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          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>HERCULES CAPITAL INC</name>
        <lei>549300UJ5OC256GR2B73</lei>
        <title>HERCULES CAPITAL INC COM</title>
        <cusip>427096508</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4270965084"/>
          <ticker value="HTGC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>229506.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>3545867.70000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>10.33696826289</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>MSC INCOME FUND INC</name>
        <lei>254900XHQK9DKZDIPC91</lei>
        <title>MSC INCOME FUND INC COM</title>
        <cusip>55374X208</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US55374X2080"/>
          <ticker value="MSIF"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>27167.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>331980.74000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>0.967795378623</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CORP</name>
        <lei>5493005P14I7WFB3FW47</lei>
        <title>MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CORP COM NEW</title>
        <cusip>03761U502</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US03761U5020"/>
          <ticker value="MFIC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>97370.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1059385.60000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>3.088337256735</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>MORGAN STANLEY DIRECT LENDING FUND</name>
        <lei>549300QEX22T2J8IB029</lei>
        <title>MORGAN STANLEY DIRECT LENDING FUND COM SHS</title>
        <cusip>61774A103</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US61774A1034"/>
          <ticker value="MSDL"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>48658.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>750306.36000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.187304684482</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>SLR INVESTMENT CORP</name>
        <lei>BJOT6DX9ML6BR3Z0O636</lei>
        <title>SLR INVESTMENT CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>83413U100</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US83413U1007"/>
          <ticker value="SLRC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>42438.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>555089.04000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.618204139302</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORP</name>
        <lei>54930023YZ4YEJEDBO56</lei>
        <title>CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>140501107</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US1405011073"/>
          <ticker value="CSWC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>67014.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1556065.08000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.536264944954</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>BLUE OWL CAPITAL CORP</name>
        <lei>2549000BD79OOCPF2L94</lei>
        <title>BLUE OWL CAPITAL CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>69121K104</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US69121K1043"/>
          <ticker value="OBDC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>201437.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>2268180.62000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>6.612235161353</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>BARINGS BDC INC</name>
        <lei>549300GSF4KFZP6ONG49</lei>
        <title>BARINGS BDC INC COM</title>
        <cusip>06759L103</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US06759L1035"/>
          <ticker value="BBDC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>201684.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1746583.44000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>5.091667009396</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>NUVEEN CHURCHILL DIRECT LENDING CORP</name>
        <lei>254900X3ULEP6XX7HG39</lei>
        <title>NUVEEN CHURCHILL DIRECT LENDING CORP COM SHS</title>
        <cusip>67090S108</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US67090S1087"/>
          <ticker value="NCDL"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>52154.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>681131.24000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.985644306679</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DREYFUS GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT FUNDS</name>
        <lei>549300F7IDB6WRO7VJ11</lei>
        <title>DREYFUS GOVERNMENT CASH MANAGEMENT FUNDS SH BEN INT</title>
        <cusip>262006208</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US2620062081"/>
          <ticker value="MISXX"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>568372.22000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>568372.22000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.656927470714</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>STIV</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>OAKTREE SPECIALTY LENDING CORP</name>
        <lei>549300J6MGCEU5928620</lei>
        <title>OAKTREE SPECIALTY LENDING CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>67401P405</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US67401P4054"/>
          <ticker value="OCSL"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>62599.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>748684.04000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.182575272172</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORP</name>
        <lei>549300HFFTVIBC98Z362</lei>
        <title>GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>376546107</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US3765461070"/>
          <ticker value="GAIN"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>22000.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>347600.00000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.013328886518</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>KAYNE ANDERSON BDC INC</name>
        <lei>213800L27Z3YODNCUQ03</lei>
        <title>KAYNE ANDERSON BDC INC COM SHS</title>
        <cusip>48662X105</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US48662X1054"/>
          <ticker value="KBDC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>49889.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>737858.31000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.151015936940</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORP</name>
        <lei>549300L1MPTT1H7SES77</lei>
        <title>NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORP COM</title>
        <cusip>647551100</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US6475511001"/>
          <ticker value="NMFC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>196789.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1574312.00000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.589458647848</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>GOLUB CAPITAL BDC INC</name>
        <lei>2549005WE0QLGK9APF78</lei>
        <title>GOLUB CAPITAL BDC INC COM</title>
        <cusip>38173M102</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US38173M1027"/>
          <ticker value="GBDC"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>250338.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>3294448.08000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>9.604025905057</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
    </invstOrSecs>
    <explntrNotes>
      <explntrNote note="Monthly returns presented in Item B.5(a) have been calculated without deducting any applicable sales loads or redemption fees." noteItem="B.5.a"/>
    </explntrNotes>
    <signature>
      <ncom:dateSigned>2026-07-22</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>Derek Maltbie</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>Derek Maltbie</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
