Suffolk U president tops list of best paid leaders

BOSTON -- The highest paid college president in the country is Suffolk University's David Sargent.

That's according to a new study by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The publication says Sargent's pay was $2.8 million in 2006-2007, the most recent year for which data is available.

Most of Sargent's compensation came from various bonuses, including $1.19 million he won't receive until retirement.

Other highly paid university presidents in Massachusetts include Boston University's Robert Brown, who made $900,000; MIT's Susan Hockfield who made $800,000; and Brandeis' Jehuda Reinharz who made almost $600,000.

Jack Wilson, president of the five-campus UMass system, made $473,000.

Most salaries reflect contracts signed before the economy soured.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)