<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