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The entry-level job site CollegeGrad.com this week released the results of its annual Top-Entry-Level Employers survey, which features projected employment numbers of companies that hire large numbers of entry-level graduates. (CollegeGrad.com is owned by Schools.com's parent company, QuinStreet.)

According to the survey results, 2011 is seeing an increase in hiring for the first time in two years--the number of entry-level hires increased 22 percent from 2010. In comparison, 2010 saw an 11 percent hiring decrease from 2009.

The 10 leading entry-level employers for 2011 are as follows:

1. Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8,500 projected entry level hires)
2. Teach For America (4,925 projected entry level hires)
3. Verizon Wireless (4,250 projected entry level hires)
4. Hertz (4,000 projected entry level hires)
5. PricewaterhouseCoopers (3,938 projected entry level hires)
6. KPMG LLP (2,300 projected entry level hires)
7. Target (2,200 projected entry level hires)
8. Ernst & Young (2,000 projected entry level hires)
9. City Year (1,700 projected entry level hires)
10. Aerotek (900 projected entry level hires)

"We are really excited to find that so many employees are reaching out to the newest generation of business professionals," CollegeGrad.com spokesperson Meghan Prober said in a statement. "This news is especially exciting for new college graduates, as the last few graduating classes were faced with economy and job market woes."

The 93 companies surveyed were also asked what they look for in entry-level candidates--the three most preferred characteristics were the individual's college major, interviewing and communication skills, and experience. In addition, the survey found that college campus career fairs remain the leading recruiting method for employers.

The 10 most popular undergraduate majors among entry-level hires are as follows:

1. Business Administration (14.7 percent)
2. Engineering (13.0 percent)
3. Marketing (11.0 percent)
4. Management (8.7 percent)
5. Information Systems/MIS (7.8 percent)
6. Banking/Finance (7.5 percent)
7. Communication (6.9 percent)
8. Computer Science (6.6 percent)
9. Accounting (5.8 percent)
10. Mathematics (3.5 percent)

CollegeGrad.com this week also published lists of the Top Intern Employers for 2011 and the Top Masters Employers for 2011.

For related news and information from Schools.com, see:

• CollegeGrad.com Survey: Entry-level hires jump 22% from 2010 to 2011
• CollegeGrad.com Survey: top 5 employers for college-level grads
• How to land an entry-level job: 5 tips
• 5 most popular undergraduate majors of 2011 entry-level hires