Tulane and the University of Chicago have elevated their enrollment chiefs into the high‑paid executive ranks after both attracted strong early applicant pools. The profile of these recruiting leaders shows institutions increasingly prize aggressive enrollment strategies and the executives who deliver yield and revenue. The compensation decisions spotlight tradeoffs for university budgets: investing heavily in enrollment management can boost net tuition now but raises questions about long‑term resource allocation for teaching, student services and financial aid. Boards and provosts will be watching whether pay packages correlate with sustained enrollment and student success outcomes.