WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICL6
<CIK>
<NAMEPRUDENTIAL EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMB003
<NAMPRUDENTIAL EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC. (CLASS C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 684,469,709
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 789,800,248
<RECEIVABLES> 28,960,279
<ASSETS-OTHER> 153,023
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 818,913,550
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 46,431,702
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,282,551
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 49,714,253
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 563,138,461
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 27,654,293
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,590,755
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (3,439,326)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 104,169,623
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 105,330,539
<NET-ASSETS> 769,199,297
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 113,602
<INTEREST-INCOME> 801,174
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,354,102
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3,439,326)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 105,802,099
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 27,121,422
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 129,484,195
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (28,089,208)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 503,187,351
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (175,409,755)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 26,869,973
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 456,042,556
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 26,456,732
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,809,341
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,354,102
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 52,731,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.72
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.18)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 8.27
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.63)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 25.18
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.72
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
