<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000820892
<NAME> FIRST AMERICAN INVESTMENT FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> INTERMEDIATE TAX FREE FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<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> 393308
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 390536
<RECEIVABLES> 6267
<ASSETS-OTHER> 40
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 396843
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2928
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2928
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 399254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 752
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1025
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 40
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (2607)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2772)
<NET-ASSETS> 393915
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11205
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1477)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1620)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2590)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5518
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (226)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 208
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (494)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 13
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2927)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 91
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (987)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1481
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1842
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 422483
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.45
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.24
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.70
</TABLE>
