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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 10, 1998, appearing on page
F-1 of ITT Educational Services, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1997.
 
/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
June 2, 1998