<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS IN THE COMPANY'S  1999 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-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                              20,715
<SECURITIES>                                         5,216
<RECEIVABLES>                                       37,281
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,274
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   101,327
<PP&E>                                              89,778
<DEPRECIATION>                                      50,425
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     210,353
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               45,442
<BONDS>                                                364
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               143
<OTHER-SE>                                         156,356
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       210,353
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   276,931
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      105,454
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    42,549
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       123
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     184
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     50,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                        20,620
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 29,980
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        29,980
<EPS-BASIC>                                           2.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         2.09