Enrollment leaders at Tulane University and the University of Chicago are drawing substantial compensation after overseeing strong early‑applicant cycles, according to reporting on university pay practices. The trend of high pay for enrollment management executives raises questions about budget priorities, recruitment strategies and the arms race for selectivity. Higher salaries for admissions leaders feed into broader debates about tuition pricing, financial aid tradeoffs, and the metrics by which institutions reward recruitment performance. For campus executives and trustees, the revelations may prompt scrutiny of compensation structures tied to yield and revenue targets versus student affordability and mission alignment.