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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 10, 1998, except
for Note 1 which is as of April 7, 1998, Note 3 which is as of April 28, 1998
and Note 10 which is as of May 7, 1998, relating to the financial statements of
ITT Educational Services, Inc. which appear in such prospectus. We also consent
to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 10, 1998
appearing on page F-1 of ITT Educational Services, Inc. Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. We also consent to the references to
us under the headings "Experts" and "Selected Financial Data" in such
Prospectus. However, it should be noted that Price Waterhouse LLP has not
prepared or certified such "Selected Financial Data."
    
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
   
May 7, 1998