More Than 40 University Presidents Paid Twice as Much as U.S. President
“Seventeen public university presidents make more than $1 million annually.”
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When you consider the dollar amounts here, is the high cost of college tuition really such a mystery?
Campus Reform reports:
Dozens of public university presidents make more than the U.S. president: Report
Dozens of public university presidents make more money in a single year than does the president of the United States, according to a recent report.
Published by The Chronicle of Higher Education, the report gathered salary data from more than 1,400 university chief executives from both private and public institutions, and ultimately determined that 179 public university presidents make as much or more each year than the leader of the free world, who makes $400,000 annually, although President Donald Trump has not taken a salary during his tenure.
Of these 179 public university presidents, 40 of them make more than double the amount the commander-in-chief earns in a single calendar year. Seventeen public university presidents make more than $1 million annually.
“I think private colleges should be allowed to pay whatever they want as they are private institutions,” Lauren Hackett, a student at Belmont University, told Campus Reform. “However, public institutions receive government support to make education affordable, so therefore overpaying public university administrators is an unfair burden on students and taxpayers.”
University of Texas System President William McRaven made $2,578,609 in 2018, the only public university president to make more than $2 million in a single year. Other lucrative salaries include those of Texas A&M University President Michael Young ($1,893,740), Pennsylvania State University President Eric Barron ($1,854,881), and University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto ($1,534,806).
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Comments
As this is meant to be an indictment of inflated admin salaries in higher ed, I get it. However, this is not really accomplished by the comparison.
The president’s salary is low by comparison to the job but the tax-free benefit compensation for the rest of his natural life is very, very high. He also receives compensation from the tremendous power and influence he wields, which can include book deals, speaking fees, market information, etc. that all of the federal politicians receive as part of their exclusive club.
Make the point that colleges overpay administrators with a different comparison IMO.
OK, coaches and coaching assistants vs academic professors.
They are a different animal since they bring in a lot of money as well. If the salary is paid for with state funds and far outweighs academic gains from donations, then I can see a legitimate gripe. There’s also a huge local economic benefit to athletics to consider.
I have read that President Trump does not take the compensation offered to him as President. That means that all college presidents take salaries that are higher than his.
This is of course irrelevent to the point being made here.