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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,
 Sf3RN6sVM/aAp/GR/0gxC0CqlTKvuXuAJpGO8BRbnJNay0x/1gss9NL/hu3mdKf8
 wTYl8JC4/W0wtyPHX2gH1g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922475-03-000030.txt : 20030521
<SEC-HEADER>0000922475-03-000030.hdr.sgml : 20030521
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030521114735
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922475-03-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030521

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000922475
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				362061311
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5975 CASTLE CREEK PKWY N DR
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 50466
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46250
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3175949499

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5975 CASTLE CREEK PKWY N DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 50466
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46250-0466

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOWLER JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001116948

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13144
		FILM NUMBER:		03713964

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EXE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL & FOUNDATIONS
		STREET 2:		1010 WISCONSIN AVENUE NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3012296424

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8023 SUMMER MILL COURT
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20817
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000922475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001116948</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOWLER JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy) </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.97</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyin
gSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option awarded under the 1999 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan, a 16b-3 plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Clark D. Elwood, Attorney-in-Fact for James D. Fowler, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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