EXHIBIT 23

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    We  consent to  the incorporation by  reference in this  Annual Report (Form
10-K) of National  Computer Systems, Inc.  of our report  dated March 16,  1994,
included in the 1993 Annual Report to Stockholders of National Computer Systems,
Inc.

    Our  audits  also included  the  consolidated financial  statement schedules
listed in Item 14(a).  These schedules are the  responsibility of the  Company's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, the consolidated financial statement schedules, referred to  above,
when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken
as  a whole, present fairly  in all material respects  the information set forth
therein.

    We also  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in  Post  Effective
Amendment  Number 2 to  Registration Statement Number 2-80386  on Form S-8 (1982
Employee Stock Option Plan), Post  Effective Amendment Number 1 to  Registration
Statement  Number  2-96965  on  Form  S-8  (1984  Employee  Stock  Option Plan),
Registration  Statement  Number  33-9830  on  Form  S-3  (Selling  Shareholder),
Registration  Statement Number 33-21511 on Form  S-8 (1986 Employee Stock Option
Plan), Registration Statement Number 33-48509  on Form S-8 (1990 Employee  Stock
Option  Plan), Registration Statement Number 33-48510 on Form S-8 (1992 Employee
Stock Purchase  Plan) and  Registration Statement  Number 33-68854  on Form  S-8
(option held by former director) of our report dated March 16, 1994 with respect
to  the consolidated financial statements  incorporated herein by reference, and
our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the  consolidated
financial  statement schedules  included in  this Annual  Report (Form  10-K) of
National Computer Systems, Inc.

                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 26, 1994

                                       81