Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13b — 14(b) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT

AND 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE

SARBANES — OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Strategic Education, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Karl McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Karl McDonnell

Karl McDonnell

Chief Executive Officer

March 2, 2020