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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-07-22 </periodOfReport> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0000929940 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> ASPEN TECHNOLOGY INC /DE/ </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> AZPN </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001394887 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Hanspal Amarpreet </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> C/O ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> 20 CROSBY DRIVE </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> BEDFORD </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> MA </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 01730 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 1 </isDirector> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-07-22 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 1006 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 1006 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable> |
| | <derivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Director Stock Option (Right to Buy) </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <value> 97.00 </value> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-07-22 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 1983 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 97.00 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F3"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <value> 2030-07-21 </value> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 1983 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 1983 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeTransaction> |
| | </derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Aspen Technology, Inc. common stock. One third of the Restricted Stock Units will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder will vest in eight equal consecutive quarterly installments on the last business day of the quarter until fully vested. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> The Restricted Stock Units were received as a grant for no consideration. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F3"> One third of the options granted at the exercise price of $97.00 will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder will vest in eight consecutive quarterly installments on the last business day of the quarter until fully vested. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/F.G. Hammond, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Hanspal </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-07-24 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |