<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000912057-02-011678
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20020325
<ITEMS>4
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20020326
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CAREER EDUCATION CORP
<CIK>0001046568
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8200
<IRS-NUMBER>363932190
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23245
<FILM-NUMBER>02587090
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2895 GREENSPOINT
<STREET2>SUITE 600
<CITY>HOFFMAN ESTATES
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60195
<PHONE>8477813600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2800 WEST HIGGINS ROAD
<STREET2>SUITE 790
<CITY>HOFFMAN ESTATES
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60195
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2074750z8-k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Washington, D.C. 20549  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM 8-K  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=3><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of<BR>
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=3><B> Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): March&nbsp;25, 2002  </B></FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="120">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>Career Education Corporation<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>0-23245</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>36-3932190</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="25%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(Commission File Number)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="71%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>2895 Greenspoint Parkway, Suite 600, Hoffman Estates, IL</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="24%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>60195</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="71%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="24%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(Zip Code)</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's telephone number, including area code: </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>(847) 781-3600  </B></FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de2268_item_4._changes_in_regi__de202079"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de2268_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On March&nbsp;25, 2002, the Board of Directors of Career Education Corporation ("the Company") and its Audit Committee dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur
Andersen" or "AA") as the Company's independent public accountants and engaged Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP ("E&amp;Y") to serve as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year 2002. This
determination followed the Company's decision to seek proposals from independent accountants to audit its financial statements, and was approved by the Company's Board of Directors upon the
recommendation of its Audit Committee. The appointment of E&amp;Y will be submitted for stockholder ratification at the Company's 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May&nbsp;17, 2002. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Arthur
Andersen's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for each of the years ended 2001, 2000 and 1999 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion,
nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;During
the years ended December&nbsp;31, 2001 and 2000 and through March&nbsp;25, 2002, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to AA's satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in connection with
their report on the Company's consolidated financial statements for such years; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item&nbsp;304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation&nbsp;S-K. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Company provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. Attached as Exhibit&nbsp;16 is a copy of AA's letter, dated March&nbsp;26, 2002, stating its agreement
with such statements. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;During
the years ended December&nbsp;31, 2001 and 2000 and through the date of the Board's decision, the Company did not consult E&amp;Y with respect to the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any other matters or
reportable events as set forth in Items&nbsp;304(a)(2)(i) and (ii)&nbsp;of Regulation&nbsp;S-K. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de2268_item_7._financial_statements_and_exhibits."> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de2268_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(c)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Exhibits
</FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
<BR>

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<TD WIDTH="11%"><FONT SIZE=2>Exhibit 16</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%"><FONT SIZE=2>Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated March&nbsp;26, 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>2</FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="jc2268_signatures"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_jc2268_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURES    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="47%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%"><BR><FONT SIZE=2>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="48%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>PATRICK K. PESCH</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Patrick K. Pesch<BR>
Executive Vice President and<BR>
Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dated: March&nbsp;26, 2002 </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>3</FONT></P>

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<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02CHI2268_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de2268_1">Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de2268_2">Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc2268_1">SIGNATURES</A></FONT><BR>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-16
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2074750zex-16.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LETTER FROM ARTHUR ANDERSEN DATED 03/16/2002
<TEXT>
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<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="kc2268_exhibit_16"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_kc2268_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>EXHIBIT 16    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>[Arthur Andersen LLP Letterhead]  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Office of the Chief Accountant<BR>
Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
450 Fifth Street, N.W.<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>March&nbsp;26,
2002 </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dear
Sir/Madam: </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We
have read the five paragraphs of Item 4 included in the Form&nbsp;8-K dated March&nbsp;25, 2002 of Career Education Corporation to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>Very truly yours,</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Arthur Andersen LLP</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>copy to:<BR>
Patrick K. Pesch<BR>
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
Career Education Corporation </FONT></P>

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<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_kc2268_1">EXHIBIT 16</A></FONT><BR>
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