<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURN - CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 97633260
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 85699551
<RECEIVABLES> 2912688
<ASSETS-OTHER> 73866
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 88686105
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1467706
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1467706
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 110361292
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4600353
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4874843
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (11209184)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (11933709)
<NET-ASSETS> 87218399
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 504225
<INTEREST-INCOME> 11558117
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1417738)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10644604
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (9640254)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (6413837)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (5409487)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5826234)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2046001
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2607245)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 286754
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (17607873)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 15000
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1568930)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 649418
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5637
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2046491
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 57402068
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.36
<PER-SHARE-NII> 1.08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.58)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.08)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.00
</TABLE>
