COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University may not be number one on the football field this year, but the school’s president, Gordon Gee, is first in the nation when it comes to pay levels for presidents of publicly funded universities.

A new study from the Chronicle of Higher Education showed Gee has a salary of $775,000 a year.

When bonuses and other payments are added for Gee, his total compensation is $1,346,225, according to the study.

The same study showed Gee’s salary is similar to the median income for Chief Executive Officers of large companies.

The annual report on salaries and compensation examined pay levels for presidents at 184 public research institutions.

Overall, the study found total compensation increased by 7.6 % over last year.

The study notes most of the recent pay raises given to presidents came before the current economic turmoil hit.

Still, release of the study comes as many schools are facing increasingly difficult budgets.

Some university presidents have even turned down pay raises or returned bonuses to schools.

On Capitol Hill, top salary levels on campuses have attracted the attention of Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

“In these hard economic times, apparently belt-tightening is for families and students, not university presidents,” Grassley told the Chronicle.

A WHIOTV.COM investigation earlier in the month turned up similar findings.

In response, State Sen. Tim Grendell of the Cleveland area said he planned to address the issue in upcoming state budget hearings for higher education.

Here is a summary of salary information for presidents from publicly supported universities in Ohio, as calculated by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Ohio State University Gordon Gee Salary $775,000 Total Compensation $1,346,225

University of Cincinnati Nancy Zimpher Salary $410,577 Total Compensation $687,224

Kent State University Lester A. Lefton Salary $367,500 Total Compensation $519,171

University of Akron Luis M. Proenza Salary $354,495 Total Compensation $513,900

Bowling Green State University Sidney A. Ribeau (resigned July, 2008) Salary $313,764 Total Compensation $446,264

Miami University David C. Hodge Salary $340,000 Total Compensation $435,071

University of Toledo Lloyd A. Jacobs Salary $392,700 Total Compensation $424,900

Wright State University David R. Hopkins Salary $331,200 Total Compensation $413,080

Cleveland State University Michael Schwartz Salary $293,816 Total Compensation $393,731

Ohio University Roderick J. McDavis Salary $294,665 Total Compensation $378,732

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education

Jim.otte@whiotv.com