Compensation and Salary Equity Studies for Higher Education
Most institutions know their compensation is a problem before they hire us. Salaries haven’t kept pace. Long-tenured staff are earning less than newly hired colleagues in the same role. Leadership can feel it in exit interviews, in recruitment struggles, in the quiet frustration of employees who’ve been loyal for years.
What they don’t have is a clear, defensible picture of what’s actually happening — and a practical path to fix it. That’s what a compensation study with Stevens Strategy gives you.
How It Works
We approach compensation studies in three phases:
Internal Assessment — We review your internal pay structure, job titles, pay grades, and ranges, while examining how your compensation compares to your peer and aspirant institutions. We look at the data through a regional lens, accounting for cost of living and local market conditions, so the benchmarks we use actually reflect your reality.
External Market Analysis — We gather external market data, identify where compression and inequity have crept in, and assess which roles are most at risk — either in terms of retention or fairness to the people currently in them. We pay particular attention to often-overlooked areas: adjunct faculty compensation, stipends, and positions that carry director-level responsibilities without director-level pay.
Implementation Planning — We create not just a report that sits on a shelf, but a phased plan your institution can actually execute, given your budget, timeline, and priorities.
What You Receive
A final report with an executive summary of findings
Updated peer and aspirant benchmarks
Internal equity analysis
External market comparisons
A prioritized, phased implementation plan
Replicable methodology so your team can run future comparisons without starting from scratch
Why It Matters
Compensation is one of the most powerful signals an institution sends to its people. It tells your staff whether they’re valued, whether the organization is well-managed, and whether they have a future with you. Getting it right is about stability, morale, and your ability to recruit and retain the talent your mission depends on.
We’ve conducted compensation studies at institutions across the country, and we know how to move from diagnosis to action without disrupting what’s working.
