-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GD0lHhJRR3kiSIRLTP7NrA6dwmks2XiEUrfB5gyXlD3i7huY6eQtAV3x3tsvxIa1
 aT1eiVaibMFomt49mKa7kg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-014595.txt : 20101004
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-014595.hdr.sgml : 20101004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101004170919
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-014595
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101004

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wheeler Blair
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001334935

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34630
		FILM NUMBER:		101106526

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
		STREET 2:		TEN CANAL PARK
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASPEN TECHNOLOGY INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929940
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES [7371]
		IRS NUMBER:				042739697
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 WHEELER ROAD
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179491000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 WHEELER ROAD
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929940</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASPEN TECHNOLOGY INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AZPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001334935</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wheeler Blair</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 WHEELER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Marketing</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1299</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64318</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares withheld by Registrant to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements on vesting of Restricted Stock Units and distribution of stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ F. G. Hammond, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----