<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS 
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> THE AAL CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              MAY-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    1,165,162,645
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   1,569,627,678
<RECEIVABLES>                                6,191,969
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 524,825
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,576,344,472
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                    29,980,113
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    1,645,920
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         31,626,033
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 1,063,908,460
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       76,491,908
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       73,529,954
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                    3,047,255
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     73,297,691
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   404,465,033
<NET-ASSETS>                             1,544,718,439
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           12,283,024
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              972,377
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               7,731,842
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      5,523,559
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    40,739,806
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   66,832,112
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      113,095,477
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (6,322,002)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      5,465,416
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (2,831,541)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            328,079
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     163,366,217
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        4,252,575
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              7,731,842
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                     1,437,244,321
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            18.79
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .072
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          1.413
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (.085)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              20.19
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.07
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>