15 college presidents who've been paid millionaire salaries
15. University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer made $1,625,136 in 2016.
15. Simmons College President Helen G. Drinan made $1,656,654 in 2016.
Base pay: $477,241
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 19:1
14. Robert A. Brown, president of Boston University, made $1,672,442 in 2016.
Base pay: $1,012,150
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 10:1
13. Former University of Southern California President C.L. Max Nikias made $1,768,947 in 2016.
Base pay: $1,331,610
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 10:1
Nikias stepped down in 2018 after 200 professors signed a letter accusing him of mishandling allegations of sexual assault involving a former campus gynecologist.
12. Former Auburn University President Jay Gogue made $1,827,786 in 2016.
Base pay: $451,333
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 15:1
Gogue retired in 2017.
11. University of Miami President Julio Frenk made $1,861,159 in 2016
Base pay: $1,123,370
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 12:1
10. Former University of Rochester President Joel Seligman made $1,990,250 in 2016.
Base pay: $1,253,000
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 13:1
Seligman resigned from his post in 2018 following reports of sexual misconduct on campus.
9. Paula S. Wallace, president of the Savannah College of Art and Design, made $2,043,120 in 2016.
Base pay: $930,889
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 26:1
8. Former Union College President Stephen C. Ainlay made $2,289,549 in 2016.
Base pay: $528,625
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 18:1
Ainlay stepped down from his position in 2018.
7. High Point University President Nido Qubein made $2,368,358 in 2016.
Base pay: $663,870
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 26:1
6. Edward Guiliano, president of the New York Institute of Technology at Old Westbury, made $2,733,651 in 2016.
Base pay: $766,712
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 22:1
4. University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann made $3,211,681 in 2016.
Base pay: $1,312,917
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 15:1
3. Columbia University President Lee Bollinger made $3,927,961 in 2016.
Base pay: $1,371,910
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 18:1
2. Former University of Louisville President James R. Ramsey made $4,290,232 in 2016.
Base pay: $55,703
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 39:1
After Ramsey stepped down in 2016, the university board sued him for spending funds at an "excessive and unsustainable rate" and taking unfair compensation from the University of Louisville Foundation, according to The Chronicle.
1. Former Baylor University President Kenneth W. Starr made $4,946,996 in 2016.
Base pay: $338,174
Ratio of total compensation to average full-professor salary: 41:1
Starr (who as a special counsel in the '90s led investigations on the administration of President Bill Clinton) separated from Baylor after reports surfaced that university executives inadequately responded to sexual misconduct.
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