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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
January 23, 1998 
