<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 54,386 <SECURITIES> 251 <RECEIVABLES> 18,863 <ALLOWANCES> 1,304 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 74,841 <PP&E> 4,761 <DEPRECIATION> 3,421 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 86,562 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,075 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 173 <OTHER-SE> 70,814 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 86,562 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 30,875 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 9,355 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 146 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,546 <INCOME-TAX> 5,018 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,528 <EPS-PRIMARY> .37 <EPS-DILUTED> .37