Benchmarks

How we determined our benchmark peer institutions

A Total Rewards Study of this magnitude typically results in multiple peer groups reflecting sources and destinations of talent. Segal presented proposed peer groups to the Staff and Faculty W3 Advisory Committee for review and feedback. The proposed peer group sample consisted of 30+ institutions to ensure a sufficient sample size, and the institution's data had to be available in CUPA to be included (CPE benchmark institutions not listed in the peer group means they did not participate in the annual CUPA Salary Survey.) The peer groups were selected based on criteria to establish objective guidance. Criteria included, but was not limited to: size, complexity, academic measures, etc.

During the peer group review, W3 Advisory Committee members were divided into a “Staff” committee and a “Faculty” committee. The “Staff” committee reviewed, discussed and provided qualitative feedback for “Staff” peer groups, and the “Faculty” committee reviewed, discussed and provided qualitative feedback for the “Faculty” peer groups. Feedback was given to Segal who incorporated the updates and the W3 Advisory Committee agreed to have a national peer group be used for both faculty and senior-level staff roles, whereas staff who were classified as non-senior-level would be compared with a peer group that incorporated more regional peers. Once the W3 Advisory Committee feedback was incorporated, Segal presented the peer groups to the Steering Committee for approval. Once approved, and all UofL data for Staff and Faculty was collected, the market assessments began.

Note: CUPA Salary Surveys will be reviewed annually for CPE benchmark institution participation, so this list may be subject to change, depending on the CPE's benchmark institution's participation in the CUPA Salary Survey.

Staff Peer Group

For senior-level professional and managerial roles

Note: This is the same peer group used for the faculty compensation study

• Auburn University
• Augusta University*
• Baylor University*
• Buffalo State University***
• Case Western Reserve University*
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University*
• East Carolina University*
• Florida International University*
• George Mason University
• Georgia State University
• Idaho State University
• Kansas State University
• Loyola University Chicago*
• Miami University-Oxford
• Mississippi State University
• Montana State University
• Ohio University-Main Campus
• Stony Brook University**
• SUNY Buffalo**
• Syracuse University
• Temple University**
• Thomas Jefferson University*
• Tulane University*
• University of Central Florida
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Colorado at Denver
• University of Connecticut*
• University of Dayton
• University of Florida*
• University of Houston
• University of Idaho
• University of Illinois at Chicago**
• University of Kentucky*
• University of Maine
• University of Miami*
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor*
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities*
• University of Missouri-Columbia*
• University of New Mexico-Main Campus**
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Texas Denton Campus
• University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus*
• University of Rhode Island
• University of South Carolina-Columbia**
• University of South Florida Main Campus*
• University of Tennessee-Knoxville
• University of Texas-Arlington
• University of Texas-Dallas
• University of Texas-El Paso
• University of Texas-San Antonio*
• University of Wisconsin-Madison*
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Virginia Commonwealth University**
• Wayne State University**
• West Virginia University*
• Western Michigan University*