UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):     May 3, 2006
                                                 ----------------------


                          Career Education Corporation
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


         Delaware                     0-23245                   36-3932190
         --------                     --------                  ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)


     2895 Greenspoint Parkway, Suite 600, Hoffman Estates, IL     60195
     --------------------------------------------------------     -----
             (Address of Principal Executive Offices)           (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (847) 781-3600
                                                           --------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
    Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 3, 2006, Career Education Corporation (the "Registrant") issued a press
release to report the Registrant's financial results for the quarter ended March
31, 2006. A copy of the Registrant's release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1,
and the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference. The
information contained in Item 2.02 to this Form 8-K, including the exhibit,
shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the information shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such
filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
Number         Description of Exhibits
------         -----------------------

99.1           Press Release of Registrant dated May 3, 2006, reporting the
               Registrant's  financial  results for the quarter  ended March 31,
               2006.





                                   SIGNATURES

     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.

                                              CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION


                                              By:  /s/ Janice L. Block
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   Janice L. Block
                                                   Senior Vice President,
                                                   General Counsel,
                                                   and Corporate Secretary



Dated: May 3, 2006





                                  Exhibit Index
                                  -------------


Exhibit
Number                 Description of Exhibits
------                 -----------------------

 99.1     Press Release of Registrant dated May 3, 2006, reporting the
          Registrant's financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.