-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 UEXgkAbQD0UP7dWhdsM8voIFofgkR3zcEGRoNUy0vNbQCd5t6NiXr239LoQVSHpB
 62yy4lRq3k7RPbFGTW53cw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000922475-05-000036.txt : 20050701
<SEC-HEADER>0000922475-05-000036.hdr.sgml : 20050701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050701180004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000922475-05-000036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050701
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COZZI JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265667

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13144
		FILM NUMBER:		05934289

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9087898747

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 KIMBALL TURN
		CITY:			WESTFIELD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07090

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>2005-07-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265667</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COZZI JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>65 EAST 55TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</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>2005-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>378</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>52.89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1798</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 1,000 shares of ESI common stock that are indirectly owned by the reporting person as a trustee of the trust that hold the shares for the benefit of the reporting person's children.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clark D. Elwood, Attorney-In-Fact for John F. Cozzi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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