1 EXHIBIT 4.01 NUMBER SHARES SE STRAYER EDUCATION, INC. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF MARYLAND COMMON STOCK CUSIP (Par Value $.01 Per Share) SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the registered holder of ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF STRAYER EDUCATION, INC. Transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. WITNESS, the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated: GLENDA HARDISON RON K. BAILEY Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer Countersigned and Registered: American Stock Transfer & Trust Corp. Tranfer Agent and Registrar Authorized Signature 2 The corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM -- as tenants in common TEN ENT -- as tenants by the entireties JT TEN -- as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _______________Custodian_______________ (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act___________________________________ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. For Value Received, ____________________________________hereby sell, assign and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE - -------------------------------------- ( ) ( ) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attorney - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.