<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> THE AAL CAPITAL GROWTH 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>                       1294947046
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      1853940204
<RECEIVABLES>                                  1402158
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  427061
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1855769423
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      48437900
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      1884239
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           50322139
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    1221050027
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         83469506
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         73529984
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       25404099
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     558993158
<NET-ASSETS>                                1805447284
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                             23256460
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              3182480
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                16660298
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        9778642
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      63871032
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    221360237
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        295009911
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (9778642)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                    (74870516)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                       11764223
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (5906836)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            4082165
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       424095062
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        3845698
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     32557885
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          9121422
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               16660298
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        1575183468
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            18.79
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .125
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          3.682
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.15)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (.947)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               21.5
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.06
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>