<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 012
   <NAME> THE AAL CAPITAL GROWTH FUND CLASS B
<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>                    1,398,654,873
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   2,192,140,714
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,520,552
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 146,112
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           743,463
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,194,550,841
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    2,223,874
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          2,223,874
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 1,298,338,939
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        1,089,101
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          513,913
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      472,194
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    100,029,993
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   793,485,841
<NET-ASSETS>                             2,192,326,967
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           15,572,987
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              183,670
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              10,473,611
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      5,283,046
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    74,624,894
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  234,492,683
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      314,400,623
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (17,918)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        589,299
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (14,858)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                747
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     386,879,683
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   63,871,032
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        5,925,288
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             10,473,611
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        19,664,887
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            21.45
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                (0.036)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          3.652
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                      (0.026)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              25.04
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.80
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>