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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,
 GVeIBlOraDRPrb9WP8JQ9xDQR5HLrsC08b4voG8A1wdVqRy4AL0rOOPSkvLRXUc7
 Ex5TvoHRWZI9xRvyoeR2IA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-015573.txt : 20030805
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-015573.hdr.sgml : 20030805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030805144726
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-015573
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030805

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RATNER CHARLES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217463

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12814
		FILM NUMBER:		03823488

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				341453189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5915 LANDERBROOK DR
		CITY:			MAYFIELD HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4404494100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5915 LANDERBROOK DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNC HOLDING CORP/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000769644</issuerCik><issuerName>COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNJ</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001217463</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RATNER CHARLES A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>16980 SOUTH PARK BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SHAKER HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>44120</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><se
curityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>928</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.05</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>928</value></underlyin
gSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15030</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reflects Common Shares underlying deferred compensation credited to the account of the Reporting Person under the Cole National Corporation Nonemployee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.  Each phantom stock unit is generally distributed following termination of services as a director.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles A. Ratner</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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