<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001450235-08-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081117
<FILING-DATE>20081119
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081119
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Jackson Gregory L.
<CIK>0001450235
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23245
<FILM-NUMBER>081201343
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>415-434-1111
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>909 MONTGOMERY STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 400
<CITY>SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94133
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-17</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450235</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jackson Gregory L.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLUM CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>909 MONTGOMERY ST., SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-11-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities were granted to Gregory L. Jackson who is a director of the Issuer.  Mr. Jackson is a partner of Blum Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;BCP&quot;), the general partner of BK Capital Partners IV, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners A, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners L, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners (QP), L.P., and Stinson Dominion, L.P., and a member of Saddlepoint Partners GP, L.L.C. which, in turn, serves as general partner to Saddlepoint Partners (Cayman), L.P.  BCP also serves as investment adviser, with sole voting investment discretion, to The Nuclear Decommissioning Trust of Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. and Virginia Electric and Power Company Qualified Nuclear Decommissioning Trust.  (Cont'd in Footnote 2)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(Cont'd from Footnote 1)  Mr. Jackson is a managing member of Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C. which serves as general partner of Blum Strategic GP III, L.P. which, in turn, serves as the general partner of Blum Strategic Partners III, L.P. He is also a managing member of Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. which serves as general partner of Blum Strategic GP IV, L.P. which, in turn, serves as the general partner of Blum Strategic Partners IV, L.P. (Cont'd in Footnote 3)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">(Cont'd from Footnote 2)  Under each of these partnership and managed account agreements, Mr. Jackson is deemed to hold each partnership's and managed account's pro rata share of the securities for the benefit of each partnership and managed account, and each partnership and managed account is entitled to a pro rata portion of the securities issued.  Accordingly, each partnership and managed account may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owners of the securities to the extent of their pro rata interest therein, and each of BCP, Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. and Mr. Jackson may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of the securities.  Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. and Mr. Jackson disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option vests and becomes exercisable at a rate of 1/3 immediately, 1/3 on the first anniversary of grant date, and the remainder on the 2nd anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory L. Jackson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
