In the midst of education cuts, some university presidents’ salaries still reach well into six… In the midst of education cuts, some university presidents’ salaries still reach well into six figures, according to a study released last week.

An annual report by the Chronicle of Higher Education’ named the highest-paid public college executives in the United States. Of the public university presidents, 59 earned more than $500,000, including Chancellor Mark Nordenberg — whose total compensation for the 2009-10 fiscal year was $535,000.

Nordenberg received the third-highest salary for university presidents in Pennsylvania. Ann Weaver Hart — the president of Temple University — earned more than $605,000 and Graham Spanier — the president of Penn State University — took in more than $620,000.

Pitt spokeswoman Linda Schmitmeyer gave a statement from the administration by e-mail, which included information on Pitt under Nordenberg’s leadership over the past 15 years, and the nature of Nordenberg’s salary.

The statement said that the Board of Trustees sets Nordenberg’s salary, and the chancellor elected to take a pay freeze for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

It also pointed to a rise in the University’s research profile, from receiveing $200 million in federal funding in 1995 to more than $700 million in the past year.

Nordenberg’s pay was more than a third of the top-earning university president in the country.First on the list of 185 university presidents is Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee, who earned more than $1.3 million in total compensation.

The Chronicle defines total compensation as the executives’ base pay, bonuses and deferred compensation collected during the year.

The median total compensation was $375,442.