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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2
 
              CONSENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
        We have issued our report dated March 18, 1998, except for Note L which
is as of March 23, 1998, on the financial statements of David M. Griffith &
Associates, Ltd. (not presented herein) as of December 31, 1997 and for each of
the two years in the period ended December 31, 1997, included in the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of MAXIMUS, Inc. We hereby consent to the
use of the aforementioned report in the Registration Statement, as amended, on
Form S-3 of MAXIMUS, Inc. and to the use of our name as it appears under the
caption "EXPERTS."

 
                                          /s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
December 9, 1998