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Exhibit 99.2

CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

        In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Career Education Corporation (the "Company") for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Patrick K. Pesch, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

/s/ PATRICK K. PESCH

Patrick K. Pesch
Chief Financial Officer
August 13, 2002




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