-----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,
 DZcP/iucKY2D3VdjFMyf4L0MrhwXJhT/IrPs7pLvpjAA8MPJPcOEQ0e/8ii2PTK6
 a4yzugW0KP+x2luU+IuZig==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922475-05-000004.txt : 20050104
<SEC-HEADER>0000922475-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050104091208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922475-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEAN JOHN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001116586

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13144
		FILM NUMBER:		05504048

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2022893900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DEAN BLAKEY
		STREET 2:		1101 VERMONT AVENUE NW - STE 400
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20005

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 9200

	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>2005-01-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001116586</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEAN JOHN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1101 VERMONT AVENUE, NW, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>420</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>47.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15831</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of common stock not yet issued but credited to the reporting person's deferred share account under the ESI Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan.  The shares of common stock will be paid to the reporting person upon the termination of the reporting person's service as an outside director for any reason, including retirement or death.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This number does not include 900 shares of ESI common stock that are indirectly owned by the reporting person through his spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clark D. Elwood, Attorney-In-Fact for John E. Dean</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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