-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Dzhl3kkAr7/X4XDVo8MLAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950172-04-001103.txt : 20040506
<SEC-HEADER>0000950172-04-001103.hdr.sgml : 20040506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040506171432
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950172-04-001103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040506

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STRAYER EDUCATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013934
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				521975978
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1025 15TH STREET NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2024082400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1025 15TH STREET NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW MOUNTAIN PARTNERS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001105474
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21039
		FILM NUMBER:		04785961

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STEVEN B KLINKSY
		STREET 2:		712 FIFTH AVE 23RD FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127200300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		712 FIFTH AVE
		STREET 2:		23RD FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001013934</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRAYER EDUCATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001105474</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEW MOUNTAIN PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>712 FIFTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>23RD FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>767000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>767000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-05-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>767000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 6, 2004, New Mountain Partners, L.P. (&quot;New Mountain&quot;) exercised its option (the &quot;Option&quot;) to purchase 767,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer from Ron K. Bailey and Beverly W. Bailey (the &quot;Stockholders&quot;) pursuant to the Support and Option Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2000, by and among the Issuer, the Stockholders, New Mountain and MidOcean Capital Investors, L.P. (as successor to DB Capital Investors, L.P.).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Option was acquired by New Mountain in connection with its $115 million investment in the Issuer on May 15, 2001.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>NEW MOUNTAIN PARTNERS, L.P., by its General Partner, New Mountain Investments, L.P., by its General Partner, New Mountain GP, LLC, Steven B. Klinsky, Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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