<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000931145
<NAME> THE BEAR STEARNS FUNDS

   <NUMBER> 053
   <NAME> S & P STARS - CLASS 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
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          8788814
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          4052356
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       29413520
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
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<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
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<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               13223227
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            24.10
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  (.30)
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        (.29)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.00