<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<CIK>     0000733269
<NAME>    Acxiom Corporation
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                            12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                        MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                                    2,721
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            70,636
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              4,333
<INVENTORY>                                                                   0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                         84,545
<PP&E>                                                                  199,286
<DEPRECIATION>                                                           83,115
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          299,668
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                    36,109
<BONDS>                                                                  87,120
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                  5,274
<OTHER-SE>                                                              150,823
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            299,668
<SALES>                                                                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        402,016
<CGS>                                                                         0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           350,303
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          3,772
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        3,903
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          44,038
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             16,526
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      27,512
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             27,512
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               .47