<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> 20,786 <SECURITIES> 37,175 <RECEIVABLES> 25,061 <ALLOWANCES> 2,277 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 83,980 <PP&E> 16,890 <DEPRECIATION> 11,399 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 92,074 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 21,745 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 98 <OTHER-SE> 69,691 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 92,074 <SALES> 36,165 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 69,217 <CGS> 1,998 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,473 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 39,243 <LOSS-PROVISION> 809 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,936 <INCOME-TAX> 4,381 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,555 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,555 <EPS-PRIMARY> .75 <EPS-DILUTED> .75