1. Ohio State University

From FY 2010 to FY 2012, Ohio State paid its top executive $5.9 million while driving up student debt 23% faster than the national average. During the same period, the university hired 670 new administrators, 498 contingent and part-time faculty, and only 45 permanent faculty.

2. Pennsylvania State University

In FY 2012, Penn State’s Board of Trustees awarded $2.9 million in salary and severance pay to Graham Spanier – who was terminated “without cause” for his handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. From FY 2006 to FY 2012, the Board approved another $4.8 million in executive compensation while average student debt on campus grew by 49% to $35,100. During the same period, non-academic administrative staff increased by 224 while permanent faculty grew by only 32.

3. University of Minnesota

From FY 2010 to FY 2012, the University of Minnesota increased non-academic administrative staff 200% from 762 to 2,384. While the president pulled in $2.1 million, permanent faculty decreased 9% and the ranks of adjuncts grew 223% to nearly half of all instructional staff. From FY 2006 to FY 2012, expenditures per student on non-academic administration more than doubled from $2,574 to $5,790. Meanwhile, expenditures per student on scholarships dwindled from $1,424 to $914. By 2012, average student debt reached $29,702.

4. University of Michigan

From FY 2010 to FY 2012, the University of Michigan paid its top executive over $2.6 million. While the ranks of contingent and part-time faculty increased by 1,536 or 55% over the same period, permanent faculty grew by only 99 or 4%. From summer 2006 to summer 2012, average student debt rose 18% to $27,815 as expenditures on non-academic administration outpaced scholarships by almost 3 to 1.

5. University of Washington

From FY 2010 to FY 2012, the University of Washington decreased permanent faculty by 19% - more than any other school in the top 25. Over the same period, the university increased part-time faculty by 801 or 239% while paying its top executive $2.3 million. From summer 2009 to summer 2012, average student debt rose 26% faster than the national average at four-year public universities.