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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

182 Ranked Colleges
31,164 Degrees Awarded
$5,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 36,473 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,224 and $23,992 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 31,164 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 182 colleges that offered a degree in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 407 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Duke University is $-7,808 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Duke

#2

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 182 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Lexington, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 117 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Washington and Lee also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $1,612 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington and Lee University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Washington and Lee

#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 623 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Vanderbilt has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt University is $3,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Social Sciences at Vanderbilt University

#4

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,154 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $1,994 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UF.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Florida

#5

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 938 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $4,026 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#6

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#8 in overall quality

William & Mary landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Williamsburg, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 464 students in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $4,711 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at William & Mary

#7

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#22 in overall quality

Florida State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State University is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 1,579 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $5,360 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Florida State University

#8

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

Wake Forest University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winston-Salem, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 357 students in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wake Forest University is $5,250 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Wake Forest University

#9

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#7 in overall quality

Emory University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 369 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Emory not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Emory is $11,468 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Emory University

Florida International University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school awarded 826 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FIU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at FIU

Top 20% in overall quality

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,205 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

USF Tampa also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $3,950 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#12

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

University of Richmond ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Richmond is a small school located in University of Richmond, Virginia that handed out 121 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, URichmond has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for URichmond is $9,112 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Richmond

#9 in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Georgia Tech is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 49 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Georgia Tech has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is $9,162 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Georgia Tech

#14

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Central Florida came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 647 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $6,211 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at UCF

#15

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

North Carolina State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 258 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NC State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $7,285 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full NC State Social Sciences Report

#16

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school handed out 1,033 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $8,882 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Social Sciences Report

#17

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#16 in overall quality

University of Georgia ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school handed out 668 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Georgia is $7,541 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UGA Social Sciences Report

#18

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The Citadel also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina is $7,296 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#19

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of West Florida is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 134 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend The University of West Florida is $4,140 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at The University of West Florida

#20

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and it awarded 186 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNF is $5,097 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UNF

#21

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
Top 15% in overall quality

American Public University System did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Charles Town, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 134 students in 2019-2020.

American Military University also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $10,013 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend American Military University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read more about Social Sciences at American Military University

#22

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia
#19 in overall quality

Virginia Military Institute came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lexington, Virginia, this small public school handed out 100 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

VMI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $8,789 for southeast region bachelor’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend VMI.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at VMI

#23

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#13 in overall quality

Virginia Tech landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 662 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also made our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,138 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Virginia Tech Social Sciences Report

#24

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 363 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Florida Atlantic University is $6,085 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Sciences at Florida Atlantic University

#25

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 289 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State University is $7,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Appalachian State University

Rest of the Best 28 in Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#27

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida
#28

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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