<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 06/30/96
000 C000000 0000353905
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
001 B000000 811-3213
001 C000000 6142497869
002 A000000 ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA 25-T
002 B000000 COLUMBUS
002 C000000 OH
002 D010000 43216
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 5
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 TOTAL RETURN FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 GOVERNMENT BOND FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 MONEY MARKET FUND
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C020500 SMALL COMPANY FUND
007 C030500 N
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
012 A00AA01 NATIONWIDE INVESTORS SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-9999999
012 C01AA01 COLUMBUS
012 C02AA01 OH
012 C03AA01 43216
013 A00AA01 KPMG PEAT MARWICK
013 B01AA01 COLUMBUS
013 B02AA01 OH
013 B03AA01 43215
<PAGE> PAGE 2
015 A00AA01 THE FIFTH THIRD BANK
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 CINCINNATI
015 C02AA01 OH
015 C03AA01 45263
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 19
019 C00AA00 NATIONWIDE
020 A000001 EXECUTION SERVICES
020 B000001 13-2862329
020 C000001 65
020 A000002 SMITH BARNEY
020 B000002 13-1912900
020 C000002 25
020 A000003 MESIROW
020 B000003 36-2183840
020 C000003 56
020 A000004 OPPENHEIMER
020 B000004 13-2798343
020 C000004 23
020 A000005 WERTHEIM
020 B000005 13-2697272
020 C000005 23
020 A000006 BEAR STEARNS
020 B000006 13-4946705
020 C000006 23
020 A000007 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000007 13-5365580
020 C000007 21
020 A000008 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000008 13-5108880
020 C000008 20
020 A000009 INSTINET
020 B000009 13-2596491
020 C000009 15
020 A000010 DONALDSON LUFKIN
020 B000010 13-2741729
020 C000010 14
021 000000 566
022 A000001 PRUDENTIAL BACHE
022 B000001 13-6134767
022 C000001 2480977
022 D000001 309
022 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH
022 B000002 13-5674085
022 C000002 2143927
022 D000002 72021
022 A000003 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000003 13-5108880
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000003 791842
022 D000003 97875
022 A000004 5TH/3RD BANK
022 B000004 31-0854433
022 C000004 593595
022 D000004 590
022 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000005 13-2663822
022 C000005 404617
022 D000005 333
022 A000006 JP MORGAN
022 B000006 13-3224016
022 C000006 375386
022 D000006 270
022 A000007 STATE STREET BANK
022 B000007 04-1867445
022 C000007 149677
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 CHEVRON FINANCIAL
022 B000008 25-1215010
022 C000008 104505
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 NATIONSBANK
022 B000009 56-1684171
022 C000009 34057
022 D000009 32611
022 A000010 SMITH BARNEY
022 B000010 13-1912900
022 C000010 32573
022 D000010 6249
023 C000000 8375200
023 D000000 299833
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
039 00AA00 N
040 00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 Y
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 Y
058 B00AA00 Y
058 C00AA00 N
058 D00AA00 N
058 E00AA00 N
059 00AA00 N
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 0
077 A000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 MARYLAND FIDELITY & DEPOSIT CO.
080 C00AA00 10000
081 B00AA00 15
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
008 A000101 NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
008 B000101 A
008 C000101 801-125000
008 D010101 COLUMBUS
008 D020101 OH
008 D030101 43216
024 000100 N
028 A010100 5328
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 3070
028 B010100 30440
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 4789
028 C010100 16650
028 C020100 458
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 11660
028 D010100 12825
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 5316
028 E010100 8107
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 19895
028 F010100 8448
028 F020100 516
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 10179
028 G010100 81798
028 G020100 974
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 54909
028 H000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.500
048 A010100 0
048 A020100 0.000
048 B010100 0
048 B020100 0.000
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 0
048 K020100 0.000
049 000100 N
050 000100 N
051 000100 N
052 000100 N
053 A000100 N
055 A000100 Y
055 B000100 N
056 000100 N
057 000100 N
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
066 A000100 Y
066 B000100 N
066 C000100 Y
066 D000100 N
066 E000100 N
066 F000100 N
066 G000100 N
067 000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069 000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 N
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 N
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 N
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 53079
071 B000100 16826
071 C000100 111930
071 D000100 16
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 251
072 C000100 1034
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 283
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 0
072 J000100 8
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 0
072 M000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 N000100 0
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 1
072 R000100 1
072 S000100 0
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 5
072 X000100 298
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 987
072AA000100 3811
072BB000100 594
072CC010100 5130
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 1213
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.1200
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 570
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 118517
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 3935
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 197
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 123219
074 O000100 485
074 P000100 5274
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 1
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 117459
074 U010100 7967
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 14.74
074 V020100 0.00
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 1
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 111930
076 000100 0.00
008 A000201 NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC
008 B000201 A
008 C000201 801-125000
008 D010201 COLUMBUS
008 D020201 OH
008 D030201 43216
024 000200 Y
025 A000201 MERRILL LYNCH
025 B000201 13-5674085
025 C000201 E
025 D000201 22794
025 A000202 JP MORGAN
025 B000202 13-3224016
025 C000202 E
025 D000202 11848
025 D000203 0
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 15670
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 2456
028 B010200 14014
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 4654
028 C010200 13372
028 C020200 4778
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 2310
028 D010200 22289
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 9151
028 E010200 15606
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 4307
028 F010200 19187
028 F020200 4628
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 3111
<PAGE> PAGE 10
028 G010200 100138
028 G020200 9406
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 25989
028 H000200 0
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.500
048 A010200 0
048 A020200 0.000
048 B010200 0
048 B020200 0.000
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 0
048 K020200 0.000
049 000200 N
050 000200 N
051 000200 N
052 000200 N
053 A000200 N
055 A000200 N
055 B000200 N
056 000200 N
057 000200 N
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
066 A000200 Y
066 B000200 N
066 C000200 N
066 D000200 Y
066 E000200 N
066 F000200 N
066 G000200 N
067 000200 N
068 A000200 N
068 B000200 N
069 000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 N
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 N
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 N
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 N
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 N
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
<PAGE> PAGE 12
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 184015
071 B000200 77512
071 C000200 806867
071 D000200 10
072 A000200 6
072 B000200 2713
072 C000200 9100
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 2225
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 0
072 J000200 11
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 0
072 M000200 1
072 N000200 0
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 9
072 R000200 7
072 S000200 0
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 13
072 X000200 2266
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 9547
072AA000200 21131
072BB000200 2352
072CC010200 44062
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 9406
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.1250
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 2
074 B000200 786
074 C000200 81828
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 879259
074 G000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 6241
074 K000200 588
074 L000200 1651
074 M000200 0
074 N000200 970355
074 O000200 8462
074 P000200 391
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 0
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 961502
074 U010200 77511
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 12.40
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 1
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 894927
076 000200 0.00
008 A000301 NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC
008 B000301 A
008 C000301 801-125000
008 D010301 COLUMBUS
008 D020301 OH
008 D030301 43216
024 000300 N
028 A010300 4911
028 A020300 0
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 4398
028 B010300 6083
028 B020300 0
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 5426
028 C010300 2496
028 C020300 6757
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 6122
028 D010300 6464
028 D020300 0
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 9602
028 E010300 3191
028 E020300 0
<PAGE> PAGE 14
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 6727
028 F010300 6015
028 F020300 6967
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 5377
028 G010300 29160
028 G020300 13724
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 37652
028 H000300 0
045 000300 Y
046 000300 N
047 000300 Y
048 000300 0.500
048 A010300 0
048 A020300 0.000
048 B010300 0
048 B020300 0.000
048 C010300 0
048 C020300 0.000
048 D010300 0
048 D020300 0.000
048 E010300 0
048 E020300 0.000
048 F010300 0
048 F020300 0.000
048 G010300 0
048 G020300 0.000
048 H010300 0
048 H020300 0.000
048 I010300 0
048 I020300 0.000
048 J010300 0
048 J020300 0.000
048 K010300 0
048 K020300 0.000
049 000300 N
050 000300 N
051 000300 N
052 000300 N
053 A000300 N
055 A000300 N
055 B000300 N
056 000300 N
057 000300 N
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
062 D000300 1.8
062 E000300 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 15
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 1.1
062 M000300 5.8
062 N000300 34.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 57.3
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 0
063 B000300 5.5
066 A000300 N
067 000300 N
068 A000300 N
068 B000300 N
069 000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 N
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 N
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 N
070 E020300 N
070 F010300 N
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 N
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 N
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 Y
070 L020300 N
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 N
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 N
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 N
<PAGE> PAGE 16
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 N
070 R020300 N
071 A000300 146688
071 B000300 90542
071 C000300 413506
071 D000300 22
072 A000300 6
072 B000300 14843
072 C000300 0
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 1098
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 0
072 J000300 8
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 0
072 M000300 1
072 N000300 0
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 5
072 R000300 3
072 S000300 2
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 0
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 6
072 X000300 1123
072 Y000300 0
072 Z000300 13720
072AA000300 3870
072BB000300 229
072CC010300 0
072CC020300 24949
072DD010300 13724
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.3450
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 0
074 B000300 8162
074 C000300 0
074 D000300 425137
074 E000300 0
<PAGE> PAGE 17
074 F000300 0
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 8309
074 K000300 0
074 L000300 4753
074 M000300 0
074 N000300 446361
074 O000300 8162
074 P000300 253
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 10
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 437936
074 U010300 40455
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 10.83
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 1
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 441738
076 000300 0.00
008 A000401 NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC
008 B000401 A
008 C000401 801-125000
008 D010401 COLUMBUS
008 D020401 OH
008 D030401 43216
024 000400 Y
025 A000401 SMITH BARNEY
025 B000401 13-1912900
025 C000401 D
025 D000401 27875
025 A000402 MERRILL LYNCH
025 B000402 13-5674085
025 C000402 D
025 D000402 27289
025 D000403 0
025 D000404 0
025 D000405 0
025 D000406 0
025 D000407 0
025 D000408 0
028 A010400 59952
028 A020400 3061
<PAGE> PAGE 18
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 127075
028 B010400 154684
028 B020400 2720
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 59582
028 C010400 212328
028 C020400 3495
028 C030400 0
028 C040400 93107
028 D010400 152276
028 D020400 3631
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 223916
028 E010400 96616
028 E020400 3357
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 108441
028 F010400 178638
028 F020400 3468
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 71991
028 G010400 854494
028 G020400 19732
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 684112
028 H000400 0
045 000400 Y
046 000400 N
047 000400 Y
048 000400 0.500
048 A010400 0
048 A020400 0.000
048 B010400 0
048 B020400 0.000
048 C010400 0
048 C020400 0.000
048 D010400 0
048 D020400 0.000
048 E010400 0
048 E020400 0.000
048 F010400 0
048 F020400 0.000
048 G010400 0
048 G020400 0.000
048 H010400 0
048 H020400 0.000
048 I010400 0
048 I020400 0.000
048 J010400 0
048 J020400 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 19
048 K010400 0
048 K020400 0.000
049 000400 N
050 000400 N
051 000400 N
052 000400 N
053 A000400 N
055 A000400 N
055 B000400 N
056 000400 N
057 000400 N
062 A000400 Y
062 B000400 1.7
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 95.7
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 2.6
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
063 A000400 35
063 B000400 0.0
066 A000400 N
067 000400 N
068 A000400 N
068 B000400 N
069 000400 N
070 A010400 Y
070 A020400 N
070 B010400 N
070 B020400 N
070 C010400 N
070 C020400 N
070 D010400 N
070 D020400 N
070 E010400 N
070 E020400 N
070 F010400 N
070 F020400 N
070 G010400 N
070 G020400 N
070 H010400 N
<PAGE> PAGE 20
070 H020400 N
070 I010400 N
070 I020400 N
070 J010400 Y
070 J020400 N
070 K010400 N
070 K020400 N
070 L010400 Y
070 L020400 Y
070 M010400 N
070 M020400 N
070 N010400 N
070 N020400 N
070 O010400 N
070 O020400 N
070 P010400 N
070 P020400 N
070 Q010400 N
070 Q020400 N
070 R010400 N
070 R020400 N
071 A000400 0
071 B000400 0
071 C000400 0
071 D000400 0
072 A000400 6
072 B000400 21764
072 C000400 0
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 1978
072 G000400 0
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 0
072 J000400 20
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 0
072 M000400 1
072 N000400 0
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 8
072 R000400 6
072 S000400 7
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 0
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 11
072 X000400 2031
072 Y000400 0
072 Z000400 19733
<PAGE> PAGE 21
072AA000400 0
072BB000400 1
072CC010400 0
072CC020400 0
072DD010400 19738
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 0
073 A010400 0.0248
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 0
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 961967
074 D000400 0
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 0
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 13875
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 0
074 M000400 0
074 N000400 975842
074 O000400 47801
074 P000400 483
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 0
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 6
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 927552
074 U010400 927562
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 1.00
074 V020400 0.00
074 W000400 1.0000
074 X000400 1
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 791215
075 B000400 0
076 000400 0.00
008 A000501 NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC
008 B000501 A
008 C000501 801-125000
008 D010501 COLUMBUS
008 D020501 OH
008 D030501 43216
008 A000502 NEUBERGER & BERMAN LP
<PAGE> PAGE 22
008 B000502 S
008 C000502 801-390800
008 D010502 NEW YORK
008 D020502 NY
008 D030502 10158
008 D040502 3698
008 A000503 STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC
008 B000503 S
008 C000503 801-107240
008 D010503 MILWAUKEE
008 D020503 WI
008 D030503 53201
008 A000504 VAN ECK GLOBAL/PICTET INTERNATIONAL MGT LTD
008 B000504 S
008 C000504 801-213400
008 D010504 NEW YORK
008 D020504 NY
008 D030504 10016
008 A000505 WARBURG PINCUS COUNSELLORS INC
008 B000505 S
008 C000505 801-073210
008 D010505 NEW YORK
008 D020505 NY
008 D030505 10017
008 A000506 DREYFUS CORP
008 B000506 S
008 C000506 801-8147
008 D010506 NEW YORK
008 D020506 NY
008 D030506 10166
024 000500 N
028 A010500 10594
028 A020500 0
028 A030500 0
028 A040500 3481
028 B010500 3481
028 B020500 0
028 B030500 0
028 B040500 2059
028 C010500 10457
028 C020500 23
028 C030500 0
028 C040500 1435
028 D010500 25072
028 D020500 0
028 D030500 0
028 D040500 693
028 E010500 26194
028 E020500 0
028 E030500 0
028 E040500 4729
<PAGE> PAGE 23
028 F010500 11421
028 F020500 92
028 F030500 0
028 F040500 16402
028 G010500 87219
028 G020500 115
028 G030500 0
028 G040500 28799
028 H000500 0
045 000500 Y
046 000500 N
047 000500 Y
048 000500 1.000
048 A010500 0
048 A020500 0.000
048 B010500 0
048 B020500 0.000
048 C010500 0
048 C020500 0.000
048 D010500 0
048 D020500 0.000
048 E010500 0
048 E020500 0.000
048 F010500 0
048 F020500 0.000
048 G010500 0
048 G020500 0.000
048 H010500 0
048 H020500 0.000
048 I010500 0
048 I020500 0.000
048 J010500 0
048 J020500 0.000
048 K010500 0
048 K020500 0.000
049 000500 N
050 000500 N
051 000500 N
052 000500 N
053 A000500 Y
053 B000500 Y
055 A000500 N
055 B000500 N
056 000500 N
057 000500 N
062 A000500 N
062 B000500 0.0
062 C000500 0.0
062 D000500 0.0
062 E000500 0.0
062 F000500 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 24
062 G000500 0.0
062 H000500 0.0
062 I000500 0.0
062 J000500 0.0
062 K000500 0.0
062 L000500 0.0
062 M000500 0.0
062 N000500 0.0
062 O000500 0.0
062 P000500 0.0
062 Q000500 0.0
062 R000500 0.0
066 A000500 Y
066 B000500 Y
066 C000500 N
066 D000500 N
066 E000500 N
066 F000500 N
066 G000500 N
067 000500 N
068 A000500 N
068 B000500 N
069 000500 N
070 A010500 Y
070 A020500 Y
070 B010500 Y
070 B020500 N
070 C010500 Y
070 C020500 N
070 D010500 Y
070 D020500 N
070 E010500 N
070 E020500 N
070 F010500 Y
070 F020500 N
070 G010500 Y
070 G020500 N
070 H010500 Y
070 H020500 N
070 I010500 N
070 I020500 N
070 J010500 Y
070 J020500 N
070 K010500 N
070 K020500 N
070 L010500 Y
070 L020500 Y
070 M010500 Y
070 M020500 Y
070 N010500 Y
070 N020500 N
<PAGE> PAGE 25
070 O010500 N
070 O020500 N
070 P010500 N
070 P020500 N
070 Q010500 N
070 Q020500 N
070 R010500 N
070 R020500 N
071 A000500 85358
071 B000500 29945
071 C000500 41923
071 D000500 71
072 A000500 6
072 B000500 236
072 C000500 260
072 D000500 0
072 E000500 0
072 F000500 246
072 G000500 0
072 H000500 0
072 I000500 0
072 J000500 35
072 K000500 0
072 L000500 0
072 M000500 0
072 N000500 0
072 O000500 0
072 P000500 0
072 Q000500 0
072 R000500 0
072 S000500 0
072 T000500 0
072 U000500 0
072 V000500 0
072 W000500 16
072 X000500 297
072 Y000500 0
072 Z000500 199
072AA000500 3047
072BB000500 1823
072CC010500 5393
072CC020500 0
072DD010500 115
072DD020500 0
072EE000500 0
073 A010500 0.0225
073 A020500 0.0000
073 B000500 0.0000
073 C000500 0.0000
074 A000500 0
074 B000500 3493
<PAGE> PAGE 26
074 C000500 3442
074 D000500 0
074 E000500 305
074 F000500 76039
074 G000500 0
074 H000500 0
074 I000500 5
074 J000500 7777
074 K000500 2277
074 L000500 0
074 M000500 8
074 N000500 93346
074 O000500 10659
074 P000500 271
074 Q000500 0
074 R010500 0
074 R020500 0
074 R030500 0
074 R040500 23
074 S000500 0
074 T000500 82393
074 U010500 6150
074 U020500 0
074 V010500 13.40
074 V020500 0.00
074 W000500 0.0000
074 X000500 1
074 Y000500 0
075 A000500 0
075 B000500 49558
076 000500 0.00
SIGNATURE WILLIAM G. GOSLEE
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 98927845
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 119086842
<RECEIVABLES> 4131726
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 123218568
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 484740
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5274746
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5759486
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 94049723
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7967050
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6028094
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 34957
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3215405
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20158997
<NET-ASSETS> 117459082
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1034132
<INTEREST-INCOME> 251155
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 298651
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 986636
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3216734
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5130499
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 9333869
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 972787
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5667602
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3795112
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 66466
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 36222071
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 21108
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 283039
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 298651
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 111930248
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.48
<PER-SHARE-NII> .19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .07
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 751356132
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 961873333
<RECEIVABLES> 8479584
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2436
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 970355353
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8462347
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 390547
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8852894
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 731931562
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 77511007
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 70638277
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 501835
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 18551861
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 210517201
<NET-ASSETS> 961502459
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9099708
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2713169
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2266354
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9546523
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 18779196
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 44061640
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 72387359
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 9406441
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8254563
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2148346
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 766513
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 146537987
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 361753
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (227335)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2225091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2266354
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 894926785
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.54
<PER-SHARE-NII> .15
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .86
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .15
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.40
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> GOVERNMENT BOND FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 432866380
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 433298801
<RECEIVABLES> 13062000
<ASSETS-OTHER> 513
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 446361314
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8162000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 263285
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8425285
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 442594612
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 40454591
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 39968359
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 40606
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (5131610)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 432421
<NET-ASSETS> 437936029
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 14843271
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1122861
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13720410
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3641302
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (24949399)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (7587687)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 13724462
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2635729
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3410487
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1260990
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16080028)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 44658
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (8772912)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1098311
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1122861
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 441738244
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.36
<PER-SHARE-NII> .34
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.53)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .34
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> MONEY MARKET FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 961966862
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 961966862
<RECEIVABLES> 13875000
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 975841862
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 47800479
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 488908
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 42289387
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 927561636
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 927561522
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 737411142
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (2251)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6910)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 927552475
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 21764058
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2030734
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 19733324
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1046)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 19732278
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 19735738
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 2251
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 854493616
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 684110652
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 19767416
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 190144669
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2414
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5864)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1978067
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2030734
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 791214836
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .02
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> SMALL COMPANY FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 76381095
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 83283995
<RECEIVABLES> 10054084
<ASSETS-OTHER> 7929
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 93346008
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10659349
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 293620
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 10952969
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 74283427
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6149471
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1502078
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 86739
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1120626
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6902247
<NET-ASSETS> 82393039
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 259521
<INTEREST-INCOME> 236308
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 296549
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 199280
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1223678
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5393063
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 6816021
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 114964
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6891347
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2252685
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8731
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 65237567
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2423
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (103052)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 246437
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 296549
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 49558232
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.42
<PER-SHARE-NII> .04
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.96
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .02
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.40
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.20
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
