University President is the title of the highest ranking officer within a University, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as chancellor or rector. In some state university systems, the Chancellor has authority over all universities in the system, and therefore ranks higher than the presidents of individual universities within the system. In other state university systems, the President has authority over multiple campuses, each of which is headed by a Chancellor who is under the authority of the President.

There have been a number of instances in American history where a University President has used that position as a springboard to political office. For example, Woodrow Wilson was the President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, before being elected Governor of New Jersey and then President of the United States.