Presidents of U.S. public colleges and universities saw their earnings climb by 5.3 percent last year, with several of them topping $1 million, according to an annual survey.The Chronicle of Higher Education's study of more than 150 college presidents found that their average annual pay increased in fiscal year 2016 to $501,000.When he was hired last July, Georgia Southern University President Jaime Hebert’s annual pay was $382,800, which included housing, travel and other allowances. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hebert will receive a raise effective July 1, boosting his overall annual pay to $393,300. Among the top earners were eight public university presidents whose total compensation exceeded $1 million, up from five the year before, the study found.