<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                        5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
financial statements for National Computer Systems,  Inc. and Subsidiaries,  for
the fiscal year ended  January 31,  1998,  and is  qualified  in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                            0000069999
<NAME>                                           NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                                       U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                                                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                            JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                               FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                 JAN-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                   1.0
<CASH>                                                         23,267
<SECURITIES>                                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 102,334
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                                    16,239
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              148,402
<PP&E>                                                        199,230
<DEPRECIATION>                                               (105,206)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                315,414
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         102,634
<BONDS>                                                        12,396
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                          925
<OTHER-SE>                                                    193,069
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                  315,414
<SALES>                                                       161,977
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              406,015
<CGS>                                                          67,950
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 251,577
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              111,394
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              1,353
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                41,975
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   16,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            25,175
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                   25,175
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.80
        


</TABLE>