Nau Acceptance Rate 2026: GPA, SAT & Admissions Guide

Northern Arizona University • Flagstaff • Admissions 2026

NAU Acceptance Rate 2026: How Difficult Is Admission?

Northern Arizona University has an acceptance rate of 89.6% in its latest complete official admission report. That makes NAU comparatively accessible among public universities, but its academic requirements are more specific than the acceptance percentage alone suggests.

For most first-year applicants, the critical number is a 2.75 high school core GPA. NAU publishes an assured-admission pathway for students meeting that threshold and the required academic preparation.

The university also offers programs with additional admission criteria, including Nursing and the Honors College. Meeting NAU’s general requirements is not a guarantee of admission to every program.

89.6% Acceptance rate
Fall 2025 admissions Latest complete 2025–26 Common Data Set 35,561 admitted from 39,685 applicants
Quick answer: NAU acceptance rate in 2026

Northern Arizona University’s latest officially published first-year acceptance rate is 89.6%, based on Fall 2025 admissions. Of 39,685 applicants, 35,561 were admitted and 4,540 enrolled. The average reported high school GPA among enrolled first-year students was 3.70, while the middle 50% of students submitting scores earned 1010–1280 SAT or 19–26 ACT.

These figures are from NAU’s 2025–26 Common Data Set. They are not a finalized Fall 2026 acceptance rate. The final Fall 2026 applicant and admit totals should be used when NAU publishes its next Common Data Set.

Read NAU’s official Common Data Set PDF.

39,685First-year applicants
35,561Students admitted
4,540Students enrolled
3.70Average enrolled-student high school GPA

Northern Arizona University Acceptance Rate: Official Admission Statistics

The most reliable source for NAU’s acceptance rate is its institutional Common Data Set, which reports applications, offers of admission and enrolled students for the same entering class.

Fall 2025 admission measure Official count Explanation
First-year applications39,685Completed applications considered for admission.
Students offered admission35,561Applicants who received offers.
Students who enrolled4,540Admitted students who ultimately attended.
Acceptance rate89.6%35,561 divided by 39,685.
Enrollment yield12.8%4,540 divided by 35,561.
Applicants not admitted4,124Difference between total applications and offers of admission.

Put simply, roughly 90 applicants out of every 100 were offered admission in the Fall 2025 applicant pool. However, that average describes the entire applicant group. It does not mean every student has a 90% individual chance regardless of their transcript.

Acceptance rate for Arizona, out-of-state and international applicants

NAU reports application and admission figures separately by residency. This reveals how the applicant pools differed in Fall 2025.

Applicant category Applied Admitted Calculated acceptance rate Enrolled
Arizona residents17,00315,31790.1%3,768
Other U.S. states21,61319,26189.1%760
International1,06998392.0%12
Overall39,68535,56189.6%4,540

The rates are fairly similar across the three groups. NAU also marks state and geographic residence as not considered in its general first-year admission review.

The admission differences therefore should not be interpreted as evidence that NAU deliberately favors one geographic group. The applicants’ academic preparation, program choices and other circumstances can vary.

Arizona applicant insight:

If you attend an Arizona high school, concentrate on the university’s 14 required core courses and your calculated core GPA. Living in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson or elsewhere in Arizona does not replace the academic requirements.

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into NAU?

NAU has one of the clearest published GPA-based admission pathways among large public universities:

2.75 or higher core GPA

NAU states that first-year applicants with at least a 2.75 core GPA, calculated using its 14 required core courses, will be offered admission under its general first-year policy.

This is an assured-admission standard for the university, not an automatic guarantee for every selective major or Honors program.

2.50 core GPA pathway

Applicants with a 2.50 core GPA may still be considered if their high school coursework deficiencies fall within NAU’s published limits.

A combination of a math deficiency and a laboratory-science deficiency makes a student inadmissible under the stated general rules.

Average GPA of students who enrolled

NAU’s 2025–26 Common Data Set lists an average high school GPA of 3.70 among entering students who reported GPA.

The average is much higher than the 2.75 assured-admission threshold because the average describes students who chose to enroll, not the minimum required for an admission offer.

Reported high school GPAShare of Fall 2025 enrolled first-year students
4.0032%
3.75–3.9919%
3.50–3.7415%
3.25–3.4912%
3.00–3.2410%
2.50–2.9910%
2.00–2.492%
Below 2.00Less than 1%

Source: NAU 2025–26 Common Data Set, sections C11 and C12. GPA data were reported for 91% of entering students. Displayed percentages are rounded by the institution.

Approximately 66% of enrolled students reported a GPA of 3.50 or higher. That reflects a substantial group of strong academic performers even though NAU’s assured-admission standard starts at a lower GPA.

How competitive is your GPA?

Your core GPAHow to interpret it
4.0Strong academic record relative to the entering-student profile; check scholarships and Honors eligibility.
3.5–3.9Above NAU’s general assured-admission standard. The intended program and scholarship rules still matter.
3.0–3.49Meets the general GPA threshold if required core courses are satisfied.
2.75–2.99Within NAU’s published assured-admission GPA pathway, provided academic requirements are met.
2.50–2.74May qualify for consideration depending on coursework deficiencies.
Below 2.50Does not meet the standard first-year GPA pathways described above; explore eligibility exceptions or other routes with admissions.
Core GPA is not necessarily your transcript GPA.

NAU calculates its admission GPA using 14 specific academic courses rather than every class on your high school transcript. If you earned strong grades in electives but struggled in mathematics or English, your NAU core GPA may be lower than your overall GPA.

Review the courses before assuming a school-reported 2.8 or 3.0 automatically makes you eligible.

Official reference: NAU first-year admission requirements.

NAU’s 14 Required High School Core Courses

The 2.75 assured-admission threshold is tied to NAU’s required college-preparatory coursework. Students should verify the following distribution with their counselor before applying.

Academic subjectRequired yearsWhat to check
English4Composition and literacy-based coursework.
Mathematics4Meet the university’s college-preparatory math competency.
Laboratory science3Check that courses qualify as laboratory sciences.
Social science2Includes the required social studies/history preparation.
Fine arts or career and technical education1Must qualify under the relevant competency category.
Total14Core coursework used in NAU admission eligibility.

NAU also recommends broader college preparation, including additional academic study. Its Common Data Set lists 16 recommended academic units, compared with 14 required units.

What if you are missing a required subject?

NAU publishes alternative ways to satisfy some academic competencies, including qualifying standardized test scores or transferable college courses.

Examples listed in the university’s admissions requirements include:

  • English competency through an ACT English score of at least 21 or qualifying alternative coursework.
  • Mathematics competency through an ACT Math score of at least 24, SAT Math of at least 570, or qualifying college mathematics coursework.
  • Laboratory-science competency through certain specified exam results or qualifying transferable laboratory-science classes.

The relevant tests and permitted substitutions differ by competency. Check the exact requirements rather than assuming any SAT or ACT score replaces a missing course.

Math and science deficiency rule:

NAU states that applicants cannot be admitted under its general deficiency allowance when their deficiencies include both mathematics and laboratory science. If you are missing both subjects, contact admissions before paying an application fee.

Exceptions for some applicants

NAU also publishes separate evaluation rules for certain applicants, including students aged 22 or older, qualifying GED holders and homeschooled applicants. For example, the 22-and-older pathway uses an overall high school GPA of at least 2.0.

These exceptions should be evaluated against the exact student category rather than applied to every traditional high school applicant.

NAU SAT and ACT Scores: Do You Need Testing in 2026?

NAU does not require SAT or ACT scores for general first-year admission. Students may submit them if they believe the scores will strengthen their academic profile.

The university’s Common Data Set also states that standardized test scores are not required for scholarship consideration.

Latest reported middle-50% test scores

Test25th percentileMedian75th percentile
SAT composite101011751280
SAT Reading and Writing520590650
SAT Math483565630
ACT composite192326
ACT English192227
ACT Math182226
ACT Reading202429

These percentiles refer to Fall 2025 enrolled students who reported scores. They are not minimum passing scores for NAU admission.

SAT submission

3%

154 enrolled first-year students reported SAT scores.

ACT submission

27%

1,239 enrolled first-year students reported ACT scores.

The very low SAT submission rate is important. The 1175 median SAT describes a small, self-selected group of score-submitters, not the academic performance of every student admitted to NAU.

Should you submit your SAT or ACT score?

A score can be useful if it provides additional evidence of your readiness, helps meet a competency through an approved substitution, or is relevant to placement or a specialized application.

However, you do not need to retake the SAT simply because your score is below 1175 if you already meet NAU’s core GPA and coursework requirements.

NAU’s reporting lists SAT code 4006 and ACT code 0086.

Testing strategy:

If your core GPA is already at least 2.75 and all required courses are complete, prioritize getting your application and transcripts processed rather than spending money on an unnecessary examination. If you have a missing subject competency, check whether a qualifying test score provides a legitimate alternative.

What Does Northern Arizona University Actually Consider?

NAU’s Common Data Set explicitly identifies the importance of individual selection factors for general undergraduate admission.

Unlike highly selective universities that may place substantial weight on essays, recommendations and extracurricular achievements, NAU places its greatest emphasis on the academic record.

Admissions factorOfficial importancePractical implication
Academic GPAVery importantYour qualifying core GPA is central to general admission.
Rigor of high school courseworkImportantNAU reviews appropriate academic preparation.
SAT/ACT scoresConsideredOptional scores can add evidence but are not required.
High school class rankNot consideredClass rank is not a selection factor in the general review.
Application essayNot consideredA general essay is not part of the university-wide selection criteria.
RecommendationsNot consideredLetters are not needed for ordinary first-year admission.
Extracurricular activitiesNot consideredThese are not general admission selection factors.
Volunteer work or work experienceNot consideredNot scored as general first-year selection factors.
Demonstrated interestNot consideredA campus tour is not an admission advantage.
Geographic or state residencyNot consideredResidency is not identified as a general admissions factor.

These categories describe general undergraduate admission. Additional requirements may exist for the Honors College, Nursing and other specialized programs.

This distinction can save applicants time. If you are applying to an ordinary first-year degree program and meet the assured-admission requirements, writing an elaborate personal essay or collecting several recommendation letters is not necessary for the standard NAU application.

Do not apply these general rules to every NAU program.

The Honors College requires essays and a list of activities, while Nursing uses prerequisites and a separate entrance examination. Program-specific admissions criteria override assumptions based on the general acceptance rate.

NAU Nursing Acceptance Rate and Competitive Program Requirements

Nursing is one of the most important exceptions to NAU’s broadly accessible general admission process.

A student may qualify for Northern Arizona University itself but still need to complete prerequisites and compete for a place in a prelicensure nursing program.

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

NAU’s College of Nursing lists additional requirements beyond general university admission:

  • Completion of nursing prerequisite courses with a GPA of at least 3.0.
  • No more than five prerequisites in progress at the time of application.
  • Completion of remaining prerequisites before the nursing program begins.
  • A proctored HESI A2 admission examination for applicable current undergraduate nursing admission cycles.
  • A separate nursing application and program-specific deadlines.

A 3.0 prerequisite GPA is a minimum eligibility standard, not a guarantee of selection. NAU’s published traditional nursing progression information describes the program as highly competitive and recommends approximately a 3.8 GPA.

Important change for nursing applicants:

Some older NAU nursing PDFs describe a Kaplan entrance exam, while the current College of Nursing application page describes HESI A2. Follow the examination named on the current application page for your intended program and term, rather than relying on older guides.

NAU has not supplied a verified university-wide 2026 nursing acceptance percentage in the official material used here. Therefore, its 89.6% general acceptance rate should not be presented as the Nursing program’s acceptance rate.

Read current College of Nursing application requirements.

NAU Honors College Admission

NAU’s Honors College has a separate application process for students seeking a more intensive academic experience.

Incoming students must first be admitted to NAU and have an unweighted high school core GPA of at least 3.0. They must also submit an Honors application, two essays and a resume or activities list.

NAU reports that its Fall 2026 Honors applicants averaged a 3.81 core GPA, approximately 1270 SAT and 28 ACT among the applicants represented in its Honors profile.

These figures are not the same as a minimum admission threshold.

Honors deadlines for Fall 2027

Honors milestoneDate or guidance
Honors application availabilitySeptember 1, 2026
Honors merit scholarship considerationNovember 15, 2026
Suggested admission timing for Honors housingBefore February 1, 2027
Priority for first-year Honors seminar planningApril 1, 2027
Later Honors admissionSpace available

The Honors College also warns that admission to Honors does not guarantee a place in the Honors Campus Living Community. Students interested in living there should complete the housing process promptly.

Official Honors College eligibility and deadlines.

NAU Application Deadlines and Enrollment Dates

Northern Arizona University reports rolling first-year admission rather than binding Early Decision or nonbinding Early Action.

Its 2025–26 Common Data Set lists August 1 as the fall application closing date. Applicants preparing for Fall 2027 should verify the corresponding deadline for their own entry term before relying on the previous year’s calendar.

Application or enrollment itemPublished informationWhat to do
General admission decisions Rolling decisions Apply with sufficient time for transcript review and subsequent enrollment steps.
Fall application closing date August 1 in the latest CDS Confirm the current entry-year date through NAU Admissions.
Enrollment reply May 1, or within three weeks if admitted later, in the CDS Follow the deadline on your admission offer.
2027–28 housing application Opened October 1, 2026 at 9 a.m. MST Complete the admission acceptance and housing steps promptly.
NAU Foundation and general scholarships Normally January 1–April 15 Use ScholarshipUniverse and check individual scholarship exceptions.
Fall 2026 final official high school transcript July 1, 2026 For Fall 2027, confirm the next cycle’s deadline.

The university’s Fall 2025 Common Data Set lists a $175 housing deposit with a May 15 housing-deposit deadline. Those details describe the reporting cycle and should not be treated as a guaranteed 2027 deposit policy.

The admission application fee is $40, with fee waivers available to qualifying applicants with financial need.

Official resources: first-year application, housing application and ScholarshipUniverse.

How to Apply to Northern Arizona University

Because NAU emphasizes academic requirements in general admissions, the strongest application strategy is straightforward: make sure your reported coursework and GPA are accurate, choose the correct applicant category and complete the steps required for your intended program.

Calculate your 14-course core GPA

Use NAU’s required English, mathematics, laboratory science, social science and fine arts/CTE courses. Do not assume your all-subject high school GPA is the same as NAU’s calculation.

Check missing courses before submitting

Review any subject deficiencies. If your core GPA is between 2.50 and 2.74, the deficiency rules are especially important. Students missing both mathematics and laboratory science requirements should discuss alternatives directly with admissions.

Complete the freshman application

NAU allows students to self-report grades using unofficial high school transcripts during the application process. The standard application fee is $40, subject to available fee waivers.

Submit optional tests only when useful

SAT and ACT results are not required for general admission. They may provide additional academic evidence or support an approved competency route, so review your own circumstances before sending them.

Check your admission status and financial aid

Monitor your NAU account and email for updates, financial aid requirements and pending documents. After receiving an offer, follow the current enrollment, advising and housing instructions.

Practical application advice:

If your transcript clearly satisfies NAU’s assured-admission requirements, do not complicate the application unnecessarily. Make sure your reported grades match your school records and start scholarship and housing planning early.

NAU Transfer Acceptance Rate: Fall 2025 Results

Northern Arizona University’s official Fall 2025 transfer admissions data show that 3,092 students applied to transfer, 3,033 were admitted and 1,498 enrolled.

3,092Transfer applicants
3,033Admitted transfers
98.1%Transfer acceptance rate

This makes NAU’s transfer acceptance rate higher than its first-year acceptance rate for that reporting period. However, admission remains subject to the transfer requirements and any additional conditions for the intended degree program.

Transfer GPA requirements

The 2025–26 Common Data Set reports a 2.0 minimum college GPA for transfer applicants, along with relevant Arizona Board of Regents core-course requirements.

NAU reports that college transcripts are required for all transfer applicants, while high school transcripts are required for some. General transfer review does not require an essay, interview or standardized test scores.

Students need at least 12 semester hours of qualifying college study to use NAU’s transfer-applicant classification rather than applying as a first-year student.

Transfer credit is not the same as degree applicability.

A course may transfer to NAU without replacing the specific prerequisite required by your intended major. Students transferring into Nursing, Engineering or another sequential program should request an academic credit evaluation before assuming they can finish in a particular number of semesters.

Official source: NAU Common Data Set, section D.

Does NAU Have a Waitlist or Early Decision?

NAU’s Fall 2025 Common Data Set reports no general first-year waitlist policy. It also reports no binding Early Decision plan and no nonbinding Early Action plan.

Instead, NAU uses rolling admission for its general undergraduate process.

That means it would be incorrect to publish a general NAU waitlist acceptance rate or Early Decision acceptance rate without a separate, valid university report.

Program-specific waitlists or placement processes may exist. For example, capacity-limited academic programs and campus housing communities may have their own selection or space-availability rules.

International Students: NAU Admission Requirements

International applicants are evaluated using academic records and other relevant admissions documentation. NAU’s international student resources identify a minimum GPA of approximately 2.5 for some first-year international applicant pathways, together with proof of English-language proficiency where required.

Its international application guidance lists the following English proficiency examples:

English proficiency optionPublished minimum
TOEFL iBT70 on the older iBT scale; check current equivalency for the updated reporting scale
IELTS6.0
Duolingo English Test95
Pearson Test of English56
ACT English and Reading21

English proficiency exemptions and alternative qualifications may apply to particular applicants. International students should review the current policy before scheduling tests or paying evaluation fees, especially where testing providers have changed score scales.

The university also asks international applicants to supply appropriate school records and, when required, immigration-related documentation.

Official NAU international application requirements.

Flagstaff-Specific Tips for Students Considering NAU

An acceptance-rate article can tell you whether admission is realistic, but it cannot tell you whether living in Flagstaff is the right decision. NAU’s Flagstaff Mountain Campus has a setting that feels quite different from universities in Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles or other warmer metropolitan areas.

1. Prepare for Flagstaff’s elevation

Flagstaff sits at approximately 7,000 feet above sea level. Students arriving from lower-elevation cities may notice the thinner air during their first few days, particularly when walking uphill or exercising.

The climate is also markedly different from Phoenix. Flagstaff experiences cold winters and significant seasonal snowfall.

First-week arrival tip:

If you are arriving from Phoenix, Southern California or another warm low-elevation area, bring suitable winter clothing before temperatures drop. Drink water regularly, allow time to adjust to the elevation and learn your routes between classrooms before the first full week of lectures.

2. Consider campus transportation before purchasing parking

NAU operates a weekday campus shuttle around the university’s Lumberjack Loop. Students can check live shuttle locations through the NAU mobile app and shuttle-tracking tools.

NAU students can also ride Mountain Line Route 10 free with a student ID, according to NAU University Transit Services.

If you plan to live near campus, it is worth reviewing shuttle and bus options before deciding whether you need a car or paid parking permit.

NAU shuttle and Mountain Line information.

3. Housing timing matters more than general admissions selectivity

For Fall 2027, NAU opened its 2027–28 academic-year housing application on October 1, 2026.

The university explains that students generally need to accept their admission offer before applying for housing, and enrollment deposit processing can affect when housing access becomes available.

An early admission offer does not automatically give you the exact residence hall or room you want. Housing applications and specialized living communities operate according to available space and their own procedures.

4. Think about walking distances in winter

NAU’s Flagstaff Mountain Campus is substantial. A residence hall that looks close to one academic building may be farther from your laboratories, campus employment, dining facilities or evening activities.

If you tour NAU, ask where most first-year classes for your intended major are located. A student studying Engineering may have different daily travel patterns from someone studying Business, Education or Communication.

5. Use a campus visit to evaluate daily life

NAU does not list demonstrated interest as a general admissions selection factor. That means a campus visit is best treated as research for your own decision.

During a visit, ask students about winter routines, dining, housing, campus transit and how easy it is to obtain help in foundational courses.

If you are traveling from Phoenix, remember that mountain weather and driving conditions may differ considerably from the Valley, particularly during winter.

A practical question to ask during your visit:

“If I were a first-year student in my intended major, which classes and services would I actually use during a normal weekday?”

That answer is usually more valuable than a general description of campus attractions.

Scholarships and Financial Aid After NAU Admission

Even when general admission is relatively accessible, paying for college is a separate challenge. NAU offers institutional scholarships and access to additional opportunities through ScholarshipUniverse.

The university notes that many tuition scholarships are awarded automatically using admissions or other eligibility information, while additional awards require separate applications.

Scholarship deadlines worth knowing

NAU’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and NAU Foundation generally open their ScholarshipUniverse applications in January and close them on April 15 for the following fall.

Some academic colleges and outside scholarship providers have different deadlines, so students should examine individual awards.

Honors merit scholarships

Incoming Honors applicants who complete the Honors application by November 15 may be considered for a limited number of $1,000 Honors merit scholarships.

Other Honors funding opportunities have separate requirements. For example, the Garcia Family Honors Scholars Program provides a renewable annual scholarship for selected eligible Arizona residents in Honors who meet its academic and other conditions.

Financial aid checklist

  • Complete the FAFSA for the correct award year.
  • Watch NAU’s LOUIE student portal for outstanding financial-aid tasks.
  • Check automatically awarded scholarships separately from awards that require an application.
  • Compare scholarships and grants against loans, which must be repaid.
  • Account for the total cost of attendance, including housing, food, books and transportation.

Official resources: NAU financial aid application checklist and ScholarshipUniverse.

Frequently Asked Questions About NAU Acceptance Rate 2026

What is Northern Arizona University’s acceptance rate in 2026?

The latest complete official acceptance rate available for Northern Arizona University is 89.6%, based on Fall 2025 admission figures. NAU received 39,685 first-year applications and admitted 35,561 students. The final Fall 2026 acceptance rate has not yet been verified through a newer complete Common Data Set.

Is NAU hard to get into?

NAU is comparatively accessible, with a recent acceptance rate near 90%. However, applicants must satisfy academic eligibility rules. The university publishes an assured-admission pathway for students with a 2.75 or higher core GPA who meet its required high school coursework.

Can you get into NAU with a 2.5 GPA?

Possibly. NAU states that applicants with a 2.50 core GPA may be considered when coursework deficiencies fall within its published rules. Students with both a mathematics deficiency and a laboratory-science deficiency are not admissible through that pathway.

What GPA guarantees admission to NAU?

NAU’s published general assured-admission pathway starts at a 2.75 GPA calculated from 14 required core high school courses, provided the coursework requirements are satisfied. This does not guarantee admission to selective programs such as Nursing or the Honors College.

Does NAU require SAT or ACT scores?

No. NAU does not require SAT or ACT scores for general first-year admission. Scores may be submitted optionally and may help document academic preparation or satisfy certain approved subject-competency alternatives.

What SAT score is good for Northern Arizona University?

NAU’s Fall 2025 enrolled students who submitted SAT results had a middle-50% composite score range of 1010–1280, with a reported median of 1175. These scores are descriptive benchmarks rather than minimum admission requirements.

What is the NAU Nursing acceptance rate?

A reliable separate 2026 NAU Nursing acceptance percentage was not established in the official sources reviewed. Nursing has additional requirements, including prerequisite courses, a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA and a separate entrance examination. Admission to NAU does not guarantee a place in its Nursing program.

What is Northern Arizona University’s transfer acceptance rate?

NAU reported 3,092 transfer applicants and 3,033 admitted transfer students for Fall 2025. That produces a calculated transfer acceptance rate of approximately 98.1%. Transfer applicants must still meet applicable academic and program-specific requirements.

Does NAU offer Early Action or Early Decision?

NAU’s 2025–26 Common Data Set reports neither a general Early Action plan nor a binding Early Decision plan. The university instead reports rolling first-year admission decisions.

Does NAU Honors College require a higher GPA?

Yes. NAU’s Honors College requires an unweighted high school core GPA of at least 3.0 for incoming applicants, along with a separate application, two essays and an activities list or resume. Honors selection considers additional information and is not guaranteed by meeting the minimum.

Official NAU Admission Sources and PDF Reports

The figures in this article are grounded primarily in Northern Arizona University’s institutional Common Data Set and current admissions policies.

  1. NAU Common Data Set 2025–2026 (PDF) — First-year admissions totals, admission factors, GPA distribution, standardized tests, deadlines and transfer data.
  2. NAU Institutional Research: Common Data Set Archive — Official historical reports.
  3. First-Year Admission Requirements — Core GPA standards, coursework, deficiencies and exceptions.
  4. Freshman Applications, Fees and Transcripts — Application procedures and required documents.
  5. Honors College Admission Requirements — Honors GPA, essays, scholarships and deadlines.
  6. College of Nursing Application Information — Program prerequisites, examination requirements and application periods.
  7. Categories Acceptance Rates

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