-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ak+J3mA2gISB0fuaTwqbwKTp0wxfXvEbX4rye7vhz8bNl8DVgM7EPKDgfmYR0WcO
 k1fT/2H3reR6/R+JU0QhMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001163167-03-000007.txt : 20030508
<SEC-HEADER>0001163167-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20030508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508165205
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001163167-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OCONNOR GREGORY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001163167

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-41752
		FILM NUMBER:		03688508

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP
		STREET 2:		14 OAK PARK
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP
		STREET 2:		14 OAK PARK
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000876167
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				042746201
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 OAK PARK
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172804000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000876167</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>PRGS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001163167</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OCONNOR GREGORY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President, Sonic Software Corp</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1094</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>19.24</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2327</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOf
Ownership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gregory J. O'Connor</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----