<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-08-031945
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080514
<FILING-DATE>20080516
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080516
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CAREER EDUCATION CORP
<CIK>0001046568
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8200
<IRS-NUMBER>363932190
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1116
</COMPANY-DATA>
<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>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Thornton Leslie T
<CIK>0001348352
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23245
<FILM-NUMBER>08840611
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>(202) 828-2214
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO MORIN & OSHINSKY LLP
<STREET2>2101 L STREET, N.W.
<CITY>WASHINGTON
<STATE>DC
<ZIP>20037
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd206957.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001046568</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAREER EDUCATION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CECO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001348352</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thornton Leslie T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1825 EYE STREET NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006-5403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Leslie T. Thornton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
