Many college presidents get a load of freebies--big house, nice car, fancy meals, country-club membership. The perks help them perform official duties, like holding college functions at home and courting donors on the golf course. Since many of their living expenses are taken care of, they have cash to spare. The median compensation, including…

Describes the salaries paid to many presidents of private colleges. At least 74 presidents were paid more than $300,000 in salary and benefits in 1998-1999, and 21 chief executives earned $400,000 or more. The figures are derived from a federal tax return that requires nonprofit institutions to disclose, with other financial information, how they…