Salaries & Wages are not the only component of Total Staff Costs (which account for 61% of GOE at the average Top 25 university). On top of the Salaries & Wages component are Staff Benefits – see HERE for overview (Page 14-15).
The chart below shows the change across the Top 25 since 2001 in “Real Dollars” (adjusted for both inflation and enrollment). Positive values denote increases exceeding inflation and enrollment combined:
5A1
Download this table (Opens in new tab)
Top 25 Change Overview (Inflation-adjusted):
- Staff Benefits expenditure university-wide averaged $134 million in 2022 – up 87% since 2001 (23% since 2010).
- Staff Benefits expenditure in Instruction averaged $71 million in 2022 – up 146% since 2001 (30% since 2010). It now accounts for 8.7% of GOE (6.9% in 2001, 8.5% in 2010).
- Staff Benefits expenditure in Central Admin averaged $16 million in 2022 – up 208% since 2001 (50% since 2010). It now accounts for 2.0% of GOE (1.2% in 2001, 1.7% in 2010).
- Staff Benefits expenditure in General Operating averaged $106 million in 2022 – up 155% since 2001 (33% since 2010). It now accounts for 13.0% of GOE (9.9% in 2001, 12.4% in 2010).
To add perspective to the above numbers, average enrollment has increased by 57% since 2001 (21% since 2010).
The best means of measurement is to evaluate the cost of Staff Benefits as a percentage of Salaries and Wages. Across the Top 25 in 2022 the benefits rates were:
University-wide – 20.0%
General Operating – 21.2%.
Instruction – 20.3%
Central Administration – 24.1%
The Rankings show that the highest Central Admin rate across the Top 50 in 2022 was 38.5% – one of several schools where the rate exceeded 30%.
Rankings Tables
The underlying methodology for the tables below can be seen HERE. Each table opens in a new tab.
5 B) 2022 Efficiency Rankings – TOP 50
5 C) 2022 Change Rankings Since 2020 – TOP 50
5 D) 2022 Change Rankings Since 2010 – TOP 25