<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000923524
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 F
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 TIAA SEPARATE ACCOUNT VA-1
001 B000000 811-8520
001 C000000 2129164905
002 A000000 730 THIRD AVENUE
002 B000000 NEW YORK
002 C000000 NY
002 D010000 10017
002 D020000 3206
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 STOCK INDEX ACCOUNT
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 TEACHERS ADVISORS, INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-46887
008 D01AA01 NEW YORK
008 D02AA01 NY
008 D03AA01 10017
008 D04AA01 3206
011 A00AA01 TEACHERS PERSONAL INVESTORS SERVICES, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-47051
011 C01AA01 NEW YORK
011 C02AA01 NY
011 C03AA01 10017
011 C04AA01 3206
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 NEW YORK
013 B02AA01 NY
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B03AA01 10281
013 B04AA01 1414
014 A00AA01 TEACHERS PERSONAL INVESTORS SERVICES, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-47051
014 A00AA02 TIAA-CREF INDIVIDUAL & INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES
014 B00AA02 8-44454
015 A00AA01 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 NEW YORK
015 C02AA01 NY
015 C03AA01 10015
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 LONDON
015 D01AA02 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D02AA02 EC2A 2HE
015 E04AA02 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 8
019 C00AA00 TIAA--CREF
020 A000001 JEFFERIES & CO., INC.
020 B000001 95-2622900
020 C000001 28
020 A000002 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP. (THE)
020 B000002 13-5659485
020 C000002 13
020 A000003 SPEAR, LEADS & KELLOGG
020 B000003 13-5515160
020 C000003 12
020 A000004 INSTINET CORP.
020 B000004 13-3443395
020 C000004 4
020 A000005 LATTICE CORP.
020 B000005 04-3155896
020 C000005 3
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 60
022 A000001 CS FISRT BOSTON CORP.(THE)
022 B000001 13-5659485
022 C000001 172727
022 D000001 3598
022 A000002 NATIONSBANK CAPITAL MARKETS, VA
022 B000002 56-1684171
022 C000002 52575
022 D000002 0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000003 MORGAN (JP) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000003 13-3224016
022 C000003 39141
022 D000003 2098
022 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS, GROUP L.P.
022 B000004 13-3620791
022 C000004 23106
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 SPEAR, LEADS & KELLOG
022 B000005 13-5515160
022 C000005 15247
022 D000005 795
022 A000006 LEHMAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES INC.
022 B000006 13-2726611
022 C000006 9998
022 D000006 2113
022 A000007 REDWOOD SECURITIES GROUP INC.
022 B000007 94-3125354
022 C000007 10082
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
022 B000008 13-2501865
022 C000008 8693
022 D000008 499
022 A000009 MYERBERG & COMPANY, L.P.
022 B000009 13-3751827
022 C000009 6298
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 COMMERCIAL CREDIT CORPORATION
022 B000010 52-0883351
022 C000010 5799
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 357801
023 D000000 12493
024 00AA00 Y
025 A00AA01 LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS, INC.
025 B00AA01 13-3216325
025 C00AA01 E
025 D00AA01 160
025 A00AA02 MORGAN (J.P.) & CO., INC.
025 B00AA02 13-3160926
025 C00AA02 E
025 D00AA02 791
025 A00AA03 DELETE
025 D00AA03 0
025 A00AA04 DELETE
025 D00AA04 0
025 D00AA05 0
025 D00AA06 0
025 D00AA07 0
025 D00AA08 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 D00AA09 0
025 D00AA10 0
025 D00AA11 0
025 D00AA12 0
025 D00AA13 0
025 D00AA14 0
025 D00AA15 0
025 D00AA16 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 Y
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A01AA00 20791
028 A02AA00 0
028 A03AA00 0
028 A04AA00 2694
028 B01AA00 11432
028 B02AA00 0
028 B03AA00 0
028 B04AA00 5918
028 C01AA00 11149
028 C02AA00 0
028 C03AA00 0
028 C04AA00 1397
028 D01AA00 17656
028 D02AA00 0
028 D03AA00 0
028 D04AA00 2611
028 E01AA00 12971
028 E02AA00 0
028 E03AA00 0
028 E04AA00 5969
028 F01AA00 14971
028 F02AA00 0
028 F03AA00 0
028 F04AA00 3843
028 G01AA00 88970
028 G02AA00 0
028 G03AA00 0
028 G04AA00 22432
028 H00AA00 0
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
<PAGE> PAGE 5
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 N
040 00AA00 N
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 0.070
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
<PAGE> PAGE 6
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 N
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 N
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 N
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 N
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 N
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 Y
058 B00AA00 Y
058 C00AA00 N
058 D00AA00 N
058 E00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 0
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
<PAGE> PAGE 7
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 Y
070 A01AA00 Y
070 A02AA00 N
070 B01AA00 Y
070 B02AA00 N
070 C01AA00 N
070 C02AA00 N
070 D01AA00 Y
070 D02AA00 N
070 E01AA00 N
070 E02AA00 N
070 F01AA00 Y
070 F02AA00 N
070 G01AA00 Y
070 G02AA00 N
070 H01AA00 Y
070 H02AA00 N
070 I01AA00 N
070 I02AA00 N
070 J01AA00 Y
070 J02AA00 N
070 K01AA00 Y
070 K02AA00 N
070 L01AA00 Y
070 L02AA00 N
070 M01AA00 N
070 M02AA00 N
070 N01AA00 Y
070 N02AA00 N
070 O01AA00 Y
070 O02AA00 N
070 P01AA00 Y
070 P02AA00 N
070 Q01AA00 N
070 Q02AA00 N
070 R01AA00 N
070 R02AA00 N
071 A00AA00 167766
071 B00AA00 8517
071 C00AA00 187229
071 D00AA00 5
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 A00AA00 12
072 B00AA00 103
072 C00AA00 3932
072 D00AA00 0
072 E00AA00 0
072 F00AA00 567
072 G00AA00 378
072 H00AA00 0
072 I00AA00 0
072 J00AA00 0
072 K00AA00 0
072 L00AA00 0
072 M00AA00 0
072 N00AA00 0
072 O00AA00 0
072 P00AA00 0
072 Q00AA00 0
072 R00AA00 0
072 S00AA00 0
072 T00AA00 233
072 U00AA00 0
072 V00AA00 0
072 W00AA00 0
072 X00AA00 1178
072 Y00AA00 426
072 Z00AA00 3283
072AA00AA00 2456
072BB00AA00 0
072CC01AA00 32294
072CC02AA00 0
072DD01AA00 0
072DD02AA00 0
072EE00AA00 0
073 A01AA00 0.0000
073 A02AA00 0.0000
073 B00AA00 0.0000
073 C00AA00 0.0000
074 A00AA00 495
074 B00AA00 0
074 C00AA00 1300
074 D00AA00 0
074 E00AA00 31
074 F00AA00 282563
074 G00AA00 0
074 H00AA00 0
074 I00AA00 0
074 J00AA00 946
074 K00AA00 66
074 L00AA00 491
074 M00AA00 0
074 N00AA00 285892
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 O00AA00 0
074 P00AA00 0
074 Q00AA00 0
074 R01AA00 0
074 R02AA00 0
074 R03AA00 0
074 R04AA00 2847
074 S00AA00 0
074 T00AA00 283045
074 U01AA00 6768
074 U02AA00 0
074 V01AA00 41.82
074 V02AA00 0.00
074 W00AA00 0.0000
074 X00AA00 11952
074 Y00AA00 0
075 A00AA00 0
075 B00AA00 189542
076 00AA00 0.00
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
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 AETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY
080 C00AA00 100000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 8
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 10
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
SIGNATURE ANTHONY V. BETRO
TITLE DIRECTOR INV. ACCTG.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000923524
<NAME> TIAA SEPARATE ACCOUNT VA-1
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 235,212,131
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 283,894,180
<RECEIVABLES> 1,503,067
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 494,960
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 285,892,207
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,846,861
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,846,861
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,767,696
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,604,605
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 283,045,346
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3,932,066
<INTEREST-INCOME> 103,095
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (751,713)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,283,448
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2,455,871
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 32,294,163
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 38,033,482
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,163,091
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 193,417,753
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 567,238
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,177,894
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 188,831,216
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 34.411
<PER-SHARE-NII> .657
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 6.755
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 41.823
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .400
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
