)		(323	)		52,164
	Balance as of December 31, 2013		62,507				(15,437	)		(15,959	)		31,111
							Gross amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
	Derivative liabilities		Gross amounts of recognized liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets				Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement			Cash collateral pledged			Net asset (liability)
	Balance as of June 30, 2014		$	(15,546	)		15,546			—			—
	Balance as of December 31, 2013		(17,969		)		15,437			3,630			1,098
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance	'
	The following table summarizes the effect of derivative instruments in the consolidated statements of income.
		Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Settlements:
	1:3 basis swaps	$	858			782			1,739			1,692
	Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(6,974		)		(8,534	)		(13,924	)		(16,839	)
	Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(256		)		(512	)		(508	)		(1,157	)
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps	158				(93	)		250			(237	)
	Total settlements - expense	(6,214		)		(8,357	)		(12,443	)		(16,541	)
	Change in fair value:
	1:3 basis swaps	11,910				9,630			13,020			11,563
	Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges	(2,813		)		33,408			545			42,830
	Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges	(1,065		)		5,450			(2,578	)		9,090
	Cross-currency interest rate swaps	(2,999		)		14,748			(3,037	)		(20,096	)
	Other	—				—			—			342
	Total change in fair value - income (expense)	5,033				63,236			7,950			43,729
	Re-measurement of Euro Notes (foreign currency transaction adjustment) - income (expense)	2,751				(14,691	)		1,798			14,072
	Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net - income (expense)	$	1,570			40,188			(2,695	)		41,260

Investments_Tables

Investments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Investments [Abstract]	'
Summary Investment Holdings	'
	A summary of the Company's investments and restricted investments follows:
		As of June 30, 2014													As of December 31, 2013
		Amortized cost				Gross unrealized gains			Gross unrealized losses (a)			Fair value			Amortized cost	Gross unrealized gains	Gross unrealized losses		Fair value
	Investments:
	Available-for-sale investments:
	Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities (b)	$	124,556			7,090			(212	)		131,434			171,931	7,111	(1,241	)	177,801
	Equity securities	1,527				1,969			(7	)		3,489			1,502	1,783	(3	)	3,282
	Total available-for-sale investments	$	126,083			9,059			(219	)		134,923			173,433	8,894	(1,244	)	181,083
	Trading investments:
	Student loan asset-backed and other debt securities											6,566							10,957
	Total available-for-sale and trading investments											$	141,489						192,040
	Restricted Investments (c):
	Guaranteed investment contracts - held-to-maturity											$	6,921						7,285
	(a)	As of June 30, 2014, the Company considered the decline in market value of its available-for-sale investments to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired.
	(b)	As of June 30, 2014, the stated maturities of the majority of the Company's student loan asset-backed and other debt securities classified as available-for-sale were greater than 10 years.
	(c)	Restricted investments are included in "restricted cash and investments" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Realized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]	'
	The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income related to the realized gains and losses on available-for-sale-securities is summarized below.
			Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	Affected line item in the consolidated statements of income - income (expense):		2014				2013			2014			2013
	Other income		$	1,238			559			8,311			1,516
	Income tax expense		(458		)		(207	)		(3,075	)		(561	)
	Net		$	780			352			5,236			955

Business_Combination_Estimated

Business Combination Estimated Fair Value of Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The fair values of the assets and liabilities related to RenWeb are subject to refinement as the Company completes its analysis relative to the fair values at the date of acquisition.
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	326
	Accounts receivable		961
	Property and equipment		105
	Other assets		22
	Intangible assets		37,188
	Excess cost over fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill)		9,082
	Other liabilities		(1,341		)
	Net assets acquired		$	46,343
	The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:
		As of June 30, 2014
		Fair value				Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	30,629,142			29,342,430	—	—	30,629,142
	Cash and cash equivalents	92,099				92,099	92,099	—	—
	Investments	141,489				141,489	3,922	137,567	—
	Restricted cash	855,113				855,113	855,113	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	98,005				98,005	98,005	—	—
	Restricted investments	6,921				6,921	6,921	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	360,075				360,075	—	360,075	—
	Derivative instruments	68,033				68,033	—	68,033	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	29,493,178				29,492,560	—	29,493,178	—
	Accrued interest payable	24,339				24,339	—	24,339	—
	Due to customers	98,005				98,005	98,005	—	—
	Derivative instruments	15,546				15,546	—	15,546	—
		As of December 31, 2013
		Fair value				Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	26,641,383			25,907,589	—	—	26,641,383
	Cash and cash equivalents	63,267				63,267	63,267	—	—
	Investments	192,040				192,040	3,761	188,279	—
	Restricted cash	727,838				727,838	727,838	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	167,576				167,576	167,576	—	—
	Restricted investments	7,285				7,285	7,285	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	314,553				314,553	—	314,553	—
	Derivative instruments	62,507				62,507	—	62,507	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	25,577,250				25,955,289	—	25,577,250	—
	Accrued interest payable	21,725				21,725	—	21,725	—
	Due to customers	167,576				167,576	167,576	—	—
	Derivative instruments	17,969				17,969	—	17,969	—

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A1

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	Intangible assets consist of the following:
		Weighted average remaining useful life as of June 30, 2014 (months)		As of June 30, 2014		As of December 31, 2013
	Amortizable intangible assets:
	Customer relationships (net of accumulated amortization of $21,595 and $19,821, respectively)	223		$	29,884	6,132
	Computer software (net of accumulated amortization of $634 and $0, respectively)	47		8,231		—
	Trade names (net of accumulated amortization of $39 and $0, respectively)	239		6,383		—
	Covenants not to compete (net of accumulated amortization of $3 and $0, respectively)	119		351		—
	Total - amortizable intangible assets	192		$	44,849	6,132
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
	2014 (Q3 - Q4)	$	2,843
	2015	6,402
	2016	5,982
	2017	4,406
	2018	4,000
	2019 and thereafter	21,216
		$	44,849

Goodwill_Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill Goodwill (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]	'
	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment was as follows:
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing		Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce	Enrollment Services	Asset Generation and Management	Total
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	8,596	58,086	8,553	41,883	117,118
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—		9,082	—	—	9,082
	Balance as of June 30, 2014	$	8,596	67,168	8,553	41,883	126,200

Earnings_per_Common_Share_Tabl

Earnings per Common Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	'
		Three months ended June 30,
		2014				2013
		Common shareholders		Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total	Common shareholders	Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	74,263	731	74,994	100,339	904	101,243
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,075,869		453,508	46,529,377	46,210,571	416,282	46,626,853
	Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	1.61	1.61	1.61	2.17	2.17	2.17
		Six months ended June 30,
		2014				2013
		Common shareholders		Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total	Common shareholders	Unvested restricted stock shareholders	Total
	Numerator:
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	147,388	1,392	148,780	167,868	1,454	169,322
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,093,314		435,337	46,528,651	46,241,277	401,079	46,642,356
	Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	3.2	3.2	3.2	3.63	3.63	3.63

Segment_Reporting_Tables

Segment Reporting (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	See note 13 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in the 2013 Annual Report for a description of the Company's operating segments. The following tables include the results of each of the Company's operating segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements.
		Three months ended June 30, 2014
		Fee-Based
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
							Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
											Management		and
													Overhead
	Total interest income	$	9		3		—		12		175,562		2,036		(662	)	176,948
	Interest expense	—			—		—		—		67,936		1,961		(662	)	69,235
	Net interest income	9			3		—		12		107,626		75		—		107,713
	Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		1,500		—		—		1,500
	Net interest income after provision for loan losses	9			3		—		12		106,126		75		—		106,213
	Other income:
	Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460			—		—		66,460		—		—		—		66,460
	Intersegment servicing revenue	13,800			—		—		13,800		—		—		(13,800	)	—
	Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			21,834		—		21,834		—		—		—		21,834
	Enrollment services revenue	—			—		20,145		20,145		—		—		—		20,145
	Other income	—			—		—		—		4,496		10,819		—		15,315
	Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		18		—		—		18
	Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		8,848		(1,064	)	—		7,784
	Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(5,958	)	(256	)	—		(6,214	)
	Total other income	80,260			21,834		20,145		122,239		7,404		9,499		(13,800	)	125,342
	Operating expenses:
	Salaries and benefits	33,093			11,112		4,132		48,337		570		4,981		—		53,888
	Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		13,311		13,311		—		—		—		13,311
	Depreciation and amortization	2,819			1,845		41		4,705		—		509		—		5,214
	Other	19,815			2,956		1,844		24,615		8,845		6,917		—		40,377
	Intersegment expenses, net	1,124			1,404		944		3,472		13,968		(3,640	)	(13,800	)	—
	Total operating expenses	56,851			17,317		20,272		94,440		23,383		8,767		(13,800	)	112,790
	Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	23,418			4,520		(127	)	27,811		90,147		807		—		118,765
	Corporate overhead allocation	(2,060		)	(687	)	(687	)	(3,434	)	(1,249	)	4,683		—		—
	Income before income taxes	21,358			3,833		(814	)	24,377		88,898		5,490		—		118,765
	Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,116		)	(1,456	)	309		(9,263	)	(33,781	)	(34	)	—		(43,078	)
	Net income	13,242			2,377		(505	)	15,114		55,117		5,456		—		75,687
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		693		—		693
	Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	13,242		2,377		(505	)	15,114		55,117		4,763		—		74,994
		Three months ended June 30, 2013
		Fee-Based
		Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
							Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
											Management		and
													Overhead
	Total interest income	$	9		—		—		9		158,175		2,196		(834	)	159,546
	Interest expense	—			—		—		—		56,920		2,041		(834	)	58,127
	Net interest income	9			—		—		9		101,255		155		—		101,419
	Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		5,000		—		—		5,000
	Net interest income after provision for loan losses	9			—		—		9		96,255		155		—		96,419
	Other income:
	Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	60,078			—		—		60,078		—		—		—		60,078
	Intersegment servicing revenue	13,903			—		—		13,903		—		—		(13,903	)	—
	Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			18,356		—		18,356		—		—		—		18,356
	Enrollment services revenue	—			—		24,823		24,823		—		—		—		24,823
	Other income	—			—		—		—		3,030		9,258		—		12,288
	Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		7,355		—		—		7,355
	Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		43,096		5,449		—		48,545
	Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(7,845	)	(512	)	—		(8,357	)
	Total other income	73,981			18,356		24,823		117,160		45,636		14,195		(13,903	)	163,088
	Operating expenses:
	Salaries and benefits	28,091			9,427		4,809		42,327		592		4,513		—		47,432
	Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		16,787		16,787		—		—		—		16,787
	Depreciation and amortization	2,731			1,132		61		3,924		—		396		—		4,320
	Other	18,031			2,192		1,243		21,466		7,923		4,976		—		34,365
	Intersegment expenses, net	851			1,494		1,130		3,475		14,108		(3,680	)	(13,903	)	—
Total operating expenses	49,704			14,245		24,030		87,979		22,623		6,205		(13,903	)	102,904
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	24,286			4,111		793		29,190		119,268		8,145		—		156,603
Corporate overhead allocation	(1,513		)	(504	)	(504	)	(2,521	)	(1,081	)	3,602		—		—
Income before income taxes	22,773			3,607		289		26,669		118,187		11,747		—		156,603
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,655		)	(1,370	)	(109	)	(10,134	)	(44,911	)	299		—		(54,746	)
Net income	14,118			2,237		180		16,535		73,276		12,046		—		101,857
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		614		—		614
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	14,118		2,237		180		16,535		73,276		11,432		—		101,243
	Six months ended June 30, 2014
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
						Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
										Management		and
												Overhead
Total interest income	$	20		3		—		23		332,565		4,694		(1,459	)	335,823
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		127,412		3,286		(1,459	)	129,239
Net interest income	20			3		—		23		205,153		1,408		—		206,584
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		4,000		—		—		4,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	20			3		—		23		201,153		1,408		—		202,584
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	131,217			—		—		131,217		—		—		—		131,217
Intersegment servicing revenue	28,021			—		—		28,021		—		—		(28,021	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			47,069		—		47,069		—		—		—		47,069
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		42,156		42,156		—		—		—		42,156
Other income	—			—		—		—		8,660		24,786		—		33,446
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		57		—		—		57
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		12,325		(2,577	)	—		9,748
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(11,935	)	(508	)	—		(12,443	)
Total other income	159,238			47,069		42,156		248,463		9,107		21,701		(28,021	)	251,250
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	65,400			21,139		8,512		95,051		1,179		10,142		—		106,372
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		27,786		27,786		—		—		—		27,786
Depreciation and amortization	5,608			3,273		88		8,969		—		1,028		—		9,997
Other	38,267			5,603		3,293		47,163		15,991		12,850		—		76,004
Intersegment expenses, net	2,207			2,824		1,950		6,981		28,339		(7,299	)	(28,021	)	—
Total operating expenses	111,482			32,839		41,629		185,950		45,509		16,721		(28,021	)	220,159
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	47,776			14,233		527		62,536		164,751		6,388		—		233,675
Corporate overhead allocation	(3,920		)	(1,307	)	(1,307	)	(6,534	)	(2,578	)	9,112		—		—
Income before income taxes	43,856			12,926		(780	)	56,002		162,173		15,500		—		233,675
Income tax (expense) benefit	(16,665		)	(4,911	)	296		(21,280	)	(61,625	)	(784	)	—		(83,689	)
Net income	27,191			8,015		(484	)	34,722		100,548		14,716		—		149,986
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		1,206		—		1,206
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	27,191		8,015		(484	)	34,722		100,548		13,510		—		148,780
	Six months ended June 30, 2013
	Fee-Based
	Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing			Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce		Enrollment		Total Fee-		Asset		Corporate		Eliminations		Total
						Services		Based		Generation and		Activity
										Management		and
												Overhead
Total interest income	$	19		—		—		19		313,829		4,507		(1,653	)	316,702
Interest expense	—			—		—		—		114,402		3,736		(1,653	)	116,485
Net interest income	19			—		—		19		199,427		771		—		200,217
Less provision for loan losses	—			—		—		—		10,000		—		—		10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	19			—		—		19		189,427		771		—		190,217
Other income:
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	115,679			—		—		115,679		—		—		—		115,679
Intersegment servicing revenue	28,856			—		—		28,856		—		—		(28,856	)	—
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	—			41,767		—		41,767		—		—		—		41,767
Enrollment services revenue	—			—		53,780		53,780		—		—		—		53,780
Other income	—			—		—		—		7,226		14,478		—		21,704
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	—			—		—		—		8,762		—		—		8,762
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	—			—		—		—		48,371		9,430		—		57,801
Derivative settlements, net	—			—		—		—		(15,384	)	(1,157	)	—		(16,541	)
Total other income	144,535			41,767		53,780		240,082		48,975		22,751		(28,856	)	282,952
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	56,535			18,786		10,576		85,897		1,154		8,286		—		95,337
Cost to provide enrollment services	—			—		36,429		36,429		—		—		—		36,429
Depreciation and amortization	5,520			2,270		122		7,912		—		785		—		8,697
Other	36,421			4,479		2,894		43,794		15,436		10,076		—		69,306
Intersegment expenses, net	1,786			2,919		2,279		6,984		29,250		(7,378	)	(28,856	)	—
Total operating expenses	100,262			28,454		52,300		181,016		45,840		11,769		(28,856	)	209,769
Income before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	44,292			13,313		1,480		59,085		192,562		11,753		—		263,400
Corporate overhead allocation	(2,510		)	(836	)	(836	)	(4,182	)	(1,793	)	5,975		—		—
Income before income taxes	41,782			12,477		644		54,903		190,769		17,728		—		263,400
Income tax (expense) benefit	(15,878		)	(4,741	)	(244	)	(20,863	)	(72,492	)	162		—		(93,193	)
Net income	25,904			7,736		400		34,040		118,277		17,890		—		170,207
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—		—		885		—		885
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$	25,904		7,736		400		34,040		118,277		17,005		—		169,322

Fair_Value_Tables

Fair Value (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers into or out of level 1, level 2, or level 3 for the six months ended June 30, 2014.
		As of June 30, 2014						As of December 31, 2013
		Level 1				Level 2	Total	Level 1	Level 2	Total
	Assets:
	Investments:
	Student loan asset-backed securities	$	—			137,567	137,567	—	188,279	188,279
	Equity securities	3,489				—	3,489	3,282	—	3,282
	Debt securities	433				—	433	479	—	479
	Total investments	3,922				137,567	141,489	3,761	188,279	192,040
	Fair value of derivative instruments	—				68,033	68,033	—	62,507	62,507
	Total assets	$	3,922			205,600	209,522	3,761	250,786	254,547
	Liabilities:
	Fair value of derivative instruments	$	—			15,546	15,546	—	17,969	17,969
	Total liabilities	$	—			15,546	15,546	—	17,969	17,969
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping	'
	The following table summarizes the initial estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The fair values of the assets and liabilities related to RenWeb are subject to refinement as the Company completes its analysis relative to the fair values at the date of acquisition.
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	326
	Accounts receivable		961
	Property and equipment		105
	Other assets		22
	Intangible assets		37,188
	Excess cost over fair value of net assets acquired (goodwill)		9,082
	Other liabilities		(1,341		)
	Net assets acquired		$	46,343
	The following table summarizes the fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets:
		As of June 30, 2014
		Fair value				Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	30,629,142			29,342,430	—	—	30,629,142
	Cash and cash equivalents	92,099				92,099	92,099	—	—
	Investments	141,489				141,489	3,922	137,567	—
	Restricted cash	855,113				855,113	855,113	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	98,005				98,005	98,005	—	—
	Restricted investments	6,921				6,921	6,921	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	360,075				360,075	—	360,075	—
	Derivative instruments	68,033				68,033	—	68,033	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	29,493,178				29,492,560	—	29,493,178	—
	Accrued interest payable	24,339				24,339	—	24,339	—
	Due to customers	98,005				98,005	98,005	—	—
	Derivative instruments	15,546				15,546	—	15,546	—
		As of December 31, 2013
		Fair value				Carrying value	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Financial assets:
	Student loans receivable	$	26,641,383			25,907,589	—	—	26,641,383
	Cash and cash equivalents	63,267				63,267	63,267	—	—
	Investments	192,040				192,040	3,761	188,279	—
	Restricted cash	727,838				727,838	727,838	—	—
	Restricted cash – due to customers	167,576				167,576	167,576	—	—
	Restricted investments	7,285				7,285	7,285	—	—
	Accrued interest receivable	314,553				314,553	—	314,553	—
	Derivative instruments	62,507				62,507	—	62,507	—
	Financial liabilities:
	Bonds and notes payable	25,577,250				25,955,289	—	25,577,250	—
	Accrued interest payable	21,725				21,725	—	21,725	—
	Due to customers	167,576				167,576	167,576	—	—
	Derivative instruments	17,969				17,969	—	17,969	—

Student_Loans_Receivable_Detai

Student Loans Receivable (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	$52,467	$54,628	$55,122	$51,611	$49,409	$51,902
Student loans receivable	29,342,430	'	25,907,589	'	'	'
Federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	40,921	'	'	39,848	'	'
Non-federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	11,546	'	'	11,763	'	'
held for investment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable, gross	29,579,785	'	26,121,306	'	'	'
Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs	184,888	'	158,595	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	29,342,430	'	25,907,589	'	'	'
held for investment [Member] | Federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable, gross	29,512,115	'	26,050,203	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	40,921	'	43,440	'	'	'
held for investment [Member] | Non-federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable, gross	67,670	'	71,103	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses	11,546	'	11,682	'	'	'
held for investment [Member] | Stafford and Other [Member] | Federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable, gross	6,479,493	'	6,686,626	'	'	'
held for investment [Member] | Consolidation Loans [Member] | Federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable, gross	23,032,622	'	19,363,577	'	'	'
Non-accretable discount [Member] | held for investment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loan discount, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs	$30,000	'	$20,200	'	'	'

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A2

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses Residual Interests (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014
			Purchase of residual interest [Member]	Discount on bonds and notes payable [Member]	Discount on bonds and notes payable [Member]	Discount on bonds and notes payable [Member]
						Purchase of residual interest [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Significant Purchases	'	'	$2,600,000,000	'	'	'
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	29,492,560,000	25,955,289,000	2,600,000,000	-417,557,000	-258,056,000	163,700,000
Unamortized Loan Commitment and Origination Fees and Unamortized Discounts or Premiums, Other	'	'	$68,700,000	'	'	'

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A3

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses Allowance for Loan Losses (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Allowance for loan losses - balance	$54,628	$49,409	$55,122	$51,902
Provision for loan losses	1,500	5,000	4,000	10,000
Charge-offs	-4,736	-3,932	-8,788	-10,694
Recoveries - non-federally insured loans	339	442	710	810
Purchase (sale) of federally insured loans and other, net	150	275	250	-1,943
Transfer from repurchase obligation related to non-federally insured loans purchased, net	586	417	1,173	1,536
Allowance for loan losses - balance	52,467	51,611	52,467	51,611
Federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Provision for loan losses	2,000	5,000	5,000	11,000
Charge-offs	-4,138	-3,340	-7,769	-9,330
Allowance for loan losses - balance	40,921	39,848	40,921	39,848
Non-federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Provision for loan losses	-500	0	-1,000	-1,000
Charge-offs	-598	-592	-1,019	-1,364
Allowance for loan losses - balance	$11,546	$11,763	$11,546	$11,763

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A4

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses Repurchase Obligations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2014
						Cumulative non-federally insured loans participated subject to repurchase agreement [Member]	Non-federally insured loans sold subject to repurchase agreement [Member]	Non-federally insured loans sold subject to repurchase agreement [Member]
Repurchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cumulative amount of participated non-federally insured student loans	'	'	'	'	'	$117,100,000	'	'
Days delinquent to trigger repurchase range, minimum	'	'	'	'	'	'60 days	'	'
Days delinquent to trigger repurchase range, maximum	'	'	'	'	'	'90 days	'	'
Proceeds from sale of non-federally insured student loans subject to repurchase agreements	'	'	'	'	'	'	91,300,000	'
Percent of par value of non-federally insured student loans subject to repurchase agreements	'	'	'	'	'	'	100.00%	'
Days delinquent to trigger repurchase	'	'	'	'	'	'	'60 days	'
Change in Repurchase Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	15,413,000	15,011,000	16,143,000	16,130,000	'	'	'	'
Transfer to the Allowance for Loan Losses Related to Loans Sold or Purchased and other, net	586,000	417,000	1,316,000	1,536,000	'	'	'	'
Ending balance	14,827,000	14,594,000	14,827,000	14,594,000	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	$29,342,430,000	'	$29,342,430,000	'	$25,907,589,000	'	'	$58,900,000

Student_Loans_Receivable_and_A5

Student Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses Student Loan Status and Delinquency (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Federally insured loans, excluding rehabiliation loans [Member]	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'	'
Loans in-school/grace/deferment	$3,095,741	$2,872,505	$2,983,795
Loans in forbearance	3,593,891	3,370,025	3,320,101
Student loans receivable, gross	29,512,115	26,050,203	24,688,734
Loans in repayment status:	'	'	'
Loans current	19,164,660	16,337,922	15,355,379
Loans current, percentage	84.00%	82.50%	83.60%
Loans delinquent 31-60 days	1,026,046	967,318	776,577
Loans delinquent 31-60 days, percentage	4.50%	4.90%	4.20%
Loans delinquent 61-90 days	674,918	550,333	531,339
Loans delinquent 61-90 days, percentage	3.00%	2.80%	2.90%
Loans delinquent 91-120 days	376,068	390,791	291,732
Loans delinquent 91-120 days, percentage	1.50%	2.00%	1.60%
Loans delinquent 121-270 days	1,133,527	1,117,936	1,016,571
Loans delinquent 121-270 days, percentage	5.00%	5.60%	5.50%
Loans Delinquent Greater than 271 Days Past Due	447,264	443,373	413,240
Loans delinquent 271 days or greater, percentage	2.00%	2.20%	2.20%
Total loans in repayment	$22,822,483	$19,807,673	$18,384,838
Total loans in repayment, percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Non-federally insured loans [Member]	'	'	'
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]	'	'	'
Loans Delinquent 31 Days or Greater in Percentage	12.60%	12.70%	27.10%

Outstanding_Debt_Obligations_D

Outstanding Debt Obligations (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	$29,492,560	$25,955,289
Variable-rate bonds and notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	28,545,842	24,614,143
Bonds and notes based on indices [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	26,983,517	23,479,893
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	25-May-18	25-May-18
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	26-Aug-52	26-Aug-52
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	0.24%	0.25%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	6.90%	6.90%
Bonds and notes based on auction or remarketing [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	1,562,325	1,134,250
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	1-May-28	1-May-28
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-May-46	26-Nov-46
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	0.06%	0.07%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	2.10%	2.17%
FFELP warehouse facilities [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	1,139,750	1,396,344
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	17-Jan-16	17-Jan-16
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	11-Jun-17	12-Jun-16
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	0.15%	0.17%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	0.25%	0.25%
Line of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	65,000	45,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	30-Jun-19	28-Mar-18
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	30-Jun-19	28-Mar-18
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	1.65%	1.67%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	1.65%	1.67%
Junior Subordinated Debt [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	96,457	96,457
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	15-Sep-61	15-Sep-61
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	15-Sep-61	15-Sep-61
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	3.61%	3.62%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	3.61%	3.62%
Other borrowings [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	63,068	61,401
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	31-Oct-14	11-Apr-14
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	11-Nov-15	11-Nov-15
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	1.66%	1.67%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	5.10%	5.10%
Bonds and notes payable, gross [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,910,117	26,213,345
Discount on bonds and notes payable [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	($417,557)	($258,056)

Bonds_and_Notes_Payable_Outsta

Bonds and Notes Payable Outstanding Lines of Credit (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

22-May-14

Jun. 30, 2014

Apr. 15, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 29, 2014

Apr. 15, 2014

Apr. 15, 2014

NHELP-II Warehouse [Member]

NFSLW-I Warehouse [Member]

NFSLW-I Warehouse [Member]

NFSLW-I Warehouse [Member]

NHELP-III Warehouse [Member]

FFELP Warehouse Total [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

amendment to maturity date of liquidity provisions [Member]

amendment to maturity date [Member]

NFSLW-I Warehouse [Member]

NFSLW-I Warehouse [Member]

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum financing amount

$500,000,000

'

$500,000,000

[1]

$1,000,000,000

[1]

$750,000,000

$1,750,000,000

$350,000,000

$275,000,000

'

'

Amount outstanding

92,803,000

'

387,279,000

[1]

'

659,668,000

1,139,750,000

65,000,000

'

'

'

Amount available

407,197,000

'

112,721,000

[1]

'

90,332,000

610,250,000

285,000,000

'

'

'

Expiration of liquidity provisions

30-Sep-14

'

11-Jun-15

[1]

'

5-Feb-15

'

'

'

11-Jun-15

[1]

'

Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End

30-Sep-16

'

11-Jun-17

[1]

'

17-Jan-16

'

'

'

'

11-Jun-17

[1]

Line of credit facility, termination date

'

'

'

'

'

'

30-Jun-19

'

'

'

Maximum Advance Rates - range minimum

84.50%

'

92.00%

[1]

'

92.15%

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum advance rates - range maximum

94.50%

'

98.00%

[1]

'

95.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum Advance Rates - range minimum

84.50%

'

84.00%

[1]

'

92.15%

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum advance rates - range maximum

94.50%

'

90.00%

[1]

'

95.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Advanced as equity support

8,264,000

'

18,870,000

[1]

'

39,496,000

66,630,000

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net

'

($500,000,000)

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

[1]

(a) On April 15, 2014, the Company amended the agreement for this warehouse facility to temporarily increase the maximum financing amount to $1.0 billion, change the expiration date for the liquidity provisions to JuneB 11, 2015, and change the maturity date to JuneB 11, 2017. As a result of the completion of the 2014-3 asset-backed securitization summarized in the table below, on April 30, 2014, the Company determined that it no longer needed the increased capacity on this warehouse facility, and the $500.0 million temporary increase was terminated on May 22, 2014.

Bonds_and_Notes_Payable_Assetb

Bonds and Notes Payable Asset-backed Securitizations (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Variable Rate Basis	'1-month LIBOR
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	$2,674,800
2014-1 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	6-Feb-14
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	458,500
2014-2 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	12-Mar-14
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	509,000
2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-1 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	12-Mar-14
2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-2 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	12-Mar-14
2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-3 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	12-Mar-14
2014-3 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	30-Apr-14
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	719,800
2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	23-May-14
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	384,500
2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain] | 2014-4 Securitization Class A-1 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	23-May-14
2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain] | 2014-4 Securitization Class A-2 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	23-May-14
2014-5 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization, issuance date	18-Jun-14
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	603,000
Class A [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-535
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	2,604,700
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	2,604,165
Class A [Member] | 2014-1 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.57%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	445,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	445,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Sep-41
Class A [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-535
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	497,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	496,465
Class A [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-1 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.28%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	191,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	191,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Jun-21
Class A [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-2 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.60%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	222,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	222,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Mar-30
Class A [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization Class A-3 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.85%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-535
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	84,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	83,465
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	27-Jul-37
Class A [Member] | 2014-3 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.58%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	700,700
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	700,700
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Jun-41
Class A [Member] | 2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	375,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	375,000
Class A [Member] | 2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain] | 2014-4 Securitization Class A-1 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.54%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	267,500
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	267,500
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	27-Nov-34
Class A [Member] | 2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain] | 2014-4 Securitization Class A-2 [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.95%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	107,500
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	107,500
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Nov-43
Class A [Member] | 2014-5 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	0.55%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	0
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	587,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	587,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Jul-41
Class B [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-6,015
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	70,100
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	64,085
Class B [Member] | 2014-1 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	1.50%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-1,132
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	13,500
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	12,368
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Oct-47
Class B [Member] | 2014-2 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	1.50%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-1,046
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	12,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	10,954
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Jun-41
Class B [Member] | 2014-3 Securitization [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	1.50%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-1,467
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	19,100
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	17,633
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Oct-50
Class B [Member] | 2014-4 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	1.50%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-1,138
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	9,500
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	8,362
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-Sep-51
Class B [Member] | 2014-5 Securitization [Member] [Domain]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Basis	1.50%
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Unamortized Discount	-1,232
Asset-backed securitization issuance, Face Amount	16,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$14,768
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	25-May-49

Bonds_and_Notes_Payable_Debt_R

Bonds and Notes Payable Debt Repurchases (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain from debt repurchases	'	'	$57,000	$8,728,000
Asset-backed Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	200,000	56,400,000	1,600,000	69,400,000
Gain from debt repurchases	$18,000	$7,400,000	$57,000	$8,700,000

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Bonds and notes payable	$29,492,560		$25,955,289
Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Bonds and notes payable	96,457		96,457
Derivative, Type of Interest Rate Paid on Swap	'3-month LIBOR		'3-month LIBOR
Junior Subordinated Hybrid Securities [Member] | Unsecured Debt Interest Rate Swaps 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	25,000		25,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	4.28%	[1]	4.28%
1:3 basis swaps [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	8,000,000	[2]	8,000,000	[2]
Derivative, Type of Interest Rate Paid on Swap	'one-month LIBOR		'one-month LIBOR
Weighted average basis spread on variable rate	3.50%		3.50%
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2021 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	250,000		250,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2022 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,900,000		1,900,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2023 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	3,650,000		3,650,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2024 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	250,000		250,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2026 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	800,000		800,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2028 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	100,000		100,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2036 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	700,000		700,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2039 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	150,000	[3]	150,000
1:3 basis swaps [Member] | Maturity 2040 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	200,000	[4]	200,000
Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,350,000		4,850,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	0.81%	[1]	0.81%	[1]
Derivative, Type of Interest Rate Paid on Swap	'3-month LIBOR		'3-month LIBOR
Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Maturity 2014 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,250,000		1,750,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	0.67%	[1]	0.71%	[1]
Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Maturity 2015 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,100,000		1,100,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	0.89%	[1]	0.89%	[1]
Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Maturity 2016 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	750,000		750,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	0.85%	[1]	0.85%	[1]
Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Maturity 2017 [Member]	'		'
Derivative [Line Items]	'		'
Derivative, Notional Amount	$1,250,000		$1,250,000
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate	0.86%	[1]	0.86%	[1]
[1]	For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.
[2]	The weighted average rate paid by the Company on the 1:3 Basis Swaps as of JuneB 30, 2014 and DecemberB 31, 2013 was one-month LIBOR plus 3.5 basis points
[3]	This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2015.
[4]	This derivative has a forward effective start date in 2020.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments Cross-currency Interest Rate Swaps (Details)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Currency Swap [Member]

Currency Swap [Member]

Currency Swap [Member]

Currency Swap [Member]

Cross-currency interest rate swap 1 [Member]

Cross currency interest rate swap 2 [Member]

Cross currency interest rate swap 2 [Member]

Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Fixed Rate Floor Income Interest Rate Swap [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.81%

[1]

0.81%

[1]

Bonds and notes payable

$29,492,560

'

$29,492,560

'

$25,955,289

'

'

'

'

€ 420,500

'

€ 352,700

'

'

Re-measurement of Euro Notes

2,751

-14,691

1,798

14,072

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Change in fair value of cross currency interest rate swaps

-2,999

14,748

'

'

'

'

'

-3,037

-20,096

'

'

'

'

'

Total impact to statements of income - income (expense)

5,033

63,236

7,950

43,729

'

-248

[2]

57

[2],[3]

-1,239

[2]

-6,024

[2],[3]

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Notional Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$450,000

€ 352,700

$4,350,000

$4,850,000

[1]

For all interest rate derivatives, the Company receives discrete three-month LIBOR.

[2]

The financial statement impact of the above items is included in "Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements, net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

[3]

The 2013 operating results include the re-measurement of an additional €420.5 million of student loan asset-backed Euro notes and the change in fair value of a related cross-currency interest rate swap entered into in connection with the issuance of such notes. In November 2013, the principal amount outstanding on the notes was changed to U.S. dollars and the cross-currency interest swap was terminated.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments Fair Value of Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Proceeds to terminate and or amend derivative instruments	($2,700)	$0	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	'	68,033	'	62,507
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	'	15,546	'	17,969
Cash collateral received	'	323	'	15,959
Cash collateral pledged	'	0	'	3,630
Payments to terminate and/or amend derivative instruments	6,500	0	3,819	'
1:3 basis swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	'	31,510	'	18,490
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	'	0	'	0
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	'	2,726	'	7,183
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	'	10,849	'	15,849
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	'	0	'	0
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	'	4,697	'	2,120
Cross-currency interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	'	33,797	'	36,834
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	'	$0	'	$0

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments Gross/Net (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset	$68,033	$62,507
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability	-15,546	-17,969
Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement, asset	-15,546	-15,437
Derivatives subject to enforceable master netting arrangement, liability	15,546	15,437
Cash collateral received	-323	-15,959
Cash collateral pledged	0	3,630
Fair value of derivative instruments, asset, net	52,164	31,111
Fair value of derivative instruments, liability, net	$0	($1,098)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen6

Derivative Financial Instruments Income Statement Effect of Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative settlements, net	($6,214)	($8,357)	($12,443)	($16,541)
Change in fair value	5,033	63,236	7,950	43,729
Re-measurement of Euro Notes (foreign currency transaction adjustment) - income (expense)	2,751	-14,691	1,798	14,072
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments and derivative settlements - income (expense)	1,570	40,188	-2,695	41,260
1:3 basis swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative settlements, net	858	782	1,739	1,692
Change in fair value	11,910	9,630	13,020	11,563
Interest rate swaps - floor income hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative settlements, net	-6,974	-8,534	-13,924	-16,839
Change in fair value	-2,813	33,408	545	42,830
Interest rate swaps - hybrid debt hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative settlements, net	-256	-512	-508	-1,157
Change in fair value	-1,065	5,450	-2,578	9,090
Cross-currency interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative settlements, net	158	-93	250	-237
Change in fair value	-2,999	14,748	-3,037	-20,096
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Change in fair value	$0	$0	$0	$342

Investments_and_Restricted_Inv

Investments and Restricted Investments Summary (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Investments [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	$141,489		$192,040
Investments [Member] | Available-for-sale investments [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Amortized cost	126,083		173,433
Gross unrealized gains	9,059		8,894
Gross unrealized losses	-219	[1]	-1,244
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	134,923		181,083
Investments [Member] | Available-for-sale investments [Member] | Student Loan Asset-Backed and Other Debt Securities [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Amortized cost	124,556	[2]	171,931	[2]
Gross unrealized gains	7,090	[2]	7,111	[2]
Gross unrealized losses	-212	[1],[2]	-1,241	[2]
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	131,434	[2]	177,801	[2]
Investments [Member] | Available-for-sale investments [Member] | Equity securities [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Amortized cost	1,527		1,502
Gross unrealized gains	1,969		1,783
Gross unrealized losses	-7	[1]	-3
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	'		3,282
Investments [Member] | Trading investments [Member] | Student Loan Asset-Backed and Other Debt Securities [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	6,566		10,957
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Investment Holdings [Line Items]	'		'
Restricted Investments	6,921		7,285
Guaranteed investment contracts - held-to-maturity	'		$7,285	[3]
[1]	As of JuneB 30, 2014, the Company considered the decline in market value of its available-for-sale investments to be temporary in nature and did not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired.
[2]	As of JuneB 30, 2014, the stated maturities of the majority of the Company's student loan asset-backed and other debt securities classified as available-for-sale were greater than 10 years.
[3]	Restricted investments are included in "restricted cash and investments" in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Investments_Realized_Gains_Los

Investments Realized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other income	$1,238	$559	$8,311	$1,516
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Other income	1,238	559	-8,311	-1,516
Income tax expense	-458	-207	-3,075	-561
Net	$780	$352	$5,236	$955

Business_Combination_Details

Business Combination (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'	'
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Cash and Equivalents	$326,000	$326,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables	961,000	961,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment	105,000	105,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Prepaid Expense and Other Assets	22,000	22,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill	37,200,000	37,200,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	9,082,000	9,082,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Other	-1,341,000	-1,341,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net	$46,343,000	$46,343,000

Business_Combination_Acquisiti

Business Combination Acquisition Details (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	100.00%	100.00%
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	$9,100,000	$9,100,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'18 years	'
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	'	44,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low	0	0
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High	4,000,000	4,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	2,300,000	2,300,000
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'20 years	'
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	6,400,000	'
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'5 years	'
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	4,900,000	'
Covenants not to compete [Member]	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'10 years	'
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	400,000	'
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	'20 years	'
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired	$25,500,000	'

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A2

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'192 months	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$44,849,000	$6,132,000
Covenants not to compete [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'119 months	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	351,000	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	3,000	0
Trade Names [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'239 months	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	6,383,000	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	39,000	0
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'47 months	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	8,231,000	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	634,000	0
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'223 months	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	29,884,000	6,132,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$21,595,000	$19,821,000

Intangible_Assets_Amortization

Intangible Assets Amortization Expense (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$1,400,000	$800,000	$2,400,000	$1,700,000	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year	2,843,000	'	2,843,000	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	6,402,000	'	6,402,000	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	5,982,000	'	5,982,000	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	4,406,000	'	4,406,000	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	4,000,000	'	4,000,000	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five	21,216,000	'	21,216,000	'	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$44,849,000	'	$44,849,000	'	$6,132,000

Goodwill_Goodwill_Details

Goodwill Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill, Period Start	'	$117,118,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	9,082,000	9,082,000
Goodwill, Period End	126,200,000	126,200,000
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill, Period Start	'	8,596,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	'	0
Goodwill, Period End	8,596,000	8,596,000
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill, Period Start	'	58,086,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	'	9,082,000
Goodwill, Period End	67,168,000	67,168,000
Enrollment Services [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill, Period Start	'	8,553,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	'	0
Goodwill, Period End	8,553,000	8,553,000
Asset Generation and Management [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill, Period Start	'	41,883,000
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	'	0
Goodwill, Period End	$41,883,000	$41,883,000

Earnings_per_Common_Share_Deta

Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$74,994	$101,243	$148,780	$169,322
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,529,377	46,626,853	46,528,651	46,642,356
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$1.61	$2.17	$3.20	$3.63
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0	0	0	0
Common shareholders [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	74,263	100,339	147,388	167,868
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	46,075,869	46,210,571	46,093,314	46,241,277
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$1.61	$2.17	$3.20	$3.63
Unvested restricted stock shareholders [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$731	$904	$1,392	$1,454
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted	453,508	416,282	435,337	401,079
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$1.61	$2.17	$3.20	$3.63

Segment_Reporting_Details

Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	$176,948	$159,546	$335,823	$316,702
Interest expense	69,235	58,127	129,239	116,485
Net interest income	107,713	101,419	206,584	200,217
Less provision for loan losses	-1,500	-5,000	-4,000	-10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	106,213	96,419	202,584	190,217
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460	60,078	131,217	115,679
Intersegment servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	21,834	18,356	47,069	41,767
Enrollment services revenue	20,145	24,823	42,156	53,780
Other income	15,315	12,288	33,446	21,704
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	18	7,355	57	8,762
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	7,784	48,545	9,748	57,801
Derivative settlements, net	-6,214	-8,357	-12,443	-16,541
Total other income (expense)	125,342	163,088	251,250	282,952
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	53,888	47,432	106,372	95,337
Cost to provide enrollment services	13,311	16,787	27,786	36,429
Depreciation and amortization	5,214	4,320	9,997	8,697
Other	40,377	34,365	76,004	69,306
Intersegment expenses, net	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	112,790	102,904	220,159	209,769
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	118,765	156,603	233,675	263,400
Corporate overhead allocation	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	118,765	156,603	233,675	263,400
Income tax (expense) benefit	-43,078	-54,746	-83,689	-93,193
Net income (loss)	75,687	101,857	149,986	170,207
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	693	614	1,206	885
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	74,994	101,243	148,780	169,322
Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	9	9	20	19
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net interest income	9	9	20	19
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	9	9	20	19
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460	60,078	131,217	115,679
Intersegment servicing revenue	13,800	13,903	28,021	28,856
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	0	0	0	0
Enrollment services revenue	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	0	0	0	0
Derivative settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Total other income (expense)	80,260	73,981	159,238	144,535
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	33,093	28,091	65,400	56,535
Cost to provide enrollment services	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	2,819	2,731	5,608	5,520
Other	19,815	18,031	38,267	36,421
Intersegment expenses, net	1,124	851	2,207	1,786
Total operating expenses	56,851	49,704	111,482	100,262
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	23,418	24,286	47,776	44,292
Corporate overhead allocation	-2,060	-1,513	-3,920	-2,510
Income (loss) before income taxes	21,358	22,773	43,856	41,782
Income tax (expense) benefit	-8,116	-8,655	-16,665	-15,878
Net income (loss)	13,242	14,118	27,191	25,904
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	13,242	14,118	27,191	25,904
Tuition Payment Processing and Campus Commerce [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	3	0	3	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net interest income	3	0	3	0
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	3	0	3	0
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	21,834	18,356	47,069	41,767
Enrollment services revenue	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	0	0	0	0
Derivative settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Total other income (expense)	21,834	18,356	47,069	41,767
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	11,112	9,427	21,139	18,786
Cost to provide enrollment services	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,845	1,132	3,273	2,270
Other	2,956	2,192	5,603	4,479
Intersegment expenses, net	1,404	1,494	2,824	2,919
Total operating expenses	17,317	14,245	32,839	28,454
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	4,520	4,111	14,233	13,313
Corporate overhead allocation	-687	-504	-1,307	-836
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,833	3,607	12,926	12,477
Income tax (expense) benefit	-1,456	-1,370	-4,911	-4,741
Net income (loss)	2,377	2,237	8,015	7,736
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	2,377	2,237	8,015	7,736
Enrollment Services [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net interest income	0	0	0	0
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	0	0	0	0
Enrollment services revenue	20,145	24,823	42,156	53,780
Other income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	0	0	0	0
Derivative settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Total other income (expense)	20,145	24,823	42,156	53,780
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	4,132	4,809	8,512	10,576
Cost to provide enrollment services	13,311	16,787	27,786	36,429
Depreciation and amortization	41	61	88	122
Other	1,844	1,243	3,293	2,894
Intersegment expenses, net	944	1,130	1,950	2,279
Total operating expenses	20,272	24,030	41,629	52,300
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	-127	793	527	1,480
Corporate overhead allocation	-687	-504	-1,307	-836
Income (loss) before income taxes	-814	289	-780	644
Income tax (expense) benefit	309	-109	296	-244
Net income (loss)	-505	180	-484	400
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	-505	180	-484	400
Total Fee-Based [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	12	9	23	19
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net interest income	12	9	23	19
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	12	9	23	19
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	66,460	60,078	131,217	115,679
Intersegment servicing revenue	13,800	13,903	28,021	28,856
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	21,834	18,356	47,069	41,767
Enrollment services revenue	20,145	24,823	42,156	53,780
Other income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	0	0	0	0
Derivative settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Total other income (expense)	122,239	117,160	248,463	240,082
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	48,337	42,327	95,051	85,897
Cost to provide enrollment services	13,311	16,787	27,786	36,429
Depreciation and amortization	4,705	3,924	8,969	7,912
Other	24,615	21,466	47,163	43,794
Intersegment expenses, net	3,472	3,475	6,981	6,984
Total operating expenses	94,440	87,979	185,950	181,016
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	27,811	29,190	62,536	59,085
Corporate overhead allocation	-3,434	-2,521	-6,534	-4,182
Income (loss) before income taxes	24,377	26,669	56,002	54,903
Income tax (expense) benefit	-9,263	-10,134	-21,280	-20,863
Net income (loss)	15,114	16,535	34,722	34,040
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	15,114	16,535	34,722	34,040
Asset Generation and Management [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	175,562	158,175	332,565	313,829
Interest expense	67,936	56,920	127,412	114,402
Net interest income	107,626	101,255	205,153	199,427
Less provision for loan losses	-1,500	-5,000	-4,000	-10,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	106,126	96,255	201,153	189,427
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	0	0	0	0
Enrollment services revenue	0	0	0	0
Other income	4,496	3,030	8,660	7,226
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	18	7,355	57	8,762
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	8,848	43,096	12,325	48,371
Derivative settlements, net	-5,958	-7,845	-11,935	-15,384
Total other income (expense)	7,404	45,636	9,107	48,975
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	570	592	1,179	1,154
Cost to provide enrollment services	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other	8,845	7,923	15,991	15,436
Intersegment expenses, net	13,968	14,108	28,339	29,250
Total operating expenses	23,383	22,623	45,509	45,840
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	90,147	119,268	164,751	192,562
Corporate overhead allocation	-1,249	-1,081	-2,578	-1,793
Income (loss) before income taxes	88,898	118,187	162,173	190,769
Income tax (expense) benefit	-33,781	-44,911	-61,625	-72,492
Net income (loss)	55,117	73,276	100,548	118,277
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	55,117	73,276	100,548	118,277
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	2,036	2,196	4,694	4,507
Interest expense	1,961	2,041	3,286	3,736
Net interest income	75	155	1,408	771
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	75	155	1,408	771
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	0	0	0	0
Enrollment services revenue	0	0	0	0
Other income	10,819	9,258	24,786	14,478
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	-1,064	5,449	-2,577	9,430
Derivative settlements, net	-256	-512	-508	-1,157
Total other income (expense)	9,499	14,195	21,701	22,751
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	4,981	4,513	10,142	8,286
Cost to provide enrollment services	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	509	396	1,028	785
Other	6,917	4,976	12,850	10,076
Intersegment expenses, net	-3,640	-3,680	-7,299	-7,378
Total operating expenses	8,767	6,205	16,721	11,769
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	807	8,145	6,388	11,753
Corporate overhead allocation	4,683	3,602	9,112	5,975
Income (loss) before income taxes	5,490	11,747	15,500	17,728
Income tax (expense) benefit	-34	299	-784	162
Net income (loss)	5,456	12,046	14,716	17,890
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	693	614	1,206	885
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	4,763	11,432	13,510	17,005
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total interest income	-662	-834	-1,459	-1,653
Interest expense	-662	-834	-1,459	-1,653
Net interest income	0	0	0	0
Less provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	0	0	0	0
Intersegment servicing revenue	-13,800	-13,903	-28,021	-28,856
Tuition payment processing and campus commerce revenue	0	0	0	0
Enrollment services revenue	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of loans and debt repurchases	0	0	0	0
Derivative market value and foreign currency adjustments, net	0	0	0	0
Derivative settlements, net	0	0	0	0
Total other income (expense)	-13,800	-13,903	-28,021	-28,856
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	0	0	0	0
Cost to provide enrollment services	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0
Intersegment expenses, net	-13,800	-13,903	-28,021	-28,856
Total operating expenses	-13,800	-13,903	-28,021	-28,856
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate overhead allocation	0	0	0	0
Corporate overhead allocation	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Nelnet, Inc.	$0	$0	$0	$0

Major_Customer_Details

Major Customer (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Concentration Risk, Customer	'Department of Education	'Department of Education	'Department of Education	'Department of Education
Concentration Risk Dollar Value [Member]	'	'	'	'
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loan and guaranty servicing revenue	31	22.1	60.9	42.5

Related_Party_Transactions_Tra

Related Party Transactions Transactions with Union Bank and Trust (Details) (Union Bank and Trust Company [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014
	BasisPoints
Union Bank and Trust Company [Member]	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'
Amount of Participation	$1,720,000
Contractual Obligation	$1,400,000
basis points earned on outstanding balance	40

Assets_and_Liabilities_that_ar

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	$141,489	$192,040
Fair value of derivative instruments	68,033	62,507
Total assets	209,522	254,547
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments	15,546	17,969
Total liabilities	15,546	17,969
Student loan asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	137,567	188,279
Equity securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	3,489	3,282
Debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	433	479
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	3,922	3,761
Fair value of derivative instruments	0	0
Total assets	3,922	3,761
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Student loan asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Equity securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	3,489	3,282
Level 1 [Member] | Debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	433	479
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	137,567	188,279
Fair value of derivative instruments	68,033	62,507
Total assets	205,600	250,786
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Fair value of derivative instruments	15,546	17,969
Total liabilities	15,546	17,969
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Student loan asset-backed securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	137,567	188,279
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Equity securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Investments	$0	$0

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	$29,342,430	$25,907,589	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	92,099	63,267	68,584	66,031
Investments	141,489	192,040	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	360,075	314,553	'	'
Derivative instruments	68,033	62,507	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,492,560	25,955,289	'	'
Accrued interest payable	24,339	21,725	'	'
Due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Derivative instruments	15,546	17,969	'	'
Fair value [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	30,629,142	26,641,383	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	92,099	63,267	'	'
Investments	141,489	192,040	'	'
Restricted cash	855,113	727,838	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Restricted investments	-6,921	-7,285	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	360,075	314,553	'	'
Derivative instruments	68,033	62,507	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,493,178	25,577,250	'	'
Accrued interest payable	24,339	21,725	'	'
Due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Derivative instruments	15,546	17,969	'	'
Fair value [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	0	0	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	92,099	63,267	'	'
Investments	3,922	3,761	'	'
Restricted cash	855,113	727,838	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Restricted investments	-6,921	-7,285	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	0	0	'	'
Derivative instruments	0	0	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	0	0	'	'
Accrued interest payable	0	0	'	'
Due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Derivative instruments	0	0	'	'
Fair value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	0	0	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	'	'
Investments	137,567	188,279	'	'
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	0	0	'	'
Restricted investments	0	0	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	360,075	314,553	'	'
Derivative instruments	68,033	62,507	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,493,178	25,577,250	'	'
Accrued interest payable	24,339	21,725	'	'
Due to customers	0	0	'	'
Derivative instruments	15,546	17,969	'	'
Fair value [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	30,629,142	26,641,383	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	'	'
Investments	0	0	'	'
Restricted cash	0	0	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	0	0	'	'
Restricted investments	0	0	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	0	0	'	'
Derivative instruments	0	0	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	0	0	'	'
Accrued interest payable	0	0	'	'
Due to customers	0	0	'	'
Derivative instruments	0	0	'	'
Carrying value [Member]	'	'	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Student loans receivable	29,342,430	25,907,589	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	92,099	63,267	'	'
Investments	141,489	192,040	'	'
Restricted cash	855,113	727,838	'	'
Restricted cash - due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Restricted investments	-6,921	-7,285	'	'
Accrued interest receivable	'	314,553	'	'
Derivative instruments	68,033	62,507	'	'
Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Bonds and notes payable	29,492,560	25,955,289	'	'
Accrued interest payable	24,339	21,725	'	'
Due to customers	98,005	167,576	'	'
Derivative instruments	$15,546	$17,969	'	'

Legal_Proceedings_Details

Legal Proceedings (Details) (Pending or Threatened Litigation [Member], USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss contingency, inestimable loss	'The Company has accrued an immaterial amount related to the legal proceedings described below. However, due to the uncertainty and risks inherent in class determination and the overall litigation process, the Company believes that a meaningful estimate of its exposure to any reasonably possible losses or range of reasonably possible losses, in excess of the amount accrued, cannot currently be made.
Bais Yaakov of Spring Valley v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss contingency, actions taken by court, arbitrator or mediator	'As of the filing date of this report, the New Jersey District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class.
Bais Yaakov of Spring Valley v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC [Member] | Named plaintiff [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Advertising faxes	6
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value, Per Violation	500
Bais Yaakov of Spring Valley v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC [Member] | Class action members [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Advertising faxes	10,000
Loss contingency, damages sought, value	5,000,000
Loss contingency, damages sought, value if trebled	15,000,000
Than Zaw v. Nelnet, Inc. [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss contingency, actions taken by court, arbitrator or mediator	'As of the filing date of this report, the California District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class.
Than Zaw v. Nelnet, Inc. [Member] | Named plaintiff [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value, Per Violation	5,000
Grant Keating v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC et al [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss contingency, actions taken by court, arbitrator or mediator	'As of the filing date of this report, the Ohio District Court has not established, recognized, or certified a class.
Grant Keating v. Peterson's Nelnet, LLC et al [Member] | Named plaintiff [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value, Per Violation	500

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$29,492,560	$25,955,289
Class A [Member]	'	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$2,604,165	'