<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         4,912
<SECURITIES>                                   5,990
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1,734
<ALLOWANCES>                                   78
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               14,111
<PP&E>                                         14,613
<DEPRECIATION>                                 1,936
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 32,323
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          6,271
<BONDS>                                        5,331
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       7
<OTHER-SE>                                     20,635
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   32,323
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               14,110
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  7,741
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               4,044
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               59
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (3)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                2,827
<INCOME-TAX>                                   852
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,975
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,975
<EPS-BASIC>                                    .28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .28