This article examines the increasing number of college presidents leaving their posts in Iowa for higher-paying positions at other major research universities. With the recent departure of yet another popular president at the University of Iowa, members of the state's Board of Regents, the news media, and even faculty members are arguing that the state should pay its college executives better. A report presented to the regents ranked Iowa State seventh for presidential compensation among the 11 institutions in its peer group, while the University of Iowa ranked second to last among the 12 universities in its peer group. Officials agreed that improving the compensation package is needed in order to increase the recruitment and retention of high quality college presidents. It is not certain how much support this action will receive from state lawmakers, however, as the relationship between the Board of Regents and the state legislature has been contentious, with fights over budgets and the lawmakers' concerns that the regents are micromanaging the state institutions.