This study focused on profiles of private, four-year college and university presidents in the United States. A stratified random sample of 291 presidents was drawn for the study from a total pool of 873. In January and March, 1991 a pilot-tested survey instrument was mailed and 276 responses were received. The "typical" president was found to be a Caucasian male who began the presidency at age 47, had served for 8 years, and was presently age 55. He was married, a Protestant, and had earned a doctoral degree from a private college or university in the field of education. The data were stratified by type of institutional control and Carnegie classifications which revealed statistically significant differences among different types of institutions. For instance, presidents of Protestant colleges were more likely to be male, married, Protestant, and to have attended a public university for their highest earned degrees. They were more likely to be African American than were presidents of other types of institutions. Presidents of Catholic institution had a greater probability of being older, female, single, and were older at appointment. Presidents from doctorate-granting institutions tended to be older, male, Caucasian, and older at appointment. (Contains 25 references and 5 tables.) (JB)