<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN THE COMPANY'S 1996 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           8,247
<SECURITIES>                                     7,487
<RECEIVABLES>                                   28,120
<ALLOWANCES>                                       445
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                61,477
<PP&E>                                          43,676
<DEPRECIATION>                                  20,457
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 113,054
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           28,158
<BONDS>                                          1,552
<COMMON>                                           126
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      78,221
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   113,054
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               148,749
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   56,396
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                24,583
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   574
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 148
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 27,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    11,021
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             16,179
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,179
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.26