<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000912057-02-022107
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20020528
<ITEMS>5
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20020528
<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>02663936
</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>a2081049z8-k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02CHI3144_1">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>

<!-- TOC_END -->
<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  </B></FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="120">
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM 8-K  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=3><B>Current Report 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>Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): </FONT><FONT SIZE=3><B>May&nbsp;28, 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 its charter) </FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="16%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>0-23245</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>36-3932190</B></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="16%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(Commission File<BR>
Number)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>(IRS Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>2895 Greenspoint Parkway, Suite 600<BR>
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60195<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>(847)&nbsp;781-3600</B></FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="120">
<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="1",CHK=175217,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK032:[02CHI4.02CHI3144]BA3144A.;4',USER='ABLIJDE',CD='28-MAY-2002;15:34' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->

<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="page_de3144_1_2"> </A> </FONT></P>

<!-- TOC_END -->

<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de3144_item_5._other_events_and_regulation_fd_disclosure."> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de3144_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On May&nbsp;28, 2002, the Registrant issued the press release attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1. The information contained in this press release is incorporated
herein by reference. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de3144_item_7._financial_statements_and_exhibits."> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de3144_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><U>Exhibits.</U>
</FONT></DD></DL>
<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>99.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press
Release of Registrant, dated May&nbsp;28, 2002. </FONT></P>

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

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=2,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="1",CHK=267352,FOLIO='2',FILE='DISK032:[02CHI4.02CHI3144]DE3144A.;4',USER='ABLIJDE',CD='28-MAY-2002;15:34' -->
<UL>
<UL>
</UL>
</UL>
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="page_jc3144_1_3"> </A> </FONT></P>

<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="jc3144_signature"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_jc3144_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURE    <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>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dated:
May&nbsp;28, 2002 </FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<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%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
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, Chief Financial Officer,<BR>
Treasurer and Secretary</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

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

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=3,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="1",CHK=435116,FOLIO='3',FILE='DISK032:[02CHI4.02CHI3144]JC3144A.;3',USER='ABLIJDE',CD='28-MAY-2002;15:34' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ka3144_exhibit_index"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ka3144_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit Index    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="79%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TH WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Exhibit<BR>
Number</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="88%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Description of Exhibit</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>99.1</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Press Release of Registrant, dated May&nbsp;28, 2002.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=4,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="1",CHK=10295,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK032:[02CHI4.02CHI3144]KA3144A.;4',USER='ABLIJDE',CD='28-MAY-2002;15:34' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02CHI3144_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de3144_1">Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de3144_2">Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc3144_1">SIGNATURE</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ka3144_1">Exhibit Index</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=DINGRAM,SEQ=,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="1" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2081049zex-99_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02CHI3144_2">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="kc3144_exhibit_99.1"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_kc3144_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit 99.1    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B><U>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</U>  </B></FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="78%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT SIZE=2>Contact:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2>Tracy K. Lorenz<BR>
Director of Investor Relations<BR>
847/585-3899</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="88%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION<BR>
ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hoffman Estates, Ill. (May&nbsp;28, 2002)&#151;Career Education Corporation (Nasdaq: CECO) today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a
Stockholder Rights Plan under which preferred stock purchase rights will be distributed at the rate of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, to stockholders of record on
June&nbsp;11, 2002. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The
Board adopted the new Plan to protect against future abusive takeover tactics such as partial tender offers and selective open market purchases," said John M. Larson, chairman,
president and chief executive officer. "The Plan was not adopted in response to any specific effort to acquire control of the Company, and the Board is not aware of any such effort. The Plan is
intended to assure that stockholders receive fair and equitable treatment in the event of unsolicited attempts to acquire the Company. The Plan is similar to plans adopted by many publicly traded
companies in recent years and is not intended to prevent an acquisition of the Company on terms that are favorable and fair to all stockholders," Mr.&nbsp;Larson added. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Generally,
the Rights will not be triggered unless a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock or announces a tender offer upon consummation of which
such person or group would own 15% or more of the outstanding common stock. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Rights will expire in ten years unless earlier redeemed or terminated. The Company generally may amend the Plan or redeem the Rights at $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the time
a person or group has acquired 15% of the Company's outstanding common stock. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional
detail regarding the Plan will be outlined in a summary to be mailed to all stockholders following the record date. A copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Career
Education Corporation (www.careered.com) is one of the world's largest providers of private, for-profit postsecondary education in the career-oriented disciplines of
visual communication and design technologies, information technology, business studies and culinary arts. CEC operates 42 campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and United
Arab Emirates, and offers a full online program through AIU Online, its E-learning division. Total student population on April&nbsp;30, 2002 was approximately 40,800 students. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CEC
colleges enjoy long operating histories and offer a wide variety of master's degree, bachelor's degree, associate degree and diploma programs. The CEC family includes American
InterContinental University (six campuses), the International Academy of Design&nbsp;&amp; Technology (eight campuses), the Katharine Gibbs Schools (nine campuses), Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program North
America (11 campuses) and other well-known educational institutions. </FONT></P>

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

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="2",CHK=578147,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK032:[02CHI4.02CHI3144]KC3144A.;7',USER='ABLIJDE',CD='28-MAY-2002;15:49' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02CHI3144_2">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_kc3144_1">Exhibit 99.1</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=DINGRAM,SEQ=,EFW="2081049",CP="CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION",DN="2" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
