-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Id8UIeEkNk5yr95zgVtIccPPjp7RsG47L1f4XBFLUbZswNWy1lZK8GqrbSLjxawP
 aPckRrYzYGWsh+oOrQhntA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001046568-10-000038.txt : 20100520
<SEC-HEADER>0001046568-10-000038.hdr.sgml : 20100520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100520180849
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001046568-10-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100520
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GROSS PATRICK W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184343

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23245
		FILM NUMBER:		10848912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAREER EDUCATION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001046568
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				363932190
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2895 GREENSPOINT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60169
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477813600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60169
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001046568</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAREER EDUCATION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CECO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184343</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GROSS PATRICK W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY - SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOFFMAN ESTATES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60195</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Immediately exercisable as to 8,000 of the underlying shares of Common Stock and exercisable as to 8,000 of the remaining underlying shares on each of May 19, 2011 and May 19, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: By Gail B. Rago, pursuant to POA   For: Patrick W. Gross</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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