<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 18
   <NAME> THE AAL INTERNATIONAL FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-09-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        115089454
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       115757084
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       279880
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           30262565
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     111675805
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           229340
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (584861)
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       4245072
<NET-ASSETS>                                 118753740
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              1818527
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<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 1834740
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         765721
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       4884829
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       701026
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          6351576
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         229431
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       (92)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        61636555
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        1350310
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        51335
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           873585
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                1834740
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          87453711
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.98
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .36
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.94
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>