Exhibit 10.18
                            SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT


                        NOBEL EDUCATION DYNAMICS, INC.
                       1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
                           $.001 Par Value Per Share



Nobel Education Dynamics, Inc.
Rose Tree Corporate Center, II
1400 North Providence Road
Suite 3055
Media, PA  19063

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          You have informed the undersigned (individually and collectively, the
"Purchaser") that Nobel Education Dynamics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") is making a private placement of 1,000,000 shares of its Common
Stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Shares"), at $12.00 per share.

          You have further advised the undersigned that (i) the Shares are being
offered and sold on a "best efforts" basis through Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co.,
1775 Broadway, New York, New York (the "Agent"); (ii) the proceeds of the
offering, after expenses, will be used by the Company as set forth under "Use of
Proceeds" in the Company's Summary Offering Memorandum, dated February 15, 1996
(the "Memorandum"), (iii) the Shares are being offered by the Company subject to
prior subscription, and (iv) none of the Shares will be sold in the Offering
unless all of the Shares are sold in the Offering.

          I/we understand that the Purchaser's rights and responsibilities as a
Purchaser will be governed by the terms of this Subscription Agreement. I/we
understand that the Company will rely on the following information to confirm
that the Purchaser is an "accredited investor" as defined in Regulation D
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

         SHARES WILL BE OFFERED AND SOLD ONLY TO ACCREDITED INVESTORS.

          This Subscription Agreement is one of a number of such subscriptions
for the Shares. By signing this Subscription Agreement, the Purchaser hereby (i)
offers to purchase from the Company the number of Shares set forth on page 7
hereof on the terms specified herein and, (ii) if and to the extent this
Subscription Agreement is accepted by the Company, authorizes the Agent to debit
my account with the Agent, for payment to the Company, at the Closing (as
defined in the Memorandum) for an aggregate cash amount equal to $12.00
multiplied by the number of Shares for which this Subscription Agreement is
accepted by the Company. The Purchaser understands that the Company reserves the
right, in its complete discretion, to reject the offer of the Purchaser made
hereby in whole or in part. If this offer is accepted, in whole or in part, the
Company will execute a copy of this Subscription Agreement and return it to the
Agent.

                                       1

 
1.     Accredited Investor.  The Purchaser is an Accredited Investor because the
       -------------------                                                      
       Purchaser falls within one of the following categories:  (please check
       the appropriate category)

       ___  $1,000,000 Net Worth. A natural person whose individual net worth or
            joint net worth with that person's spouse, at the time of his
            purchase exceeds $1,000,000.

       ___  $200,000/$300,000 Income. A natural person who had an individual
            income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or
            joint income with such person's spouse in excess of $300,000 in each
            of the two most recent years and who reasonably expects to attain
            the same individual or joint levels of income in the current year.

       ___  Corporation.  A corporation not formed for the specific purpose of
            acquiring the Shares, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000.

       ___  All Equity Owners In Entity Are Accredited. An entity (i.e.
            corporation, partnership, trust, IRA, etc.) in which all of the
            equity owners are Accredited Investors as defined herein.

2.     Representations and Warranties.  The Purchaser represents and warrants to
       ------------------------------                                           
       the Company that:

       (a)  I/we (i) have adequate means of providing for my/our current needs
            and possible contingencies, and have no need for liquidity of my/our
            proposed investment in the Shares, (ii) can bear the economic risk
            of losing the entire amount of my/our proposed investment in the
            Shares, and (iii) together with my financial advisors, have such
            knowledge and experience that I/we am capable of evaluating the
            relative risks and merits of this investment.

       (b)  The Purchaser is a resident of the state set forth on the signature
            page hereto and the Purchaser has no present intention of becoming a
            resident of any other state or jurisdiction.

       (c)  The Purchaser has not utilized the services of a "Purchaser
            Representative" as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the
            Securities Act.

       (d)  The Purchaser acknowledges the receipt of, and is familiar with, the
            Memorandum, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
            ended December 31, 1994, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-
            Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1995, June 30, 1995, and
            September 30, 1995, the Company's Reports on Form 8-K, and
            amendments thereto, dated February 3, 1995, March 27, 1995, May 11,
            1995, August 1, 1995, June 23, 1995, September 11, 1995, November 3,
            1995 and November 15, 1995, and the Company's Proxy Statement, dated
            August 22, 1995, for its 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

                                       2

 
       (e)  The Purchaser understands the risks implicit in the Purchaser's
            proposed investment in the Shares and in the Company's business.

       (f)  Other than as set forth in this Subscription Agreement, the
            Memorandum and the attachments thereto, no person or entity has made
            any representation or warranty to the Purchaser whatsoever with
            respect to any matter or thing concerning the Company and the
            Offering.

       (g)  I/we understand that the Shares have not been registered under the
            Securities Act, nor have they been registered pursuant to the
            provisions of the securities or other laws of applicable
            jurisdictions and may only be resold pursuant to an effective
            registration statement or in a transaction which is exempt from
            registration.

       (h)  The Shares which I/we offer to purchase hereby are being acquired
            solely for the Purchaser's own account, for investment and are not
            being purchased with a view to or for their resale or distribution.
            The Company will have no obligation to recognize the ownership,
            beneficial or otherwise, of the Shares purchased by the Purchaser by
            anyone but the Purchaser.

       (i)  The Purchaser is aware of the following:

          (i)  the Shares are a speculative investment which involve a high
               degree of risk; and

          (ii) The Shares are not readily transferable; it may not be possible
               for me to liquidate my investment in the Shares when I/we wish to
               do so.

       The foregoing representations and warranties are true and accurate as of
       the date hereof, shall be true and accurate as of the date of the Closing
       and shall survive thereafter.  If, in any respect, such representations
       and warranties are not true and accurate prior to the date of the
       Closing, the Purchaser will give written notice of that fact to the
       Company, specifying which representations and warranties are not true and
       accurate and the reasons therefor.

3.     Transferability.  I/we understand that I/we may sell or otherwise
       ---------------                                                  
       transfer the Shares purchased hereunder only if the transaction in which
       they are to be sold is registered or exempt from registration under the
       Securities Act (as set forth in a favorable opinion of counsel to the
       Company to the effect that such sale or other transfer may be made in the
       absence of registration under the Securities Act). Any certificates or
       other documents representing my Shares will contain a restrictive legend
       reflecting this restriction, and stop transfer instructions will apply to
       my Shares.  Section 6 sets forth the Company's obligation to effect a
       registration for the sale of the Shares upon the terms and conditions
       therein set forth.

                                       3

 
4.     Termination of Agreement.  If this subscription is rejected, in whole or
       ------------------------                                                
       in any part, by the Company, then this Subscription Agreement, or with
       respect to those Shares so rejected if rejected in part, shall be null
       and void and   of no further force and effect, no party shall have any
       rights against any other party hereunder (or, if rejected in part, with
       respect to the rejected portion), and the Agent's authority to debit my
       account with respect to this Subscription, or any portion thereof so
       rejected, shall terminate.  In the event that this Agreement is accepted,
       in whole or in part, by the Company and the Closing is not held by the
       date provided for in the Memorandum, this Agreement shall terminate and
       have no further force or effect.

5.     Revocation.  I/we will not cancel, terminate or revoke this Subscription
       ----------                                                              
       Agreement or any agreement made by me hereunder and this Subscription
       Agreement will survive my death or disability and be binding upon my
       successors, assigns and heirs.


6.     Registration of Nobel Shares.
       ---------------------------- 

       (a)   Registration Statement.  Within ninety (90) days following the 
             ----------------------                                          
             earlier of (i) the completion by the Company of the transaction
             described in the Memorandum under "Recent Developments - Possible
             Acquisition", and (ii) termination by the Company of negotiations
             with respect thereto, the Company shall prepare and file with the
             Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration
             statement of Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the
             Securities Act to permit the offer and sale of the Shares by the
             Purchaser from time to time through the facilities of the National
             Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System at
             market prices current at the time of sale exclusively in "brokers'
             transactions" or in transactions directly with a "market maker," as
             defined in paragraphs (f) and (g) of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.
             The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the
             Registration Statement to be declared effective promptly and,
             except as set forth below, to remain effective under the Securities
             Act for a period equal to the shorter of (i) twenty-four months,
             and (ii) the date on which the Shares first become eligible for
             sale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act under circumstances in
             which the Purchaser is not required to aggregate his/her/their
             sales with other clients of the Agent under paragraph (e)(3)(vi) of
             Rule 144 solely by reason of the common utilization of the same
             broker-dealer. The Company will prepare and file with the SEC any
             amendments or post-effective amendments as may be necessary to keep
             the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act
             during the period described in the prior sentence. As used in the
             second sentence of this Section 6(a), the term "reasonable best
             efforts" does not include the withdrawal of a delaying amendment by
             the Company at a time when comments on the registration statement,
             if any, made by the Staff of the SEC, remain unresolved to the
             satisfaction of the Staff of the SEC. The Company will promptly
             notify the

                                       4

 
             Purchaser in writing of the date on which the Registration
             Statement is declared effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
             Company shall not be obligated to keep the Registration Statement
             or any prospectus included therein (the "Prospectus") current
             during any period (A) of up to 120 days per calendar year if the
             Company's chief executive officer advises the Purchaser that he has
             determined in good faith that in order to keep the Registration
             Statement or Prospectus current the Company would be required to
             disclose information which is not otherwise required to be
             disclosed and which the Company has a bona fide business purpose
                                                   ---- ----                 
             for keeping confidential or would require the disclosure of
             financial information of a business acquired or to be acquired
             which is unavailable pending completion of an audit, or (B) when
             financial statements do not satisfy the requirements of the last
             sentence of paragraph (b) of Rule 3-12 of Regulation S-X (or any
             successor rule) to the extent, and only to the extent, that the SEC
             interprets such sentence as being applicable to the continued
             effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided the Company
             uses reasonable efforts to satisfy such requirements as soon as
             possible. For purposes of this Agreement, the "Effectiveness
             Period" shall be the period during which the Prospectus is kept
             current pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6(a).

       (b)   Copies of Documents.  During the Effectiveness Period, the 
             -------------------                              
             Company shall furnish to the Purchaser such number of copies of the
             Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including each preliminary
             Prospectus) and any amendments and supplements thereto and any
             documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
             as the Purchasers shall reasonably request.

       (c)   Blue Sky Compliance.  The Company shall use reasonable efforts to
             -------------------                                              
             register or qualify or cooperate with the Purchasers in connection
             with the notification, coordination, registration or qualification
             (or use reasonable efforts to obtain exemption from such
             registration or qualification) of the Shares under the securities
             or blue sky laws of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and do
             any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary
             to enable the Purchaser to consummate the disposition of the Shares
             in such jurisdictions during the Effectiveness Period; provided,
             that in no event shall the Company be required to qualify to do
             business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it is
             not so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction
             where it has not theretofore done so or to take any action which
             would subject it to general service of process in any such
             jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

       (d)   Notification.  During the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall
             ------------                                           
             notify the Purchaser promptly (i) of any request by the SEC for
             amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or a
             Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (ii)

                                       5

 
             of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the
             effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of
             any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of the receipt by the
             Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
             registration, qualification or exemption from registration or
             qualification of any of the Shares covered by the Registration
             Statement for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
             threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (iv) of the
             happening of any event which makes any statement made in the
             Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or any document
             incorporated therein by reference, or deemed to be incorporated
             therein by reference, untrue in any material respect or which
             requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or
             the Prospectus so that such documents will not contain any untrue
             statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
             required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
             therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
             not misleading, and (v) the effective date of any firm commitment
             underwriting by the Company. The Purchaser hereby agrees not to
             make sales pursuant to the Registration Statement (A) after any
             notice received under clauses (i)-(iv), above, until the Purchaser
             has received a notice that such period is no longer in effect, and
             (B) during the ninety (90) day period following any notice
             contemplated by clause (v), above.

       (e)   Obligations of the Purchaser.  Prior to the filing of the 
             ----------------------------                       
             Registration Statement, the Purchaser shall enter into such further
             agreements and understandings as the Company shall reasonably
             require to assure compliance under the securities laws. The
             Purchaser shall cooperate with the Company in the fulfillment by
             the Company of its obligations under this Section 6.

       (f)   Expenses.  The Company shall bear all expenses incident to Buyer's
             --------                                                          
             performance of or compliance with this Section 6, including all
             registration and filing fees and expenses of compliance with
             securities or blue sky laws, including without limitation
             reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with
             blue sky qualifications, rating agency fees, printing expenses,
             messenger and delivery expenses, internal expenses, the fees and
             expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities
             to be registered on each securities exchange on which such
             securities are required to be listed (if any), fees and
             disbursements of counsel for the Company and its independent
             certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special
             audit conducted at the Company's option or "cold comfort" letters
             required by or incident to such performance), securities acts
             liability insurance (if the Company elects to obtain such
             insurance), and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special
             experts retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
             Company shall not be required to bear the expenses of any
             underwriting discounts or commissions or brokerage

                                       6

 
             commissions attributable to the sale of the Shares or any out-of-
             pocket expenses of the Purchaser, including travel costs and the
             costs of any counsel or any other advisers engaged by the Purchaser
             to represent or advise him, her or them in connection with the
             transactions contemplated by this Section 6.

7.     Miscellaneous.
       ------------- 

       (a)   This Subscription Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
             accordance with the substantive law of the Commonwealth of
             Pennsylvania.

       (b)   This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
             between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
             hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all
             parties.

       (c)   All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder
             shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, mailed by
             certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, sent by
             recognized commercial courier or air delivery service (such as
             FedEx), or sent by telecopier, addressed as follows: (i) if to the
             Company at its address set forth on the first page hereto, (ii) if
             to the Purchaser, c/o of Agent at the Agent's principal place of
             business in New York, New York, or (iii) in any case, to such other
             address or addresses or either the Company or the Purchaser shall
             have furnished to the other in accordance with the provisions of
             this paragraph.

       (d)   The Purchaser hereby irrevocably appoints the Agent as its 
             attorney-in-fact to (i) waive rights of the Purchaser under Section
             6 hereof, (ii) consent to actions of the Company, or extensions of
             time for the Company, under Section 6 hereof to the extent any such
             consent may be required thereunder or otherwise, and (iii) enter
             into, on behalf of the Purchaser, amendments to the Company's or
             the Purchaser's rights or obligations under Section 6 hereof.

                                       7

 
8.     Registration and Ownership.  Set forth below is the total number of
       --------------------------                                         
       Shares which the Purchaser offers to purchase hereby, the aggregate
       purchase price thereof.  Please register any Shares sold hereunder in the
       name of Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co. or such nominee name as they shall
       designate.

       TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED TO BE PURCHASED:__________________________


       RESIDENCE ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________
                         (Street Address)


           _____________________________________________________________________
                        (City, State and Zip code)


9.     Date and Signatures.  (each co-owner or joint owner must sign)
       -------------------                                           


       Dated           __, 1996


       _______________  ________________________________________________________
          (Signature)                 (Printed Name)


       _______________  ________________________________________________________
          (Signature)                 (Printed Name)


ACCEPTED:

IN FULL: ________________

AS TO ______________SHARES

NOBEL EDUCATION DYNAMICS, INC.


By:     _______________

Its:    _______________

Dated:           __, 1996

                                       8