<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER HIGH INCOME ADVANTAGE TRUST
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 158,433,884
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 92,470,215
<RECEIVABLES> 2,632,755
<ASSETS-OTHER> 31,863
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 95,134,833
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (165,187)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (165,187)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 254,324,638
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 29,997,052
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 30,017,252
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,347,987
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (94,739,310)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (65,963,669)
<NET-ASSETS> 94,969,646
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8,201,643
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (501,610)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,700,033
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 371,707
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (10,253,122)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (2,181,382)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (8,101,780)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (20,200)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (10,348,126)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,749,739
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (95,111,017)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (374,400)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (501,610)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 99,294,370
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 3.51
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.33)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 3.17
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
</TABLE>
