<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 053
<NAME> S & P STARS - CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 998325322
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1441147885
<RECEIVABLES> 97549420
<ASSETS-OTHER> 82379
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1538779684
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 49823082
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 45905044
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 95728126
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 970815475
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8788814
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4052356
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 29413520
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 442822563
<NET-ASSETS> 1443051558
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2503651
<INTEREST-INCOME> 162883
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (11911358)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (9244824)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 47607437
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 333805696
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 372168309
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1797757)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5445621
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (770211)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 61048
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1037465809
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (896176)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5423504
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 28593
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 13223227
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 161803155
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 24.10
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.30)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 12.31
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 35.82
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.00
</TABLE>