<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>


                                                                     Exhibit 27

               ALBERTO-CULVER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Financial Data Schedule
                    Year Ended September 30, 1998
                           (in thousands)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
consolidated  balance  sheet  as of  September  30,  1998  and the  consolidated
statement of earnings for the year ended  September 30, 1998 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                              0000003327
<NAME>                                             ALBERTO-CULVER
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000
<CURRENCY>                                         US DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                      OCT-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                        SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1.00
                                                      

<CASH>                                                 72,395
<SECURITIES>                                              910
<RECEIVABLES>                                         129,063
<ALLOWANCES>                                           10,868
<INVENTORY>                                           369,204
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      591,565
<PP&E>                                                408,408
<DEPRECIATION>                                        184,932
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      1,068,184
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 313,625
<BONDS>                                               171,760
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                               15,031
<OTHER-SE>                                            518,960
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        1,068,184


<SALES>                                             1,834,711
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    1,834,711
<CGS>                                                 902,095
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         902,095

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      791,631
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                        7,162
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     12,170
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       132,378
<INCOME-TAX>                                           49,311
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    83,067
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0

<NET-INCOME>                                           83,067
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            1.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            1.37
        

</TABLE>