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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,
 M4Tm3ri6rp5jZLxgQyafMzybXMCcyR6+P9xqfaySBz6aAmYC/RuLxBl5fuBYmB2a
 84nvyy0Zc4RrAEejHs7ofg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-010582.txt : 20031112
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-010582.hdr.sgml : 20031112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031112164812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-010582
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN PAUL RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269888

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23245
		FILM NUMBER:		03994482

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			HOFFMAN ESTATES
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60195

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:			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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-03</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001046568</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAREER EDUCATION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CECO</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269888</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN PAUL RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2895 GREENSPOINT PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOFFMAN ESTATES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60195</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Group Pres, Academy &amp; Culinary</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.00</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-06-28</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-06-27</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.625</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-05-10</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.565</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-12-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.065</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-05-16</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>36000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.35</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-05-18</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>32000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercisable as to 4,000 of the underlying shares on each of May 11, 2004 and 2005.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Exercisable as to 2,500 of the underlying shares on each of December 3, 2003, 2004 and 2005.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Exercisable as to 12,000 of the underlying shares on each of May 17, 2004, 2005 and 2006.</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">Exercisable as to 8,000 of the underlying shares on each of May 19, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Paul Richard Ryan</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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