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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
   
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use in this
registration statement of our report dated November 19, 1997, on the financial
statements of CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES included herein
and to all references to our Firm included in this registration statement.
    
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
   
December 31, 1997     
