ACE IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT LEADS HIGHER EDUCATION WITH A UNITED VISION FOR THE FUTURE. WE GALVANIZE OUR MEMBERS TO MAKE CHANGE AND WE COLLABORATE ACROSS THE SECTOR TO DESIGN SOLUTIONS FOR TODAY'S CHALLENGES, SERVE THE NEEDS OF A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION, AND SHAPE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY. AS THE MAJOR COORDINATING BODY FOR THE NATION'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, OUR STRENGTH LIES IN OUR DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP OF MORE THAN 1,600 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, RELATED ASSOCIATIONS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. ACE IS THE ONLY MAJOR HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION TO REPRESENT ALL TYPES OF U.S. ACCREDITED, DEGREE-GRANTING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. OUR MEMBERS EDUCATE TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE STUDENTS IN ALL ACCREDITED, DEGREE-GRANTING U.S. INSTITUTIONS.
Executive compensation, broken down
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 15 reported individuals · Filing year 2023
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Education organizations nationwide.
- Base
- $700k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $458k
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $366k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $508
- Benefits
- $22k
- Base
- $347k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $289
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $335k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $409
- Benefits
- $17k
- Base
- $302k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $177
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $311k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $57
- Benefits
- $2k
- Base
- $276k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $508
- Benefits
- $20k
- Base
- $96k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $217k
- Benefits
- $483
- Base
- $264k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $33
- Benefits
- $19k
- Base
- $221k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $48k
- Benefits
- $15k
- Base
- $268k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $28
- Benefits
- $1k
- Base
- $230k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $293
- Benefits
- $18k
- Base
- $196k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $33
- Benefits
- $7k
- Base
- $107k
- Bonus
- —
- Other
- $23k
- Benefits
- $4k
| Position | Base | Bonus | Other | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President, Ex Officio Above 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $700k | — | $458k | $15k | $1.3M $1.4M |
Chief L&i Until 05/2024 Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $366k | — | $508 | $22k | $411k $451k |
Vp, General Counsel Board Vice President Above 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $347k | — | $289 | $19k | $390k $427k |
Svp, Education Futures Senior Vice President 75th to 90th percentile | $335k | — | $409 | $17k | $375k $411k |
Ex. Dir., Ccs and SVP Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $302k | — | $177 | $19k | $343k $376k |
Svp, Government Relations Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $311k | — | $57 | $2k | $332k $364k |
Svp, Chief of Staff Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $276k | — | $508 | $20k | $317k $348k |
Former Svp, Dgpa - Until 02/2023 Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $96k | — | $217k | $483 | $316k $346k |
Svp, Cao Senior Vice President Median to 75th percentile | $264k | — | $33 | $19k | $302k $331k |
Avp, Finance & Budget Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $221k | — | $48k | $15k | $301k $330k |
Chief People and Culture O Highest Compensated Employee Above 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $268k | — | $28 | $1k | $288k $316k |
Vp, Public Affairs Board Vice President 75th to 90th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | $230k | — | $293 | $18k | $265k $290k |
Former Svp, COO - Until 05/2023 Former Officer/director/trustee Median to 75th percentile | $196k | — | $33 | $7k | $213k $234k |
Former VP and CFO - Until 05/2023 Former Officer/director/trustee 25th percentile to median | $107k | — | $23k | $4k | $141k $154k |
VP Finance, CFO 10th to 25th percentilevs Education peers in District of Columbia | — | — | — | — | $77k $84k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 38 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2023, the highest total compensation at AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
Based on 26,320 education organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Up 53%
from 2022
From $846k in 2022 to $1.3M in 2023.
Estimated with Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 53% from 2022 to 2023, while revenue fell 9%.
- Highest Compensated Employee pay rose 19% from 2022 to 2023.
- Board Vice President pay rose 8% from 2022 to 2023.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2023.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
What does the Chief Executive Officer of AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION earn?
In 2023, the Chief Executive Officer of AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION received $1,295,151 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Chief Executive Officer roles among Education organizations in District of Columbia: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Education organizations in District of Columbia, the 2023 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION falls in the top 10%. In 2023, the highest total compensation at AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION equaled 3% of the organization's total expenses. The median for education organizations is 7%.
What are AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION's revenue and expenses?
In 2023, AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION reported $36.3M in total revenue and $38.8M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
Compare any role, sector, or revenue band
Build your own benchmark from millions of reported positions.
Learn More About Nonprofit Compensation
Guides to help you understand and use this data
Nonprofit CFO Salary
What nonprofit CFOs earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data in a job search or negotiation.
Read moreNonprofit COO Salary
What nonprofit COOs earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data in a job search or board decision.
Read moreNonprofit Executive Director Salary
What nonprofit executive directors earn, what drives the number, and how to use public compensation data whether you are a candidate, a current ED, or a board member.
Read more