Exhibit 5.1

April 23, 2021

Laureate Education, Inc.

650 S. Exeter Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Laureate Education, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to (i) the issuance and sale of an indeterminate aggregate amount of shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.004 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) by the Company and (ii) the sale of up to an aggregate of 68,917,693 shares of Class A Common Stock by certain selling stockholders. The Class A Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company may be issued and sold or delivered from time to time for an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and supplements to the Prospectus and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

We have examined the Registration Statement. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that, with respect to the issuance of any shares of Class A Common Stock, the amount of valid consideration paid in respect of such shares will equal or exceed the par value of such shares.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company, assuming (a) the taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Class A Common Stock and the terms of the offering thereof so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company and (b) due issuance and delivery of the Class A Common Stock, upon payment therefor in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of such agreement, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law, such shares of Class A Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by selling stockholders, such shares of Class A Common Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the Delaware General Corporation Law.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP