<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 16
   <NAME> THE AAL MUNICIPAL BOND FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        432383371
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       461725419
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<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  243083
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               488607491
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      17067969
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       733697
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           17801666
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     438613197
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           316724
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            70031
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      (47081)
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      29342048
<NET-ASSETS>                                   3609800
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       7482803
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     15997733
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         43946081
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (75468)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (26807)
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         244779
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     (5422)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               7336
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        48372726
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        (47081)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       632740
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          2163729
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                3826850
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           2059608
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.92
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .423
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .613
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.423)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (.133)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.40
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.74
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>