v3.25.2
Investments and Notes Receivable - Summary of Investments (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2025
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2025
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost $ 1,208,881       $ 1,208,881    
Fair value 1,202,980       1,202,980    
Equity securities and funds measured at net asset value 83,749       83,749   $ 74,494
Total investments at fair value 1,286,729       1,286,729   1,160,320
Fair value 203,591       203,591   210,774
Equity method 0       0    
Beneficial interest in securitizations 190,853       190,853   213,809
Notes receivable 54,603       54,603   32,258
Other investments and notes receivable, net 818,210       818,210   1,040,376
Total investments and notes receivable 2,104,939       $ 2,104,939   2,200,696
Debt covenant, percent of principle balance debt issue required before liquidation         0.33    
ALLO preferred return 5,985   $ 4,160   $ 14,400 $ 6,569  
Investments - beneficial interest in loan securitizations 4,977 $ 1,500 5,911   6,487 5,911  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (3,605)   (1,416)   (5,035) (4,069)  
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. 181,459   45,091   264,018 118,498  
Venture capital, funds, and other:              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Measurement alternative 207,086       207,086   200,782
Equity method 172,935       172,935   170,258
Other investments 380,021       380,021   371,040
Venture capital, funds, and other: | Hudl              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Measurement alternative 172,500       172,500    
Payments to acquire investments   $ 3,800          
Real estate equity method              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Equity method 176,411       176,411   131,745
Partnership Interest              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Equity method 0     $ 0 0   0
Other investments 0       0   225,614
Preferred membership interests and accrued and unpaid preferred return 0       0   225,614
Equity securities, realized loss       $ 10,700      
Consumer Loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Beneficial interest in securitizations 127,729       127,729   142,764
Beneficial interest in securitization, allowance for credit losses 41,008       41,008   38,590
Loans corresponding to beneficial interest 1,000,000       1,000,000    
Beneficial interest in private education loan securitizations              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Beneficial interest in securitizations 44,502       44,502   52,824
Beneficial interest in securitization, allowance for credit losses 4,970       4,970   901
Loans corresponding to beneficial interest 420,000       420,000    
Beneficial interest in federally insured loan securitizations              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Beneficial interest in securitizations 18,622       18,622   18,221
Loans corresponding to beneficial interest 280,000       280,000    
Solar              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Solar (200,784)       (200,784)   (155,048)
Amount funded or committed to fund 300,600       300,600    
Amount funded or committed to fund by partners 285,800       285,800    
Tax credits by partners 334,200       334,200    
Carrying value (200,800)       (200,800)    
Equity method investment attributable to parent (97,700)       $ (97,700)    
Contractual term         5 years    
Losses from HLBV accounting (gross) (6,463)   (6,818)   $ (9,079) (4,038)  
Gains from sales (gross) 4,961   4,208   8,033 4,208  
(Losses) gains from solar investments, net (1,502)   (2,610)   (1,046) 170  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (3,159)   8   (4,204) (1,633)  
Net income attributable to Nelnet, Inc. 1,657   (2,618)   3,158 1,803  
Solar | Third-Party Co-Investors              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Tax credits by partners 290,700       290,700    
Tax liens, affordable housing, and other              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Other investments 13,515       13,515   10,184
Preferred Partnership Interest              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
ALLO preferred return 6,000   $ 4,200   14,400 $ 6,600  
FFELP loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 128,213       128,213   188,386
Gross unrealized gains 3,977       3,977   5,804
Gross unrealized losses (3,056)       (3,056)   (896)
Fair value 129,134       129,134   193,294
FFELP loan and other debt securities - restricted              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 119,014       119,014   98,914
Gross unrealized gains 3,350       3,350   3,151
Gross unrealized losses (450)       (450)   (78)
Fair value 121,914       121,914   101,987
Private education loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 216,233       216,233   237,288
Gross unrealized gains 52       52   0
Gross unrealized losses (16,339)       (16,339)   (18,118)
Fair value 199,946       199,946   219,170
Other debt securities              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 44,617       44,617   32,552
Gross unrealized gains 2,245       2,245   2,500
Gross unrealized losses (15)       (15)   0
Fair value 46,847       46,847   35,052
Total Non-Nelnet Bank              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 508,077       508,077   557,140
Gross unrealized gains 9,624       9,624   11,455
Gross unrealized losses (19,860)       (19,860)   (19,092)
Fair value 497,841       497,841   549,503
FFELP loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 234,438       234,438   231,543
Gross unrealized gains 5,862       5,862   6,060
Gross unrealized losses (714)       (714)   (270)
Fair value 239,586       239,586   237,333
Private education loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 15,250       15,250   1,596
Gross unrealized gains 0       0   0
Gross unrealized losses (1)       (1)   0
Fair value 15,249       15,249   1,596
Other debt securities              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 451,116       451,116   296,944
Gross unrealized gains 1,309       1,309   1,775
Gross unrealized losses (2,121)       (2,121)   (1,325)
Fair value 450,304       450,304   297,394
Total Nelnet Bank              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 700,804       700,804   530,083
Gross unrealized gains 7,171       7,171   7,835
Gross unrealized losses (2,836)       (2,836)   (1,595)
Fair value 705,139       705,139   536,323
Total available-for-sale asset-backed securities              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Amortized cost 1,208,881       1,208,881   1,087,223
Gross unrealized gains 16,795       16,795   19,290
Gross unrealized losses (22,696)       (22,696)   (20,687)
Fair value 1,202,980       1,202,980   1,085,826
FFELP loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Fair value 201,806       201,806   203,439
Private education loan              
Marketable Securities [Line Items]              
Fair value $ 1,785       $ 1,785   $ 7,335