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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 January 29, 1999 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 

                                          /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP 

Chicago, Illinois 
March 16, 1999 
