The median increase in salaries for professors at four year colleges is 4 percent for the 2007-8 academic year, up from 38. percent the previous year and 3.4 percent the year before that. Those figures are being released today by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

Last year, the gains were larger at public institutions, but this year they are larger at private colleges and universities.

Percentage Increase in Average Salary, by Sector

CUPA-HR's survey is one of two major annual studies on faculty salaries. The other is done by the American Association of University Professors, which is expected to release its data next month. The two studies differ in that the AAUP includes all sectors at once, while CUPA-HR will have a separate study on community college salaries later. In addition, the AAUP releases data by institution while CUPA-HR's study focuses on disciplines. Still, in most years the averages are fairly close.

By rank, this year's CUPA-HR survey found the largest increases among full and associate professors (4 percent each), followed by assistant professors (3.9 percent) and new assistant professors (3.3 percent).

The disciplinary gaps remain significant. A full professor of legal studies has an average salary of $129,527, the study found, compared to $76,793 for English.

Average Salaries by Discipline and Rank, 2007-8

The full report may be ordered online from CUPA-HR.