<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000812486
<NAME> "Strong Short Term Bond Fund, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> Advisor Class
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> Nov-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,176,388
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,164,138
<RECEIVABLES> 33,663
<ASSETS-OTHER> 31
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,197,832
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,774
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,241
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 35,015
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,292,909
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (85)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (117,063)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (12,944)
<NET-ASSETS> 16
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4334
<INTEREST-INCOME> 86225
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (10,157)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 80,402
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (18279)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 8,212
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 70335
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (122735)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (343)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98784)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4459
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 10160
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 12
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.60
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.60)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.10
</TABLE>