<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 081
   <NAME> THE AAL EQUITY INCOME FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      125,701,510
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     146,717,621
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,852,735
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  53,613
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            55,714
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             154,679,683
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     3,063,115
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      163,299
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          3,226,414
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   124,293,046
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       12,106,401
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       11,838,400
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      555,170
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      5,588,942
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    21,016,111
<NET-ASSETS>                               151,453,269
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            2,536,586
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              454,356
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 806,676
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      2,184,266
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     5,942,124
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    6,471,299
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       14,597,689
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (2,065,609)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,055,293
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (941,620)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            154,328
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      16,761,901
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        447,037
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    (353,182)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          367,499
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                806,676
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       144,975,650
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.34
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.183
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          1.052
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                      (0.175)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.39
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.09
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>