Commencement increase

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), many of this year’s college graduates can expect to make more than their class of 2020 counterparts, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The association’s annual survey found that while some of the projected increases for the class of 2021 graduates are small, those for graduates in the computer sciences field are an exception.

In more potential good news for the class of 2021, employers are expected to hire 7.2 percent more new college graduates than they hired from the class of 2020 last year, according to NACE’s “Job Outlook 2021 Spring Update.”

The rebound could reflect the country’s rebound from the pandemic. Thanks to decreasing cases and increasing vaccines, employers may be gaining confidence.

“It reflects an awareness that things are picking up,” says Dominick Gaitano, a former U.S. Department of Labor analyst.

Computer sciences

2021 salary projection: $72,173

2020 salary projection: $67,411

Percent change: 7.1 percent

Engineering

2021 salary projection: $71,088

2020 salary projection: $69,9611

Percent change: 6 percent

Math and sciences

2021 salary projection: $63,316

2020 salary projection: $62,488

Percent change: 1.3 percent

Social sciences

2021 salary projection: $59,919

2020 salary projection: $57,425

Percent change: 4.3 percent

Humanities

2021 salary projection: $59,500

2020 salary projection: $53,617

Percent change: 11.0 percent

Business

2021 salary projection: $58,869

2020 salary projection: $57,939

Percent change: 1.6 percent

Communications

2021 salary projection: $58,174

2020 salary projection: $56,484

Percent change: 3.0 percent Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)