WASHINGTON – Despite the debate on whether the U.S. is crawling or climbing out of the recession, paychecks for college grads are on the rise.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers has taken its quarterly look at starting salaries for college graduates. And even though job creation numbers were lower than hoped for, a college degree can still boost starting salaries for graduates that do find one.

The average starting salary for the class of 2012 is more than $44,000, almost $4,000 above the starting salary of the 2011 grads.

Engineers and computer scientists command the highest starting salaries, both above $55,000, while criminal justice and performing arts majors come in below $35,000.

Education specialists, including special education teachers, remain at around $37,000, while nurses and general health workers come in above $43,000.

Starting salaries for college grads in business, including accountants, economists and business administrators, are well above $47,000.

WTOP’s Rosemary Frisino Toohey contributed to this report.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)