Accounting graduates continue to see their average starting salary increase; they've posted gains in each of the 2004 Salary Survey reports. Currently, they are averaging $41,110, a 1.4 percent gain over last year at this time.

Similarly, graduates in economics/finance and marketing/marketing management saw their offers increase. The average starting salary for economics/finance graduates rose 2.1 percent to $40,906. Marketing/marketing management grads saw their average starting salary rise to $35,321, a 2 percent increase over last year.

Overall, almost all of the business disciplines continue to show increases in their average starting salaries. For example, business administration graduates saw their average starting salaries increase to $38,188, a 2.9 percent jump from last year at this time.

"There have been definite signs of improvement to average starting salary offers for the Class of 2004," said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "For instance, at the bachelor's degree level, two-thirds of the disciplines that reported a percentage change in salary over last year reported increases."

Management information systems (MIS) graduates are now averaging $42,098, up 2.9 percent over last year at this time.

The survey is a quarterly report of starting salary offers to new college graduates in 70 disciplines at the bachelor's degree level. The survey compiles data from college and university career services offices nationwide.