<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 7,817 <SECURITIES> 35,520 <RECEIVABLES> 13,604 <ALLOWANCES> 1,250 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,687 <PP&E> 23,083 <DEPRECIATION> 17,036 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 75,704 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38,016 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 111 <OTHER-SE> 35,539 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 75,704 <SALES> 24,115 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 71,808 <CGS> 3,823 <TOTAL-COSTS> 20,385 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 43,551 <LOSS-PROVISION> 662 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,736 <INCOME-TAX> 3,146 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,590 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,590 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.49