-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J4i5jxl2fEi2cHq57pNqFgpj0v9mjm5g42vRb5QKkw6livuKsWVYo1ojB28/nzAh
 RInxET4dgrWLHqv2HP8+sQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-010878.txt : 20050524
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-010878.hdr.sgml : 20050524
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050524175704
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-010878
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050524
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050524

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOWDELL ROBERT E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216302

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23245
		FILM NUMBER:		05855182

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11762 HIGHVIEW
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92705
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216302</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOWDELL ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11762 HIGHVIEW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA ANA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>171314</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-19</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">Includes 22,672 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Dowdell, as Custodian for Brian M. Dowdell under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act; 16,272 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Dowdell, as Custodian for Sharon T. Dowdell under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act; 64,100 shares of Common Stock held by RGD Partners, L.P. for whom Mr. Dowdell is a general partner; 68,270 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by the Robert E. and Grace Dowdell Living Trust dated July 11, 1991 for which Mr. Dowdell is a Co-Trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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 20, 2006 and 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert E. Dowdell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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