CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice at a Glance
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public college focused on criminal justice located in New York City. It is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY). John Jay was founded as the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States.
1964
62 years old
$7M
$7.2 million
13,921
275,000 undergrad · 1,740 grad
1,100
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Official admissions pageOctober 26 (Early decision)
$65
Testing policy
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Worth It?
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,203/year net price and $56,195 median earnings, graduates earn 17.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 56% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $11,000 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #1 of 54 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 100 | $3,203 | $56,195 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #4 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #5 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| #6 | CUNY Queens College | 100 | $4,195 | $62,763 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in NY.
Best Programs at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The highest-earning program at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is Public Administration at $39,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is History at $28,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Public Administration graduate from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice earns $39,200, while a History graduate earns $28,200. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,203/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | $39,200 | $39,200 | $11,500 |
| Economics | $37,400 | $37,400 | $11,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,300 | $33,300 | $10,765 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,700 | $32,700 | $12,057 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $32,200 | $32,200 | N/A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,900 | $31,900 | N/A |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $31,200 | $31,200 | $12,500 |
| Criminology | $30,100 | $30,100 | $10,852 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $30,000 | $30,000 | $13,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $28,500 | $28,500 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,400 | $28,400 | $13,269 |
| History | $28,200 | $28,200 | N/A |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- New York, NY
- Student Body
- 11,590 students
- Admission Rate
- 57%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,203
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,195
- Median Student Debt
- $11,000