<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF NATIONAL RESEARCH  CORPORATION AS OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER  30,  1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         1,116
<SECURITIES>                                   10,667
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2,203
<ALLOWANCES>                                   92
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               14,705
<PP&E>                                         7,118
<DEPRECIATION>                                 1,057
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 27,175
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          8,708
<BONDS>                                        2,023
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       7
<OTHER-SE>                                     18,116
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   27,175
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               13,566
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  9,051
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               3,562
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               30
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             6
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1,337
<INCOME-TAX>                                   487
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            850
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   850
<EPS-BASIC>                                  .12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .12