<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001048702
<NAME> Nationwide Mutual Fund Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 43
<NAME> Nationwide Bond Fund Class D
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> Oct-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 117547220
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 114028960
<RECEIVABLES> 2145217
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1406
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 116175583
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1800173
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 797037
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2597210
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 129193882
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 12377139
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13803871
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 77124
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 12174373
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3518260)
<NET-ASSETS> 113578373
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8947137
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1020915
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7926222
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (4699867)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 146975
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3373330
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 7612561
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1493691
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3599361
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 678938
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16720803)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 76370
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 7473752
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 600602
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1020915
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 115020580
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.09
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.59
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.59
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.76
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.83
</TABLE>
