President pay at private US universities, ranked

What counts as a university here

Private nonprofit colleges and universities, including stand-alone medical schools, whose latest full-year Form 990 reports at least $500 million in total revenue (Part I, line 12). 100 clear that floor and all are listed. Each row uses the university's own return; foundations and investment companies are never shown in its place.

Public universities are part of state government and file no Form 990, so they are not here. Three state-related universities that file their own return and pay their president on it are included: Pitt, Temple and the University of Delaware.

The row shows the person whose filed title makes them the university's president or chancellor, even where a coach, investment officer or physician on the same return is paid more. 5 presidents are reported at $0 and are listed last, without a share of revenue.

The ranking

The president (or chancellor) on each university's latest full-year return. Each row is a different return, so each links to its own filing.

About the data

Every figure comes from a Form 990 e-file return the university submitted to the IRS, which the IRS publishes as open data. Each row uses one return and links to it. Nothing is estimated, rounded or combined across years or returns.

Which return

The most recent return that covers a full year. Short-year returns, filed when an organization changes its fiscal year, cover only a few months and are not used as the latest year. Where a return was amended, the amended version is used.

What “total” means

Part VII columns D, E and F added together: reportable pay from the organization, reportable pay from related organizations, and estimated other compensation. We add them up; each organization's page shows the three amounts separately.

Timing

Returns are due up to 10½ months after the fiscal year ends and usually appear in IRS data 12 to 18 months after the year ends, so the latest year here is a year or more old.

Who counts as president

The person whose filed title is president or chancellor of the university, including interim and acting presidents. Titles for another entity, such as the president of an investment company or a physician group, do not count. If two people held the title during the year, the higher-paid one leads. Where a return gives titles in Schedule O instead of Part VII, the Schedule O title is used and labeled.

The full rules are on the methodology page. To report an error or ask for a review, email corrections@ceopaycheck.com.

Common questions