Three dozen private-college presidents are part of the millionaire club, meaning they earned more than $1-million in 2012, reports the Chronicle of Higher Education.

USC president C.L. Max Nikias is a member of that club. In California, he is the highest paid private-college president for the second year in a row. He raked in a whopping $1.3 million in total compensation, and he's the 14th highest-paid private college president in the U.S.

However, Nikias' measly $1.3 million is nothing compared to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's president Shirley Ann Jackson's compensation; her total compensation exceeds $7.1 million! According to Jackson's backers, the president transformed the private college into a nationally recognized research institution.

Here are the five highest paid private-college presidents in the U.S.:

1. Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $7,143,312

2. John L. Lahey, Quinnipiac University: $3,759,076

3. Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University: $3.389,917

4. Amy Gutmann, University of Pennsylvania: $2,473,952

5. Charles R. Middleton, Roosevelt University: $1,762,956

Here are the five highest paid private-college presidents in California:

1. C.L. Max Nikias, University of Southern California: $1,316,524

2. Jean-Lou A. Chameau, California Institute of Technology: $955,625

3. John L. Hennessy, Stanford University: $918,633

4. James L. Doti, Chapman University: $706,009

5. Pamela Gann, Claremont McKenna College: $689,989

 

In comparison, the typical college president makes close to $400,000.

[h/t Coed]