Exhibit 23.1
                                                                    ------------

                                              Consent of Independent Accountants

 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-___) of our report dated
January 31, 1997, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements and
financial statement schedule of Strayer Education, Inc. (the "Company") as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each year in the three period ended December
31, 1996, which report is included in the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form
10-K.






                                                    /s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Washington, D.C.
June 30, 1997