<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 103
<NAME> HIGH YIELD TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 100155085
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 90173203
<RECEIVABLES> 5745303
<ASSETS-OTHER> 49140
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 95967646
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 489360
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 866297
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1355657
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 123471999
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2344353
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1912753
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (18942792)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (9917218)
<NET-ASSETS> 94611989
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 219574
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4989048
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (589475)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4619147
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7733608)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2016491
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (1097970)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1030343)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 812911
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (438890)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 57579
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 7393590
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (11209184)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 270790
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 75
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 900514
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 20744483
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.78
<PER-SHARE-NII> .48
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.59)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.48)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.19
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.65
</TABLE>
