<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Aarp
High Quality Short Term Bond Fund Semiannual Report for the six months ended
3/31/00 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> AARP High Quality Short Term Bond Fund
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 378,270,186
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 374,023,963
<RECEIVABLES> 4,270,725
<ASSETS-OTHER> 30,291
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 78,559
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 378,403,538
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5,982,928
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,433,482
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,416,410
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 388,154,784
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 23,731,189
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 25,862,023
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (666,869)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (12,254,564)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (4,246,223)
<NET-ASSETS> 370,987,128
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 12,574,403
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,912,001
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,662,402
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (8,295,652)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 5,988,500
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,355,250
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (10,798,833)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7,753,608
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (48,684,971)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7,604,780
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (35,770,166)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (530,438)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,958,912)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 919,777
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,917,843
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 389,002,658
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.42
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.43)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.63
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.92
</TABLE>
