<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000701817
<NAME> SEI TAX EXEMPT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 040
<NAME> INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 824109
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 832268
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 14622
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 846890
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3493
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3493
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 838034
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 77860
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 60496
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 45
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (2841)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 8159
<NET-ASSETS> 843397
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 35484
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (4372)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 31112
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2841)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 15716
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 43987
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (31091)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (650)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 40955
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (26081)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2490
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 196157
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 25
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 649
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2404
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 6384
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 727997
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.70
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.45
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.01)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.60
</TABLE>
