A total of 74 presidents of private US colleges were paid at least $300,000 in 1998-99, according to the annual survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education . It is the largest number since 1991-92, when The Chronicle began tracking executive salary packages. At the top of the list was Harry Payne, who earned $878,222 in salary and benefits in 1998-99, the last year he was head of Williams College, Massachusetts.