<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000812486
<NAME> "Strong Short Term Bond Fund, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> Institutional Class
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> Nov-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> Apr-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,174,529
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,144,133
<RECEIVABLES> 30,610
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,174,927
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9,027
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 6,561
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 15,588
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1295099
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2203
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1423
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (43)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (104121)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (31,780)
<NET-ASSETS> 20483
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2526
<INTEREST-INCOME> 43651
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (5100)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 41,077
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5338)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10,624)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 25115
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (605)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 829
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (106)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 56
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (126397)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (343)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98784)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2281
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5113
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 17,102
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.42
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.33
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.30
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.5
</TABLE>
