-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KyDml7JPGw9GQCmweX0OZMFwYEnFgZUxXILRkFhXLstWnKK+nXyHETq4XiTAju0z
 CiE1pe8rDWXhaOzUpdCDZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922475-04-000024.txt : 20040519
<SEC-HEADER>0000922475-04-000024.hdr.sgml : 20040519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040519112327
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922475-04-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040518
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040519

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAU JOANNA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13144
		FILM NUMBER:		04817717

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BOSTONFED BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		17 NEW ENGLAND EXECUTIVE PARK
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7812730300

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:		13000 NORTH MERIDIAN
		CITY:			CARMEL
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46032-1404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		317 706 9289

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13000 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			CARMEL
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46032-1404
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000922475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAU JOANNA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30 MONUMENT SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 220</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option awarded under the 1999 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan, a Rule 16b-3 plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clark D. Elwood, Attorney-in-Fact for Joanna T. Lau</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----