<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000353905
<NAME> Nationwide Separate Account Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> Capital Appreciation Fund
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> Jun-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 805069098
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 893656492
<RECEIVABLES> 12528039
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 20181
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 906204712
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13963818
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 603238
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14567056
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 651592379
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 34473362
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 41541048
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 823682
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 152281565
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 88587394
<NET-ASSETS> 891637656
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3956017
<INTEREST-INCOME> 346307
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3592658
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 709666
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 152281565
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (155949480)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (2958249)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1533348
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2598576
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 9727096
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 60834
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (176201025)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2692862
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3679953
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 902839924
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 25.71
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.17
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.04
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 25.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.80
</TABLE>
