
<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.2

                 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 

     As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use in this
registration statement of our report dated September 25, 1998 (except with
respect to the matter discussed in Note 7, as to which the date is December 17,
1998), on the financial statements of SCOTTSDALE CULINARY INSTITUTE, INC.
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 
