<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