<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000914231
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 STRONG EQUITY FUNDS, INC.
001 B000000 811-8100
001 C000000 4143593450
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 2936
002 B000000 MILWAUKEE
002 C000000 WI
002 D010000 53201
002 D020000 2936
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 3
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 STRONG GROWTH FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 STRONG SMALL CAP FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 STRONG VALUE FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
011 A00AA01 STRONG FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-10724
011 C01AA01 MILWAUKEE
011 C02AA01 WI
011 C03AA01 53201
011 C04AA01 2936
012 A00AA01 STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-1599
012 C01AA01 MILWAUKEE
012 C02AA01 WI
012 C03AA01 53201
012 C04AA01 2936
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 A00AA01 COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
013 B01AA01 MILWAUKEE
013 B02AA01 WI
013 B03AA01 53202
014 A00AA01 STRONG FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-32608
014 A00AA02 W. H. REAVES & COMPANY, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-22142
015 A00AA01 FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 MILWAUKEE
015 C02AA01 WI
015 C03AA01 53202
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 BOSTON
015 C02AA02 MA
015 C03AA02 02109
015 E04AA02 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 39
019 C00AA00 STRONGFUND
020 A000001 INSTINET CORPORATION
020 C000001 729
020 A000002 LAZARD, FRERES & COMPANY, L.L.C.
020 C000002 725
020 A000003 GOLDMAN, SACHS & COMPANY
020 C000003 456
020 A000004 SMITH BARNEY, INC.
020 C000004 439
020 A000005 MORGAN STANLEY & COMPANY, INC.
020 C000005 357
020 A000006 BEAR, STEARNS & COMPANY, INC.
020 C000006 345
020 A000007 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 C000007 267
020 A000008 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
020 C000008 263
020 A000009 ROBERT W. BAIRD & COMPANY, INC.
020 C000009 143
020 A000010 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP
020 C000010 115
021 000000 5534
022 A000001 CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO
022 C000001 4037768
022 D000001 14007
022 A000002 GOLDMAN, SACHS & COMPANY
022 C000002 2578622
022 D000002 328154
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000003 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
022 C000003 1144118
022 D000003 60123
022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 C000004 1147093
022 D000004 10473
022 A000005 MORGAN STANLEY & COMPANY, INC.
022 C000005 964746
022 D000005 114127
022 A000006 PAINEWEBBER, INC.
022 C000006 816431
022 D000006 6707
022 A000007 SMITH BARNEY, INC.
022 C000007 234724
022 D000007 284412
022 A000008 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 C000008 463613
022 D000008 12791
022 A000009 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 C000009 231423
022 D000009 79910
022 A000010 MORGAN KEEGAN & COMPANY, INC.
022 C000010 256112
022 D000010 2069
023 C000000 13288966
023 D000000 1389474
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
031 A00AA00 0
031 B00AA00 0
032 00AA00 0
033 00AA00 0
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 Y
040 00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
042 A00AA00 0
042 B00AA00 0
042 C00AA00 0
042 D00AA00 0
042 E00AA00 0
042 F00AA00 0
042 G00AA00 0
042 H00AA00 0
043 00AA00 0
044 00AA00 0
045 00AA00 Y
046 00AA00 N
047 00AA00 Y
048 00AA00 1.000
048 A01AA00 0
048 A02AA00 0.000
048 B01AA00 0
048 B02AA00 0.000
048 C01AA00 0
048 C02AA00 0.000
048 D01AA00 0
048 D02AA00 0.000
048 E01AA00 0
048 E02AA00 0.000
048 F01AA00 0
048 F02AA00 0.000
048 G01AA00 0
048 G02AA00 0.000
048 H01AA00 0
048 H02AA00 0.000
048 I01AA00 0
048 I02AA00 0.000
048 J01AA00 0
048 J02AA00 0.000
048 K01AA00 0
048 K02AA00 0.000
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 Y
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 Y
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 250
062 A00AA00 N
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
062 E00AA00 0.0
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.0
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 0.0
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
063 A00AA00 0
063 B00AA00 0.0
066 A00AA00 Y
066 B00AA00 N
066 C00AA00 N
066 D00AA00 Y
066 E00AA00 N
066 F00AA00 N
066 G00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 N
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE MUTUAL INS. CO.
080 C00AA00 45000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 37
082 A00AA00 Y
082 B00AA00 250
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
086 A01AA00 0
086 A02AA00 0
086 B01AA00 0
086 B02AA00 0
086 C01AA00 0
086 C02AA00 0
086 D01AA00 0
086 D02AA00 0
086 E01AA00 0
086 E02AA00 0
086 F01AA00 0
086 F02AA00 0
008 A000101 STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000101 A
008 C000101 801-10724
008 D010101 MILWAUKEE
008 D020101 WI
<PAGE> PAGE 7
008 D030101 53201
008 D040101 2936
024 000100 Y
025 A000101 TRAVELERS GROUP, INC.
025 C000101 E
025 D000101 15125
025 D000102 0
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 114213
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 77789
028 B010100 64661
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 23226
028 C010100 67136
028 C020100 0
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 32178
028 D010100 96850
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 44809
028 E010100 51287
028 E020100 0
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 34181
028 F010100 36408
028 F020100 32427
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 48678
028 G010100 430555
028 G020100 32427
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 260861
028 H000100 0
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056 000100 Y
057 000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 Y
070 B020100 Y
070 C010100 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 Y
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 Y
070 F020100 Y
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 Y
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 Y
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 Y
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 Y
070 M020100 Y
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 N
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 Y
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 3293445
071 B000100 2820082
071 C000100 956211
071 D000100 295
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 3947
072 C000100 7582
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 10356
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 2426
072 J000100 113
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 651
072 M000100 12
072 N000100 369
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 42
072 S000100 -1
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 -29
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 22
072 X000100 13961
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 -2432
072AA000100 239836
072BB000100 172432
072CC010100 87465
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 1456
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 31662
073 A010100 0.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.4597
073 C000100 0.0217
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 88563
074 D000100 2708
074 E000100 1000
074 F000100 1217541
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 18924
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 1043
074 M000100 57
074 N000100 1329836
074 O000100 20027
074 P000100 1183
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 469
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 1308157
074 U010100 70704
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 18.50
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 103849
074 Y000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 1028686
076 000100 0.00
008 A000201 STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000201 A
008 C000201 801-10724
008 D010201 MILWAUKEE
008 D020201 WI
008 D030201 53201
008 D040201 2936
024 000200 Y
025 A000201 CANTOR FITZGERALD & COMPANY
025 C000201 D
025 D000201 10900
025 D000202 0
025 D000203 0
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 13571
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 14939
028 B010200 21443
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 5316
028 C010200 27446
028 C020200 539
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 6279
028 D010200 25839
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 8574
028 E010200 22225
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 10596
028 F010200 29650
028 F020200 1487
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 15196
028 G010200 140174
028 G020200 2026
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 60900
028 H000200 0
055 A000200 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 11
055 B000200 N
056 000200 Y
057 000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 Y
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 Y
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 Y
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 Y
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 Y
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 Y
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 Y
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 Y
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 N
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 Y
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 437856
071 B000200 292290
071 C000200 69624
071 D000200 420
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 473
072 C000200 130
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 721
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 12
072 I000200 185
072 J000200 37
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 55
072 M000200 1
072 N000200 64
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 9
072 S000200 5
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 1
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 1
072 X000200 1079
072 Y000200 0
072 Z000200 -476
072AA000200 12620
072BB000200 22603
072CC010200 12129
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 2103
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.0000
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.1883
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 10900
074 C000200 956
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 145142
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 0
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 520
074 M000200 31
074 N000200 157549
074 O000200 113
074 P000200 131
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 246
074 S000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
074 T000200 157059
074 U010200 13002
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 12.08
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 14478
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 72700
076 000200 0.00
008 A000301 STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000301 A
008 C000301 801-10724
008 D010301 MILWAUKEE
008 D020301 WI
008 D030301 53201
008 D040301 2936
008 A000302 SLOATE, WEISMAN, MURRAY & COMPANY, INC.
008 B000302 S
008 C000302 801-9843
008 D010302 NEW YORK
008 D020302 NY
008 D030302 10022
024 000300 Y
025 A000301 CANTOR FITZGERALD & COMPANY
025 C000301 D
025 D000301 11400
025 D000302 0
025 D000303 0
025 D000304 0
025 D000305 0
025 D000306 0
025 D000307 0
025 D000308 0
028 A010300 6974
028 A020300 0
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 2161
028 B010300 4510
028 B020300 0
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 440
028 C010300 4999
028 C020300 139
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 1373
028 D010300 4095
028 D020300 0
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 1595
<PAGE> PAGE 14
028 E010300 4476
028 E020300 0
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 1092
028 F010300 3422
028 F020300 184
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 2299
028 G010300 28476
028 G020300 323
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 8960
028 H000300 0
055 A000300 Y
055 B000300 N
056 000300 Y
057 000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 Y
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 Y
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 Y
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 Y
070 E020300 N
070 F010300 Y
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 Y
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 Y
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 Y
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 Y
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 Y
070 L020300 Y
070 M010300 Y
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 Y
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 Y
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 N
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
<PAGE> PAGE 15
070 R010300 Y
070 R020300 N
071 A000300 64606
071 B000300 21291
071 C000300 23782
071 D000300 90
072 A000300 12
072 B000300 496
072 C000300 419
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 303
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 78
072 J000300 9
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 27
072 M000300 1
072 N000300 29
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 0
072 R000300 5
072 S000300 5
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 1
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 0
072 X000300 458
072 Y000300 0
072 Z000300 457
072AA000300 1305
072BB000300 1236
072CC010300 3022
072CC020300 0
072DD010300 456
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.1268
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 0
074 B000300 11400
074 C000300 977
074 D000300 0
074 E000300 1273
074 F000300 45133
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
<PAGE> PAGE 16
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 112
074 K000300 0
074 L000300 63
074 M000300 26
074 N000300 58984
074 O000300 3390
074 P000300 47
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 52
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 55495
074 U010300 4806
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 11.55
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 4711
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 30193
076 000300 0.00
SIGNATURE VALERIE MAYNARD
TITLE DIRECTOR OF FIN. REP
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000914231
<NAME> "Strong Equity Funds, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> Strong Growth Fund
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1093374
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1309812
<RECEIVABLES> 19967
<ASSETS-OTHER> 57
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1329836
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 20027
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1652
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 21679
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1074422
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 70704
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 40479
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 91
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 17206
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 216438
<NET-ASSETS> 1308157
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 7582
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3947
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (13,961)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (2432)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 67404
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 87465
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 152437
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,456)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (31,662)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 52717
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (24,245)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1753
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 665335
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 72
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 14629
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10356
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 13961
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1036585
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.88
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.13
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.46)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.50
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.3
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000914231
<NAME> "Strong Equity Funds, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> Strong Small Cap Fund
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 144869
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 156998
<RECEIVABLES> 520
<ASSETS-OTHER> 31
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 157549
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 113
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 377
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 490
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 157492
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13002
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (12,568)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 12129
<NET-ASSETS> 157059
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 130
<INTEREST-INCOME> 473
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,079)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (476)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (9,983)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 12129
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1670
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,103)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 19415
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (6,583)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 170
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 157059
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 721
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1079
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 72297
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.28
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.08
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.5
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000914231
<NAME> "Strong Equity Funds, Inc."
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> Strong Value Fund
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 55761
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 58783
<RECEIVABLES> 175
<ASSETS-OTHER> 26
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 58984
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3390
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 99
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3489
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 52403
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4806
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 69
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3,022
<NET-ASSETS> 55495
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 419
<INTEREST-INCOME> 496
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (458)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 457
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 69
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3022
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3548
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (456)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5736
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (969)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 39
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 55495
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 303
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 458
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 30392
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.55
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.13)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.5
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
