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Career Education Corporation Reports Results for Second Quarter 2011

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ: CECO) today reported total revenue of $497.2 million, and net income of $55.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2011 compared to total revenue of $527.7 million and net income of $64.3 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2010.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Quarter Ended June 30, 2011

• Total revenue was $497.2 million for the second quarter of 2011, a 5.8 percent decrease from $527.7 million for the second quarter of 2010.
• Operating income was $82.7 million for the second quarter of 2011, versus operating income of $96.8 million for the second quarter of 2010, a decrease of 14.5 percent. The operating margin was 16.6 percent for the second quarter of 2011, compared to an operating margin of 18.3 percent for the second quarter of 2010. Operating income for the second quarter of 2011 included $2.7 million in non-cash goodwill and asset impairment charges primarily related to accreditation rights for certain schools.
• Income from continuing operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, was $55.8 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared to $66.3 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Income from continuing operations for the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 included discrete income tax benefits of $1.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

Year to Date Ended June 30, 2011

• Total revenue was $1,040.6 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2011, compared to $1,057.2 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2010.
• Operating income increased to $195.9 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2011, from $186.2 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2010. The operating margin increased to 18.8 percent for the year to date ended June 30, 2011, from 17.6 percent for the year to date ended June 30, 2010. Operating income for the year to date ended June 30, 2011 included a $7.0 million insurance recovery related to previously settled legal matters and $2.7 million in non-cash goodwill and asset impairment charges. Operating income for the year to date ended June 30, 2010 included an additional expense of $8.1 million for the increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts associated with certain extended payment plan programs and a $3.7 million lease termination charge in connection with the Company's move to its new campus support center.
• Income from continuing operations for the year to date ended June 30, 2011, was $129.3 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, compared to $123.4 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, for the year to date ended June 30, 2010.

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS AND FINANCIAL POSITION

Cash Flows

• Net cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $114.8 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2011, compared to $47.9 million for the year to date ended June 30, 2010. The increase in operating cash flows, as compared to the prior year to date, is primarily due to the prior year cash flow being negatively impacted by a delay in the receipt of Title IV funds of approximately $30 million and the continued use of Company funds being extended to an increasing number of students in the form of extended payment plans.
• Capital expenditures increased to $47.9 million during the year to date ended June 30, 2011, from $43.2 million during the year to date ended June 30, 2010. Capital expenditures represented 4.6 percent of total revenue during the year ended June 30, 2011 and 4.1 percent during the year to date ended June 30, 2010.

Financial Position

• As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $388.8 million and $449.2 million, respectively.

Stock Repurchase Program

During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased 1.8 million shares of its common stock for approximately $40.0 million at an average price of $22.51 per share. Year to date ended June 30, 2011, the Company repurchased 5.9 million shares of its common stock for approximately $129.9 million at an average price of $21.94 per share.

As of June 30, 2011, approximately $160.5 million was available under the Company's authorized stock repurchase program to repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock. Stock repurchases under this program may be made on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time, depending on various factors, including market conditions and corporate and regulatory requirements.

STUDENT POPULATION AND NEW STUDENT STARTS

Student Population

Total student population by reportable segment as of June 30, 2011 and 2010, was as follows:

		As of June 30,				% Change
		2011		2010		2011 vs. 2010
Student Population
CTU		28,100		29,000		-3	%
AIU		17,600		20,400		-14	%
Health Education		29,100		28,600		2	%
Culinary Arts		13,200		12,100		9	%
Art & Design		10,000		11,600		-14	%
International		3,700		2,800		32	%
Total Student Population		101,700		104,500		-3	%

New Student Starts

New student starts by reportable segment for the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, were as follows:

		For the Quarters Ended June 30,
						% Change
		2011		2010		2011 vs. 2010
New Student Starts
CTU		7,810		9,480		-18	%
AIU		4,290		5,670		-24	%
Health Education		7,750		8,450		-8	%
Culinary Arts		3,700		3,150		17	%
Art & Design		1,000		1,690		-41	%
International		330		380		-13	%
Total New Student Starts		24,880		28,820		-14	%

INTERNAL INVESTIGATION REGARDING PLACEMENT RATES

Career Education Corporation has identified improper practices at certain of its health education segment campuses relating to the determination of reported placement rates. The company recently discovered these practices in preparing its response to the previously disclosed subpoena issued to the company by the New York Attorney General on May 17, 2011. Career Education's Board of Directors has directed outside independent legal counsel Dewey & LeBoeuf to undertake a thorough investigation of these practices. In addition, independent counsel has been directed to review the determination of student placements at all of the company's domestic schools. The company will implement remedial measures based on the results of independent counsel's investigation. Results of the investigation will be reported to the New York Attorney General and other relevant accrediting and governmental bodies, as appropriate.

"The integrity of Career Education and its schools is paramount. I am greatly disappointed that some people within our organization have acted inappropriately and not lived up to the standards Career Education expects," said Gary E. McCullough, president and chief executive officer. "We will take all steps necessary to ensure we accurately determine and report placement rates in the future."

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Career Education Corporation will host a conference call on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the conference call at www.careered.com in the Investor Relations section of the website. Participants can also listen to the conference call by dialing 800-580-9478 (domestic) or 630-691-2769 (international) and citing code 30161720. Please log-in or dial-in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection. An archived version of the webcast will be accessible for 90 days at www.careered.com in the Investor Relations section of the website. A replay of the call will also be available for seven days by calling 888-843-7419 (domestic) or 630-652-3042 (international) and citing code 30161720.

ABOUT CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION

The colleges, schools and universities that are part of the Career Education Corporation ("CEC" ) family offer high-quality education to a diverse student population of more than 100,000 students across the world in a variety of career-oriented disciplines through online, on-ground and hybrid learning program offerings. The more than 90 campuses that serve these students are located throughout the United States and in France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Monaco, and offer doctoral, master's, bachelor's and associate degrees and diploma and certificate programs.

CEC is an industry leader whose institutions are recognized globally. Those institutions include, among others, American InterContinental University ("AIU" ); Brooks Institute; Colorado Technical University ("CTU" ); Harrington College of Design; INSEEC Group ("INSEEC" ) Schools; International University of Monaco ("IUM" ); International Academy of Design & Technology ("IADT" ); Istituto Marangoni; Le Cordon Bleu North America ("LCB" ); and Sanford-Brown Institutes and Colleges. Through its schools, CEC is committed to providing high-quality education, enabling students to graduate and pursue rewarding career opportunities.

For more information, see CEC's website at www.careered.com. The website includes a detailed listing of individual campus locations and web links to CEC's colleges, schools, and universities.

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release, including statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "expect," "intend," "project," "will," "potential" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances, or for any other reason. These risks and uncertainties, the outcome of which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operations, include, but are not limited to, the following: availability of Title IV and other student financial aid or loans for our students; Congress' willingness or ability to maintain or increase funding for Title IV Programs; our ability to maintain continued eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, including under the "90-10 Rule" under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; the impacts of the U.S. Department of Education's regulations addressing certain aspects of administration of Title IV federal financial aid programs (including among other matters, gainful employment, certain compensation related to recruiting and admission of students, more stringent state approval criteria that may affect current state approval and licensing processes applicable to postsecondary education institutions and distance learning programs, and misrepresentation liability) on our business practices, costs of compliance and of developing and implementing changes in operations, student recruitment or enrollment growth, and program offerings that may have significant or material effects on our operations, business and profitability; increased competition; the effectiveness of our regulatory compliance efforts; the outcome of any state attorney general investigations, including those underway in Florida and New York; the outcome of our investigation into the determination and reporting of placement rates at our domestic schools, including any claims, sanctions, operational limitations or adverse accreditation or regulatory action initiated as a result of any adverse findings from such investigation; any impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets as we continue to redefine the company and manage our brands and marketing to improve effectiveness and reduce costs; charges and expenses associated with exiting excess facility space; our ability to comply with accrediting agency requirements or obtain accrediting agency approvals for existing or new programs; the outcome of any reviews and audits conducted by accrediting, state and federal agencies; our dependence on information technology systems; our ownership or use of intellectual property; costs and impacts of regulatory, legal and administrative actions, proceedings and investigations, governmental regulations, and class action and other lawsuits; our ability to manage and continue growth; and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the most recent fiscal quarters, and from time to time in our current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)
		June 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	228,821			$	289,482
Short-term investments			159,939				159,671
Total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments			388,760				449,153
Student receivables, net			57,968				62,287
Receivables, other, net			3,214				4,132
Prepaid expenses			36,634				52,077
Inventories			11,085				13,142
Deferred income tax assets, net			31,665				31,665
Other current assets			24,665				6,246
Assets of discontinued operations			4,886				6,742
Total current assets			558,877				625,444
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net			364,757				366,775
Goodwill			385,325				381,476
Intangible assets, net			112,731				118,763
Student receivables, net			11,374				12,522
Deferred income tax assets, net			4,770				5,092
Other assets, net			31,999				42,752
Assets of discontinued operations			18,843				19,055
TOTAL ASSETS		$	1,488,676			$	1,571,879
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of capital lease obligations		$	878			$	783
Accounts payable			47,395				56,013
Accrued expenses:
Payroll and related benefits			45,315				73,608
Advertising and production costs			22,868				18,846
Income taxes			9,132				-
Earnout payments			14,047				17,439
Other			48,104				98,113
Deferred tuition revenue			159,765				176,102
Liabilities of discontinued operations			14,010				15,100
Total current liabilities			361,514				456,004
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities			464				1,223
Deferred rent obligations			105,627				103,996
Earnout payments			-				7,690
Other liabilities			39,706				30,853
Liabilities of discontinued operations			30,317				37,576
Total non-current liabilities			176,114				181,338
SHARE-BASED AWARDS SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION			119				153
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock			-				-
Common stock			824				812
Additional paid-in capital			588,676				576,853
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			11,457				(81	)
Retained earnings			485,413				356,991
Cost of shares in treasury			(135,441	)			(191	)
Total stockholders' equity			950,929				934,384
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		$	1,488,676			$	1,571,879

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)
		For the Quarters Ended June 30,
		2011				% of Total Revenue			2010 (1)				% of Total Revenue
REVENUE:
Tuition and registration fees		$	481,970			96.9	%		$	509,129			96.5	%
Other			15,223			3.1	%			18,610			3.5	%
Total revenue			497,193							527,739
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Educational services and facilities			161,529			32.5	%			156,918			29.7	%
General and administrative			229,801			46.2	%			256,920			48.7	%
Depreciation and amortization			20,507			4.1	%			17,149			3.2	%
Goodwill and asset impairment			2,676			0.5	%			-			0.0	%
Total operating expenses			414,513			83.4	%			430,987			81.7	%
Operating income			82,680			16.6	%			96,752			18.3	%
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income			263			0.1	%			252			0.0	%
Interest expense			(24	)		0.0	%			(32	)		0.0	%
Miscellaneous income (expense)			69			0.0	%			(988	)		-0.2	%
Total other income (expense)			308			0.1	%			(768	)		-0.1	%
PRETAX INCOME			82,988			16.7	%			95,984			18.2	%
Provision for income taxes			27,228			5.5	%			29,714			5.6	%
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS			55,760			11.2	%			66,270			12.6	%
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			(407	)		-0.1	%			(1,952	)		-0.4	%
NET INCOME		$	55,353			11.1	%		$	64,318			12.2	%
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations		$	0.74						$	0.82
Loss from discontinued operations			(0.01	)						(0.02	)
Net income per share		$	0.73						$	0.80
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING			75,533							80,459

(1)		In December 2010, the Transitional Schools segment ceased to exist as the Company completed the teach out of its last remaining Transitional School, AIU-Los Angeles, CA, whose results for all periods presented are now reflected as a component of discontinued operations.

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)
		For the Years to Date Ended June 30,
		2011				% of Total Revenue			2010 (1)				% of Total Revenue
REVENUE:
Tuition and registration fees		$	1,003,064			96.4	%		$	1,018,637			96.4	%
Other			37,490			3.6	%			38,528			3.6	%
Total revenue			1,040,554							1,057,165
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Educational services and facilities			330,430			31.8	%			316,080			29.9	%
General and administrative			470,660			45.2	%			521,060			49.3	%
Depreciation and amortization			40,873			3.9	%			33,827			3.2	%
Goodwill and asset impairment			2,676			0.3	%			-			0.0	%
Total operating expenses			844,639			81.2	%			870,967			82.4	%
Operating income			195,915			18.8	%			186,198			17.6	%
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income			500			0.0	%			499			0.0	%
Interest expense			(50	)		0.0	%			(45	)		0.0	%
Miscellaneous income (expense)			2,069			0.2	%			(1,265	)		-0.1	%
Total other income (expense)			2,519			0.2	%			(811	)		-0.1	%
PRETAX INCOME			198,434			19.1	%			185,387			17.5	%
Provision for income taxes			69,089			6.6	%			61,971			5.9	%
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS			129,345			12.4	%			123,416			11.7	%
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			(957	)		-0.1	%			(3,876	)		-0.4	%
NET INCOME		$	128,388			12.3	%		$	119,540			11.3	%
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations		$	1.70						$	1.51
Loss from discontinued operations			(0.01	)						(0.05	)
Net income per share		$	1.69						$	1.46
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING			76,174							81,887

(1)		In December 2010, the Transitional Schools segment ceased to exist as the Company completed the teach out of its last remaining Transitional School, AIU-Los Angeles, CA, whose results for all periods presented are now reflected as a component of discontinued operations.

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)
		For the Years to Date Ended June 30,
		2011		2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$ 128,388		$ 119,540
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Goodwill and asset impairment		2,676		-
Depreciation and amortization expense		40,873		33,970
Bad debt expense		26,834		45,569
Compensation expense related to share-based awards		8,488		10,034
Gain on disposition of property and equipment		(1,777 )		(474 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		(90,730 )		(160,774 )
Net cash provided by operating activities		114,752		47,865
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of available-for-sale investments		(110,162 )		(172,569 )
Sales of available-for-sale investments		109,894		210,460
Purchases of property and equipment		(47,886 )		(43,156 )
Earnout payments		(8,509 )		(8,457 )
Proceeds on the sale of assets		6,259		-
Business acquisition, net of acquired cash		-		(6,194 )
Other		46		(5 )
Net cash used in investing activities		(50,358 )		(19,921 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of treasury stock		(129,879 )		(154,913 )
Issuance of common stock		3,025		1,718
Tax benefit associated with stock option exercises		322		195
Payments of assumed loans upon business acquisition		-		(4,279 )
Payments of capital lease obligations		(744 )		(450 )
Net cash used in financing activities		(127,276 )		(157,729 )
EFFECT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:		2,221		(4,960 )
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(60,661 )		(134,745 )
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS CASH ACTIVITY INCLUDED ABOVE:
Add: Cash balance of discontinued operations, beginning of the period		-		738
Less: Cash balance of discontinued operations, end of the period		-		-
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period		289,482		284,334
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the period		$ 228,821		$ 150,327

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED SELECTED SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands, except percentages)
						For the Quarters Ended June 30,
						2011				2010 (1)
REVENUE:
CTU (2)						$	112,061			$	114,769
AIU (2)							98,031				120,037
Health Education							109,825				107,971
Culinary Arts							83,259				92,822
Art & Design (2)							56,676				62,301
International							37,466				29,979
Corporate and Other							(125	)			(140	)
Total						$	497,193			$	527,739
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS):
CTU (2)						$	33,973			$	32,458
AIU (2)							26,337				40,004
Health Education							3,381				11,606
Culinary Arts							13,174				12,395
Art & Design (2)							7,675				7,001
International							5,407				2,997
Corporate and Other							(7,267	)			(9,709	)
Total						$	82,680			$	96,752
OPERATING MARGIN:
CTU							30.3	%			28.3	%
AIU							26.9	%			33.3	%
Health Education							3.1	%			10.7	%
Culinary Arts							15.8	%			13.4	%
Art & Design							13.5	%			11.2	%
International							14.4	%			10.0	%
Total							16.6	%			18.3	%

(1)		In December 2010, the Transitional Schools segment ceased to exist as the Company completed the teach out of its last remaining Transitional School, AIU-Los Angeles, CA, whose results for all periods presented are now reflected as a component of discontinued operations.
(2)		Prior period financial results have been reclassified to report CTU, AIU and Art & Design as individual segments due to a change in organizational structure in January, 2011. Previously, these results were reported on a combined basis as the University segment.

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED SELECTED SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands, except percentages)
				For the Years to Date Ended June 30,
				2011				2010 (1)
REVENUE:
CTU (2)				$	230,126			$	225,768
AIU (2)					202,305				236,815
Health Education					226,134				211,835
Culinary Arts					175,032				185,576
Art & Design (2)					121,276				125,188
International					85,942				72,317
Corporate and Other					(261	)			(334	)
Total				$	1,040,554			$	1,057,165
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS):
CTU (2)				$	70,261			$	61,864
AIU (2)					53,954				72,802
Health Education					15,011				22,614
Culinary Arts (4)					26,941				20,600
Art & Design (2)					18,070				13,505
International					19,522				16,429
Corporate and Other (3)					(7,844	)			(21,616	)
Total				$	195,915			$	186,198
OPERATING MARGIN:
CTU					30.5	%			27.4	%
AIU					26.7	%			30.7	%
Health Education					6.6	%			10.7	%
Culinary Arts					15.4	%			11.1	%
Art & Design					14.9	%			10.8	%
International					22.7	%			22.7	%
Total					18.8	%			17.6	%

(1)		In December 2010, the Transitional Schools segment ceased to exist as the Company completed the teach out of its last remaining Transitional School, AIU-Los Angeles, CA, whose results for all periods presented are now reflected as a component of discontinued operations.
(2)		Prior period financial results have been reclassified to report CTU, AIU and Art & Design as individual segments due to a change in organizational structure in January, 2011. Previously, these results were reported on a combined basis as the University segment.
(3)		Year to date 2011 included a $7.0 million insurance recovery related to previously settled legal matters. Year to date 2010 included a $2.4 million lease termination charge incurred in connection with the Company's move to its new campus support center and a $4.1 million charge for an increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts related to the Company's previously terminated recourse loan program.
(4)		Year to date 2010 included a $3.2 million charge for additional bad debt expense for increases in reserve rates applied to outstanding student receivable balances attributed to the Company's student extended payment plans.

Career Education Corporation
Investors:
Jason Friesen
Senior Vice President of Finance, Investor Relations and Treasurer
(847) 585-3899
or
Media:
Mark Spencer
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(847) 585-3802