<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS IN THE COMPANY'S  1998 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND
     IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          12,242
<SECURITIES>                                    18,283
<RECEIVABLES>                                   40,191
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,163
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               102,613
<PP&E>                                          75,769
<DEPRECIATION>                                  38,876
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 189,614
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           47,761
<BONDS>                                            789
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           140
<OTHER-SE>                                     133,311
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   189,614
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               245,545
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   84,980
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                37,470
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   677
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 803
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 42,105
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,778
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,327
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,327
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.68