<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000883241 <NAME> SYNOPSYS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 33,904 <SECURITIES> 202,663 <RECEIVABLES> 64,746 <ALLOWANCES> 3,661 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 317,627 <PP&E> 92,495 <DEPRECIATION> 40,958 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 408,967 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 160,250 <BONDS> 15,970 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 404 <OTHER-SE> 232,343 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 408,967 <SALES> 353,500 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 353,500 <CGS> 38,893 <TOTAL-COSTS> 38,893 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 285,707 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,353 <INCOME-PRETAX> 35,850 <INCOME-TAX> 12,150 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,700 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,700 <EPS-PRIMARY> .57 <EPS-DILUTED> .57