<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> THE AAL BOND FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        369940922
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       368806265
<RECEIVABLES>                                 56777534
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 1238154
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               426821953
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      36249049
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       839293
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           37088342
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     411226158
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         40418221
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         44806465
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        96451
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     (20454341)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     (1134657)
<NET-ASSETS>                                 389733611
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             29597038
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 4087152
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       25509886
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (4679871)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      5711712
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         26541727
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (25506598)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        3970015
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                 (10449930)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            2091671
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (41113075)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          41051
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (15719070)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          2214486
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                4087152
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         417874558
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.62
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .595
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .01
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.595)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .98
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>