<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> THE AAL SMALL CAP STOCK 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>                         52258487
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        48971868
<RECEIVABLES>                                   892627
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  137446
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                50001941
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       1997562
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       122445
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            2120007
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      51792236
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          4520022
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                         4720
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       (628403)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     (3286619)
<NET-ASSETS>                                  47881934
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                56842
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               124827
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  441413
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       (259744)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        356648
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (3286619)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        (3189715)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      (726525)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        4637506
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (182675)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              65191
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        47881934
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           159016
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 441413
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          25698188
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (.055)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .162
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (.267)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.84
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.06
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>