P. M. BRIEFING : Mixed Work Outlook for Grads

College graduates this spring will make more money, but find fewer job opportunities, according to a survey of nearly 500 U.S. employers.

Hires will be down 13.3% compared to last year, according to the 19th annual survey by Michigan State University’s Career Development and Placement Services office.

The average starting salary for a graduate with a bachelor’s degree will be $25,256, up 3.3% from a year ago. The expected starting salary for master’s of business administration graduates will be $39,840, a 3.1% increase; $33,740 for master’s degree graduates, up 3.3%, and $37,111 for graduates with doctoral degrees, a 2.4% increase.

As in recent years, engineering majors will get the highest starting salaries for new college graduates, with chemical engineering leading the way at $33,380.

The lowest starting salaries will be for graduates in human ecology-home economics, $18,157; journalism, $18,255; natural resources, $18,840; retailing, $18,909, and advertising, $19,662.