According to a survey by the Chronicle Higher Education released on Monday, a dozen presidents of private colleges earned more than $1 million in compensation during the 2006-07 year.

The annual survey found that fifty-nine presidents took home more than $500,000 in salary and benefits during the 2007-08 academic year and the number receiving more than $700,000 rose from eight to 15.

David J. Sargent, president of Suffolk University in Massachusetts, is No.1 highest paid president of a private university, bringing in $2,800,461 in salary and benefits after 52 years at the Boston-based institution. “You can’t put a price on what David Sargent has done for the university, our students, and the city of Boston,” spokesman Greg Gatlin was quoted as saying.

Sargent was followed by Northwestern University President Henry Bienen, who received $1,742,560, and Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger, with $1,411,894. The $2.8 million payday for Suffolk University President David J. Sargent included: $436,000 in base pay, a $436,000 longevity bonus, a deferred sabbatical bonus of $1.19 million, $555,667 in deferred compensation, a performance bonus of $87,200 and $56,262 in health, dental and other benefits.

Leaders of public research universities received a median salary and benefits of $427,400. Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, said the pay data included in the survey were gathered months before the current economic crisis began.

Overall, salaries for presidents at smaller private universities rose 6 percent, while those for presidents at private research universities in 2007 remained steady at $527,000.