Financial Inequality in Higher Education: The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2006–07
Source: American Association of University Professors
From press release:

This year’s report discusses the widening gaps between rich and poor institutions; between presidents, football coaches, and faculty members; and among faculty members. The report also considers the potential negative consequences for higher education if these inequalities continue to expand. Here are some of the highlights:

• Overall average faculty salaries rose 3.8 percent between 2005–06 and 2006–07. With annual inflation at 2.5 percent, this is the first “real” increase in average salary since 2003–04.
• Investment earnings from institutional endowments are a growing source of inequality among colleges and universities. Institutions that have larger endowments can spend more on faculty and facilities and reap higher rates of return than institutions that have smaller endowments.
• Escalating salaries for college and university presidents continue to separate them from the economic realities faced by their faculty and staff employees. When presidents routinely receive salaries that are three times those paid to senior faculty members, the gulf is clearly widening.
• Topping even presidential salaries, the contracts offered to Division I football coaches are also raising eyebrows this year. This year’s report compares salaries for coaches, presidents, and faculty members and asks what the pay differences among them say about our institutional priorities.
• There is also growing financial inequality within the faculty. This year’s report takes a new look at disciplinary differences in salaries and calls for an open and frank discussion of the impact of salary disparities on faculty careers.

+ Full Report (PDF; 367 KB)
+ Tables (PDF; 182 KB)

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