EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
          We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Experts" and to the use of our report dated
November 13, 1998, included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 and
Prospectus of MAXIMUS, Inc. for the registration of 4,600,000 shares of its
common stock.
 
                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Washington, DC
November 20, 1998