Exhibit 10.1

April 1, 2013

Mr. Scott Steffey

Dear Scott,

On behalf of Career Education Corporation (“CEC” or the “Company”), I am pleased to confirm our offer of employment to you for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Upon your acceptance of this offer as outlined below, you will join the company as a full-time employee reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). You will be nominated for election to the Board at the Company’s 2013 annual shareholders meeting.

Your employment with the Company will be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter (“Letter”). It is anticipated that you will commence employment on or before April 8, 2013 (the actual date you commence employment, the “Commencement Date”).

      (a) a stock option award (the “Stock Options”) to purchase shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), with the number of shares subject to the award determined by dividing (i) $780,000 by (ii) the product of (x) .55 and (y) the closing price of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, provided that the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Options shall not exceed 450,000. In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Options is limited to 450,000 in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, you shall be granted an additional number of cash-settled stock appreciation rights (the “SARs”) with respect to that number of shares of Common Stock such that the aggregate fair value of the Stock Options and the SARs, as determined in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, shall be equal to $780,000 (rounded down to the nearest whole share). The Stock Options and SARs, as applicable, will have an exercise price equal to 100% of the closing price of the Common Stock on the Grant Date and will otherwise be granted in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, the Company’s 2008

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Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (or successor plan) (the “Plan”) and an applicable award agreement thereunder, provided that, all or a portion of the Stock Options may be granted to you as an inducement award pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and, provided further that, all or a portion of any grant of SARs, if applicable, may be granted outside of the Plan but subject to terms consistent with the terms of the Plan and an applicable award agreement thereunder. The Stock Options and SARs, as applicable, will vest and become exercisable in four equal annual installments on each of March 14, 2014, March 14, 2015, March 14, 2016 and March 14, 2017, provided that you remain employed by the Company on each applicable vesting date, except as set forth below;

      (b) an award of cash-settled restricted stock units (the “RSUs”), with the number of shares underlying the RSUs subject to the award determined by dividing $780,000 by the closing price of the Common Stock on the date upon which the RSUs are granted. The RSUs will vest in equal annual installments on each of the first anniversary of the Commencement Date, March 14, 2015, March 14, 2016 and March 14, 2017, provided that you remain employed by the Company through each applicable vesting date, except as set forth below, and subject to aggregate Company revenue for the four consecutive fiscal quarters, commencing with the Company’s second quarter for fiscal year 2013, equaling or exceeding $500 million in the aggregate (the “RSU Revenue Target”) and will otherwise be granted in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, the Plan and an applicable award agreement thereunder, provided that, all or a portion of the RSUs, may be granted outside of the Plan but subject to terms consistent with the terms of the Plan and an applicable award agreement thereunder; and

      (c) a performance-based cash award in the target amount of $1,040,000, with threshold and maximum payment levels of 50% and 200% of the target amount, respectively (the “Cash Award”), which will vest on April 1, 2016 based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to a peer group of 14 publicly traded proprietary education companies over the three-year period ending April 1, 2016, consistent with the terms of similar grants made to other senior executives of the Company, and provided that you remain employed by the Company through the vesting date, except as set forth below. Except as set forth below, the Cash Award, if any, shall be paid following the date it becomes vested and in any event no later than May 15, 2016.

Except as set forth below, or otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, upon termination of your employment, the Long-Term Incentive Awards shall cease to vest or be exercisable (as applicable) and, to the extent not then vested, shall be cancelled and forfeited.

      (i) In the event your employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” or you resign for “Good Reason,” as such terms are defined in Exhibit A to this Letter, (A) the RSUs shall service-vest in full on the termination date, subject to achievement of the RSU Revenue Target, and shall be payable within 30 days following the later of the such termination date and the date of achievement of the RSU Revenue Target, (B) the Stock Options and SARs, as applicable, shall vest in full on your date of termination and remain exercisable for three years following your termination date, but in no case beyond the expiration of the 10-year option term, and (C) the Cash Award shall vest and become payable based on the actual performance results applicable to the Cash Award and payable at such time as the Cash Award would otherwise be paid, but in no event will such amount be paid after May 15, 2016.

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      (ii) In the event your employment is terminated due to death or “Disability,” as defined in Exhibit A to this Letter, (A) the RSUs shall vest in full on the date of your termination, (B) the Stock Options and SARs, as applicable, shall vest in full on the date of your termination and remain exercisable for one year following your termination date, but in no case beyond the expiration of the 10-year option and/or SAR term, and (C) the Cash Award shall vest and become payable at target on the date of termination.

      (iii) If your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or you resign for Good Reason on or within 18 months following a Change in Control, as defined in the Plan, with respect to the RSUs and the Cash Award, such awards will become vested and payable, as applicable, as of the date of your termination based on the greater of (x) target performance or (y) actual performance measured as of the date of the Change in Control, taking into account any price of the Common Stock applicable in connection with the Change in Control, with future performance extrapolated accordingly on the same basis.

      (iv) If your employment terminates by reason of your “Retirement” (as defined under the Plan and is hereby determined by the Committee), the Stock Options and SARs, as applicable, shall remain exercisable for three years following the date of your termination.

Commencing with the Company’s 2014 fiscal year, you will be eligible for annual long-term incentive awards under the Plan, commensurate with the eligibility of other senior executives for such awards, the actual awards to be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee, as applicable.

      (a) As to the after-tax amount of $1,250,000 of the Sign-on Award (“Tranche I”):

      (i) you shall repay to the Company 100% of Tranche I if such termination occurs prior to the first anniversary of the Commencement Date; and

      (ii) you shall repay to the Company a pro rata portion of Tranche I if such termination occurs on or after the first anniversary, but prior to the second anniversary, of the Commencement Date, with such repayment amount to be determined by dividing the number of days from the date of termination until the second anniversary of your Commencement Date by 730.

      (b) As to the after-tax amount of the other $1,250,000 of the Sign-on Award (“Tranche II”):

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      (i) you shall repay to the Company 100% of Tranche II if such termination occurs prior to the first anniversary of the Commencement Date;

      (ii) you shall repay to the Company 75% of Tranche II if such termination occurs on or after the first anniversary, but prior to the second anniversary, of the Commencement Date; and

      (iii) you shall repay to the Company 25% of Tranche II or such lesser pro rata amount, if such termination occurs on or after the second anniversary, but prior to the fourth anniversary, of the Commencement Date, as determined by prorating such 25% amount by dividing the number of days from the date of termination until the fourth anniversary of your Commencement Date by 730.

Any required repayment of the Sign-on Award by you shall be made no later than 30 days following the date your employment with the Company terminates.

Notwithstanding anything in this Letter to the contrary, you shall not be eligible to receive any payments or benefits in connection with the termination of your employment for any reason pursuant to the terms of any severance or separation plan, program or policy maintained by the Company.

The treatment of your Long-Term Incentive Awards and Sign-on Award in the event of such termination is provided in Sections 7 and 8 above, respectively.

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(a)      Return of Company Property.  You represent, warrant and covenant that upon termination of your employment, you will return to the Company all Company property in the your possession or control, including, without limitation, all telephones, keys, access cards, security badges, credit cards, phone cards, equipment, computer hardware and encryption devices (including, but not limited to, all computers, Blackberry devices, and personal data assistants), all contents of all such hardware, all passwords and codes needed to obtain access to or operate all or part of any such hardware, all electronic storage devices (including but not limited to all hard drives, disk drives, diskettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and DVD-ROMs), all contents of all such electronic storage devices, all passwords and codes needed to obtain access to or use all or part of any such electronic storage device, all computer software and programs, financial information, accounting records, computer printouts, manuals, data, materials, papers, books, files, documents, records, policies, student information and lists, customer information and lists, marketing information, specifications and plans, data base information and lists, mailing lists, and notes, including but not limited to any property describing or containing any Confidential Information (as defined below), and you agree that you will not retain any copies, duplicates, reproductions or excerpts thereof in any form whatsoever.

(b)      Confidential Information and Protection of Confidential Information.  You acknowledge that, throughout and as an incident to your employment with the Company, you will become acquainted with and receive Confidential Information relating to the Company, including trade secrets, processes, methods of operation, business models and plans, advertising and marketing plans and strategies, Company records, research techniques and results, academic programs, academic course development, methods of instruction, training programs, computer programs, databases, software codes, systems and models, marketing, promotional and sales programs, and financial information concerning the business of the Company, which information is not readily available to the public and gives the Company an opportunity to gain an advantage over

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competitors who do not know or use this information in the same manner as the Company, and which the Company regards as confidential and proprietary (collectively “Confidential Information”). Such Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i) information relating to the Company’s past and existing students and vendors and the development of prospective students and vendors, including, but not limited to, specific student service and product requirements, pricing, arrangements, payment terms, student lists and other similar information; (ii) inventions, designs, methods, discoveries, works of authorship, creations, improvements or ideas developed or otherwise produced, acquired or used by the Company; (iii) advertising and marketing plans and strategies; (iv) the Company’s proprietary programs, processes or software; (v) the subject matter of any patents, design patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, manuals, operating instructions, training materials, and other industrial property; and (vi) other confidential and proprietary information or documents relating to the Company or its students or vendors which the Company reasonably regards as being confidential. Confidential Information does not include: (a) information known in general to your profession, or that becomes known thereafter, other than by an unauthorized act by you; (b) information that was lawfully in your possession before your employment with the Company; or (c) information obtained lawfully and in good faith from another party after such disclosure emanating from an original source other than the Company. You acknowledge that the Confidential Information is of incalculable value to the Company and is the exclusive property of the Company, and that the Company would suffer irreparable damage if any of the Confidential Information is improperly disclosed or used. Accordingly, you will not, at any time during your employment with (except as you reasonably determine is required to discharge your duties as an officer of the Company hereunder), or after the your separation from employment with, the Company, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person, firm or corporation any Confidential Information made known to you or of which you have become aware, regardless of whether developed, prepared, devised, or otherwise created in whole or in part by your efforts. You further agree that you will retain all Confidential Information in trust for the sole benefit of the Company, and will not (except, as provided above, to perform your duties) divulge or deliver any Confidential Information to any unauthorized person including, without limitation, any other employer of yours except as required by the order of any court or similar tribunal or any other governmental body or agency of appropriate jurisdiction; provided, that the you will, to the extent practicable, give the Company prior written notice of any such disclosure and will cooperate with the Company in obtaining a protective order or such similar protection as the Company may deem appropriate to preserve the confidential nature of such information. The foregoing obligations to maintain the Confidential Information shall not apply to any Confidential Information that is, or without any action by you becomes, generally available to the public

(c)      Nondisparagement.  You agree that you will not, nor will you cause anyone else to, make any statement or issue any communication, written or otherwise, that disparages, criticizes or otherwise reflects adversely on or encourages any adverse action against the Company or any affiliate, to either the press, the media or any other third party, except if testifying truthfully under oath pursuant to any lawful court order or subpoena or otherwise responding to or providing disclosures required by law. The Company will not, nor will it cause anyone else to, make any statement or issue any communication, written or otherwise, that disparages, criticizes or otherwise reflects adversely on or encourages any adverse action against you, to either the press, the media or any other third party, except if testifying truthfully under oath pursuant to any lawful court order or subpoena or otherwise responding to or providing disclosures required by law; provided, for purposes of this Section 16(c), “the Company” shall mean only its officers and members of the Board.

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(d)      Non-Solicitation/Non-hire.  Commencing on the date of termination of your employment with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any Person (as defined below) (i) hire, solicit, aid or induce any individual employed by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, in either case during the 6-month period immediately preceding such hiring, solicitation, aid or inducement, to leave the Company or any affiliate of the Company to accept employment with or render services for you or such Person, or (ii) solicit, aid or induce any then-current student, customer, client, vendor, lender, supplier or sales representative of the Company or any of its affiliates or similar persons engaged in business with the Company or any of its affiliates to discontinue the relationship or reduce the amount of business done with the Company or any of its Affiliates. “Person” means any individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a governmental entity, or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof, or an accrediting body.

(e)      Non-Competition.  Commencing on the date of termination of your employment with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter, you shall not, in any way, directly or indirectly, either for you or any other person or entity, whether paid or unpaid, accept employment with, own, manage, operate, consult or provide expert services to any person or entity that competes with the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any capacity that involves any responsibilities or activities involving or relating to any Competing Educational Service. “Competing Educational Service” means any educational service that competes with the educational services provided by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, coursework in the areas of visual communication and design technologies; information technology; business studies; culinary arts; and health education, or any education service. You hereby acknowledge that the following organizations, among others, provide Competing Educational Services, and should you accept employment with, own, manage, operate, consult or provide expert services to any of these organizations within said two-year period, it would inevitably require the use and/or disclosure of Confidential Information belonging to the Company and/or its subsidiaries and would provide such organizations with an unfair business advantage over the Company: American Public Education, Inc., Apollo Group, Inc., Bridgepoint Education, Inc., Capella Education Company, Corinthian Colleges, Inc., DeVry, Inc., Education Management Corporation, EmbanetCompass, Grand Canyon Education Inc., ITT Educational Services Inc., Kaplan, Inc., Laureate Education, Inc., Learning Tree International Inc., Lincoln Education Services Corporation, National American University Holdings Inc., Strayer Education Inc., Universal Technical Institute Inc. and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates and successors. You further acknowledges that the Company and/or its subsidiaries provide career-oriented education through physical and web-based virtual campuses throughout the world and, therefore, it is impracticable to identify a limited, specific geographical scope for this Section 16(e). Nothing herein shall prevent you from owning less than two percent (2%) of the capital stock of a company whose stock is publicly traded and that is engaged in Competing Educational Services.

(f)      You acknowledge and agree that the Company will suffer irreparable injury in the event of a breach by you of the terms of this Section 16. In the event of a breach of the terms of this Section 16, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any

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other remedies and damages available and without proof of monetary or immediate damage, to a temporary and/or permanent injunction, without bond, to restrain the violation of this Section 16 by you or any persons acting for or in concert with you. Such remedy, however, shall be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedy that the parties may have.

(g)      To the extent inconsistent, the provisions of this Section 16 will control over any restrictive covenant provided in any other agreement (including the duration of any covenant following termination of employment), including any award agreement granted under the Plan, entered into from time to time unless such other agreement specifically provides that it controls over this Section 16.

(a)      Arbitrable Claims. You and the Company mutually consent to the resolution by final and binding arbitration of any and all disputes, controversies or claims related in any way to your employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, any dispute, controversy or claim of alleged discrimination, harassment or retaliation (including, but not limited to, claims based on race, sex, sexual preference, religion, national origin, age, marital or family status, medical condition, handicap or disability), any claim arising out of or relating to this Letter, any awards granted hereunder, or the breach thereof, and any dispute as to the arbitrability of a matter under this provision (collectively, “Claims”); provided, however, that nothing herein shall require arbitration of any claim or charge which, by law, cannot be the subject of a compulsory arbitration agreement and except as provided in Section 17(e) below. You and the Company expressly acknowledge that you waive the right to litigate Claims in a judicial forum before a judge or jury, except as provided in Section 17(e) below.

(b)      Claim Initiation/Time Limits. A party must notify the other party in writing of a request to arbitrate Claims within the same statute of limitations applicable to the legal claim asserted. The written request for arbitration must specify: (i) the factual basis on which the Claims are made; (ii) the statutory provision or legal theory under which Claims are made; and (iii) the nature and extent of any relief or remedy sought.

(c)      Procedures. The arbitration will be administered in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures then in effect (“Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), a copy of which is available upon request to the Company, in Chicago, Illinois. The arbitration shall be conducted by a tribunal of three arbitrators, of whom you shall appoint one and the Company shall appoint one. The two arbitrators so appointed shall select the chairman of the tribunal within thirty days of the appointment of the second arbitrator. If any arbitrator is not appointed within the time limits provided herein or in the Rules, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association. You and the Company may be represented by counsel of your choosing. You and the Company shall pay your own legal fees (including counsel fees), and other fees and expenses incurred by you in obtaining or defending any right or benefit under such Claims; provided, however, that, irrespective of the outcome of any arbitration under this Section 17, the Company will pay any fees of the AAA, filing costs, arbitrator fees or expenses and any reasonable travel expenses incurred by you in connection with your travel to Chicago, Illinois for any arbitration proceeding.

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(d)      Responsibilities of Tribunal; Award; Judgment.  The tribunal will act as the impartial decision maker of any Claims that come within the scope of this arbitration provision. The tribunal will have the powers and authorities provided by the Rules and the state or common law under which the claim is made. For example, the tribunal will have the power and authority to include all remedies in the award available under the statute or common law under which the claim is made including, without limitation, the issuance of an injunction. The tribunal will apply the elements and burdens of proof, mitigation duty, interim earnings offsets and other legal rules or requirements under the statutory provision or common law under which such claim is made. The tribunal will permit reasonable pre-hearing discovery. The tribunal will have the power to issue subpoenas. The tribunal will have the authority to issue a summary disposition if there are no material factual issues in dispute requiring a hearing and you or the Company is clearly entitled to an award in its or your favor. The tribunal will not have the power or authority to add to, detract from or modify any provision of this Letter, or any related agreements or plans, including but not limited to any equity awards. The tribunal, in rendering an award in any arbitration conducted pursuant to this provision, shall issue a reasoned award in a signed written opinion stating the findings of fact and conclusions of law on which it is based. The tribunal shall be required to follow the law of the state designated by the parties herein. Any judgment on or enforcement of any award, including an award providing for interim or permanent injunctive relief, rendered by the tribunal may be entered, enforced or appealed in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any arbitration proceedings, decision or award rendered hereunder, and the validity, effect and interpretation of this arbitration provision, shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your legal representatives, including payment or provision of any unpaid amount or benefit due you immediately prior to your death. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors.

[Signature Page to Letter Follows]

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[Signature Page to Letter]

We are enthusiastic about you joining the Company and look forward to working with you. Please return a signed copy of this letter to either of us at your earliest convenience

Sincerely,

CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION

Accepted and Agreed to:

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Exhibit A

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following: (i) any material act of dishonesty, willful misconduct, gross negligence, willful abandonment of duty; (ii) a material violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct or Code of Ethics, as applicable; (iii) willful commission of a felony or commission of any crime involving fraud or embezzlement; (iv) a willful failure to reasonably cooperate in any investigation or proceeding concerning the Company; or (vi) any material violation of non-compete, non-solicit or non-disclosure restrictive covenant. For all purposes, no act or omission to act by you shall be “willful” if such act or omission was conducted in good faith or with a reasonable belief such conduct was in the best interests of the Company.

“Disability” has the meaning set forth in treasury regulation section 1.409A-3(i)(4).

“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one of the following, without your prior written consent: (i) any material diminution in your title, duties or responsibilities (including reporting requirements); for which purpose, “Good Reason” will be deemed to occur upon any Change in Control in which occurs either (x) you are not the most-senior officer of the top-most parent company following such Change in Control or (y) the Company stock ceases to be publicly-traded upon such Change in Control; (ii) any material reduction in Base Salary, other than a proportional across-the-board reduction of applicable to all senior executives not exceeding 20% of Base Salary, or any material reduction in target Annual Bonus opportunity; (iii) any material failure to pay any compensation when otherwise payable; or (iv) any failure of a successor to the Company’s assets or business to assume the Company’s obligations to you under all applicable agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, your employment shall not be deemed to terminate for “Good Reason” unless you have given notice to the Company within 30 days of his knowledge of the first occurrence of one or more events alleged to give rise to Good Reason, the Company has failed to cure such event or events, if capable of cure, within 30 days following such notice and your employment has terminated within two years following the occurrence of such events.

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