Chris Collins Tops Northwestern University Payroll in 2024
Northwestern paid its 34 highest-compensated employees a combined $41.6 million according to recent tax filings.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Live Poll
Do you believe current executive and coaching salaries at major universities are justified?
Northwestern University identified Chris Collins as its highest-paid employee for the 2024 calendar year. The university reported total compensation for its 34 top-earning staff members reached $41.6 million.
Why it matters
The disclosures provide transparency into the administrative and athletic salary structures at the Evanston institution. These figures highlight the significant financial resources directed toward top-level personnel relative to average faculty pay.
Northwestern paid its 34 highest-compensated employees $41.6 million in 2024, reflecting a 3.74% increase in spending on top staff. The average pay for faculty during the 2024-25 academic year was $206,500.
The players
Chris Collins
He serves as the head men's basketball coach at Northwestern University.
Amy Falls
She serves as the chief investment officer at Northwestern University.
David Braun
He is the head football coach for the Northwestern Wildcats.
Michael Schill
He served as the president of Northwestern University until his resignation in 2025.
Pat Fitzgerald
He is the former head football coach who was dismissed from the university in 2023.
The details
Chris Collins earned nearly $4 million in 2024, an increase from his $3.8 million salary in 2023. Other high earners included Amy Falls with $3.6 million, David Braun with over $3 million, and Mark Jackson and Mohanbir Sawhney each earning about $2.3 million.
Timeline
2023: Pat Fitzgerald was fired from Northwestern.
2024: Chris Collins was highest-paid employee at Northwestern.
2024-25 academic year: Average faculty pay was $206,500.
July 2026: University filed its 990 tax form.
September 2025: Michael Schill resigned as president.
Market Landscape
The university's public disclosures align with the financial transparency mandated by Internal Revenue Service Form 990 disclosure requirements. This reporting provides a rare glimpse into the competitive compensation packages used by private institutions to attract and retain elite leadership.
While these figures reflect high-level executive compensation, they provide context for the university's overall operating budget in Evanston. The data allows students and stakeholders to assess how institutional funds are prioritized across academic and administrative roles.
The takeaway
Analyzing nonprofit tax filings offers a clear view of how large educational institutions allocate their financial resources toward top leadership. Readers should note that executive compensation at such universities often reflects market rates for high-profile coaching and administrative roles.
Further reading
For more information on employment trends and institutional salaries, visit the Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
Live Poll
Do you believe current executive and coaching salaries at major universities are justified?
