<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000003521
<NAME> THE ALGER FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 72
<NAME> ALGER BALANCED PORTFOLIO CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 278833
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 286158
<RECEIVABLES> 5041
<ASSETS-OTHER> 18
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 291217
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8671
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 7160
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 15831
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 267294
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6344
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4200
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 408
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1081)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7325
<NET-ASSETS> 275386
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 385
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4554
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3024
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1915
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (924)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1906
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2897
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 118
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 4386
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8076
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4495
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 208
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 195665
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 160
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 6512
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1220
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3024
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 92035
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.59
<PER-SHARE-NII> .21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.67
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .04
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 1.60
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.04
</TABLE>
