<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>                                          15,155
<SECURITIES>                                    23,984
<RECEIVABLES>                                   21,315
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,400
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                66,131
<PP&E>                                          25,487
<DEPRECIATION>                                  19,043
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  83,195
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           43,969
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           120
<OTHER-SE>                                      38,538
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    83,195
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                60,284
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   19,476
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                45,326
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   299
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (3,293)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,151)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,142)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,142)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.18)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.18)