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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-005262.txt : 20090227
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-005262.hdr.sgml : 20090227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090227120808
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-005262
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090225
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lenart Deborah
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001429300

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23245
		FILM NUMBER:		09640806

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(847) 781-3600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY, SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60169

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:			1116

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2895 GREENSPOINT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60195
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477813600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2800 WEST HIGGINS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 790
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60195
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001429300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lenart Deborah</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOFFMAN ESTATES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60169</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14979</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43296.0114</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23348</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23348</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23348</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This grant of restricted stock was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors on February 25, 2009. This number represents the maximum number of shares that could become vested assuming full satisfaction of all vesting requirements.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Exercisable in four equal annual installments on each of February 25, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gail B. Rago, pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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