-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NyOfo4v02TwoJYvvnYPr9Oh99YDRxHpP2KsbduZ+8FOOdH6BZh7Y63mgC77pGN4z
 7pySnO2TkBV1B29On2YeOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001237509-10-000004.txt : 20100827
<SEC-HEADER>0001237509-10-000004.hdr.sgml : 20100827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100827162928
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001237509-10-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100827
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MASSIMINO JACK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237509

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25283
		FILM NUMBER:		101044359

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CORINTHIAN COLLEGES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001066134
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				330717312
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 HUTTON CENTRE DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92707
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7144273000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 HUTTON CENTER DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			SANTA ANA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92707
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001066134</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORINTHIAN COLLEGES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237509</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MASSIMINO JACK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 HUTTON CENTRE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA ANA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92707</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>131928</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stan A. Mortensen, Attorney-in-Fact for Jack Massimino</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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