<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 9,097 <SECURITIES> 36,798 <RECEIVABLES> 28,984 <ALLOWANCES> 1,954 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 75,975 <PP&E> 14,435 <DEPRECIATION> 10,261 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 83,476 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,686 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 97 <OTHER-SE> 60,065 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 83,476 <SALES> 43,382 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 73,329 <CGS> 3,106 <TOTAL-COSTS> 18,238 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 40,485 <LOSS-PROVISION> 766 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 38 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,497 <INCOME-TAX> 6,451 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,046 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,046 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.00 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.00