[Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP Letterhead]


                                November 1, 2002

Strayer Education, Inc.
1100 Wilson Blvd
Suite 2500
Arlington, VA  22209

     RE:  PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK OF STRAYER EDUCATION, INC. PURSUANT TO
          A REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special Maryland counsel for Strayer Education, Inc.,
a Maryland corporation (the "Registrant"), in connection with the proposed
public offering by New Mountain Partners, L.P. and DB Capital Investors, L.P.
(collectively, the "Selling Stockholders") of 2,000,000 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), subject
to an option to offer an additional 300,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by
DB Capital Investors, L.P. to cover over-allotments, if any (such offered shares
and the shares subject to the over-allotment option, the "Shares"), pursuant to
a Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-100407) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement"). We understand and have assumed for the purpose of this opinion that
the Shares will be issued and sold upon conversion of outstanding shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that were issued to the Selling
Stockholders on May 15, 2001 (the "Preferred Stock").

         In connection with this opinion, we have considered such questions of
law as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion set forth below, and
we have examined or otherwise are familiar with originals or copies, certified
or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following:

         (i) the Registration Statement;

         (ii) a certificate, dated October 23, 2002, issued by the Maryland
State Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") to the effect that the
Registrant is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of
Maryland and is in good standing and duly authorized to transact business in the
State of Maryland as of such date (upon which we have relied as to those matters
addressed therein);

         (iii) the Registrant's Charter, as certified by SDAT, including the
Articles Supplementary filed with SDAT by the Registrant on May 15, 2001 (the
"Articles Supplementary") and Section



Strayer Education, Inc.
November 1, 2002
Page 2


9.3 of the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated November 28, 2000, by and
among the Selling Stockholders and the Registrant, as certified by the Secretary
of the Registrant as of the date hereof, which is incorporated by reference as
part of the Charter;

         (iv) the Bylaws of the Registrant, as certified by the Secretary of the
Registrant as of the date hereof;

         (v) certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Registrant relating to the organization of the Registrant, the authorization and
issuance of the Preferred Stock and the Shares, the registration of the Shares,
and the underwriting agreement with respect to the Shares, as certified by the
Secretary of the Registrant as of the date hereof;

         (vi) a certificate of the Secretary of the Registrant, dated as of the
date hereof, relating to such resolutions, the conversion of the Preferred Stock
and certain other matters; and

         (vii) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate
as a basis for the opinion set forth below.

         In our examination, we have assumed, without independent verification,
the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons,
the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted
to us as certified, facsimile, photostatic or reproduced copies and the
authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the originals of such copies. As to
any facts material to this opinion that we did not independently establish or
verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other
representatives of the Registrant and others.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, upon due
conversion of the appropriate number of shares of the Preferred Stock in
accordance with the conversion provisions of the Articles Supplementary, the
Shares will be duly authorized for issuance, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         This letter is strictly limited to the matters expressly set forth
herein and no statements or opinions should be inferred beyond such matters.
This opinion is limited to the corporate law of the State of Maryland governing
matters such as the authorization and issuance of stock (without regard to the
principles of conflicts of laws thereof) and is based upon and limited to such
laws in effect as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update the
opinion set forth herein.




Strayer Education, Inc.
November 1, 2002
Page 3


This opinion does not extend to the securities or "blue sky" laws of Maryland or
of any other state, to the federal securities laws, or to any other laws.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission this day by the Registrant and
the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus
comprising part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not
admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the Rules and Regulations of the
Commission thereunder. This opinion is intended solely for use in connection
with the transactions described above. It may not be relied upon for any other
purpose without our prior written consent.

                                   Very truly yours,







                                   /s/ Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP