Neil L. Rudenstine earned about $290,000 as president of Harvard during the '97-'98 academic year, a figure nearly $100,000 less than the median salary of comparable university presidents, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported this week.

Rudenstine's published salary, which does not include the house the University provides for him, was barely half that of the president of the University of Pennsylvania, Judith Rodin, who earned almost $530,000 in annual pay alone.

When benefits such as health insurance are added in, Rudenstine received $320,000.

"As a group, the Ivy League tends to be well represented among the highest-paid presidents," said Stephen Burd, the Chronicle reporter who covered the story. "In the case of Harvard University, prestige may be more important than pay."

In an interview several weeks ago,

Rudenstine said he did not support Harvard's involvement in a push at other universities to bolster salaries of top officials.

"I just don't believe people in my position should be paid four or five hundred thousand dollars," Rudenstine said.

Indeed, while some presidents saw increases in their salaries up to 25 percent during the span of one academic year, Rudenstine's salary has increased an average of 1.05 percent each year since 1993.