Find out which school’s president received a 42% pay increase: 

A roundup of compensation among college presidents shows they’re not exactly hurting. This year’s top earner: Georgetown University’s president, John DeGioia who earned a total of $911,613 in 2009, according to tax forms filed by the school. That’s a 42% raise from the previous fiscal year.

DeGioia isn’t the only one seeing a bump in pay. Catholic University’s David O’Connell saw a 37% jump to $521,929.

Other top earners in the Washington, DC area:

• John Casteen, University of Virginia: $773,648
• Alan Merten, George Mason: $624,125
• Dan Mote, University of Maryland: $498,0284

What’s the cause of such drastic pay raises? Rises in total compensation – including salary, benefits and deferred pay – are often the result of accruals that come with staying on the job over the years.

In DeGioia’s case, it was money paid into a retirement annuity. O’Connell’s jump was based on a revaluation of his residence – and as a Catholic University leader, his salary is paid directly to his religious order, making his pay essentially zero.

But with tuition costs rising, students and parents are scrutinizing where their money is going – and they may have questions about why presidential pay is so high.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

Tags: Catholic University, Georgetown University, presidential pay increase