CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, New York · Public · 57.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice scores 78 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, a strong result driven by an exceptional net price of $3,203 per year and an earnings premium of 1.654. With a 7.2-year payback period and median debt of $11,000, the financial case for John Jay is clear for students who complete. The complication is a 55.8% completion rate and a 62.2% three-year repayment rate, meaning a significant share of borrowers are not reducing principal. The school enrolls 11,590 students with a 59.8% Pell grant rate. For students who complete, outcomes are strong relative to cost. Criminal Justice and Corrections is the dominant program at 1,454 graduates, earning $37,284 year-one and $59,343 year-four with a B+ ROI grade and only $10,500 in median debt. Computer/Information Technology Administration (202 graduates) reaches $96,069 at year four.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice scores in the top 15% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,420/yr |
| Average net price | $3,203/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $12,812 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,195 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $117 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 11,590 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,470/year ($15,420/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,203/year, or roughly $12,812 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $1,073/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,292/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $11,000, which works out to about $117 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,800) and comes to 0.33, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $1,073 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,506 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,760 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,427 |
| $110,001+ | $13,292 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $1,073 per year at John Jay - essentially free. Over four years, a student in this bracket who completes their degree pays roughly $4,300 total. Against $33,800 average 6-year earnings and $11,000 in median debt, the financial case is overwhelming for students who graduate. The primary risk is the 55.8% completion rate; non-completers still incur debt with no credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,760 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $8,427. The earnings trajectory and low debt make John Jay's value proposition strong across all middle-income brackets for students targeting public safety, tech, or legal careers.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $13,292 per year - roughly $53,000 over four years. For high-income families, John Jay is typically chosen for program fit (criminal justice focus) rather than financial necessity, but the ROI data supports the choice financially.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,343 | B+ |
| Clinical Psychology | $55,595 | B |
| Political Science and Government | $57,396 | B+ |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $96,069 | B+ |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $57,073 | B+ |
| International Relations | $62,150 | B |
| Security Science and Technology | $60,416 | B+ |
| Economics | $55,706 | B+ |
| Public Administration | $66,834 | B+ |
| Sociology | $51,979 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections is John Jay's signature program at 1,454 graduates. Year-one earnings are $37,284 and year-four $59,343, with median debt of $10,500 producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.282 (ROI grade B+). The low debt reflects John Jay's minimal net price. NYC law enforcement, corrections, federal agencies, and legal services are the primary employment channels. The year-four jump to $59k reflects promotion and career advancement in public safety roles.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
Computer/Information Technology Administration (202 graduates) earns $49,580 year-one and $96,069 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.280 (ROI grade B+). Students who complete this program on the technology track at John Jay's minimal net price achieve an exceptional financial outcome.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology (537 graduates) earns $35,656 year-one and $55,595 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.376 (ROI grade B). At John Jay's net price, even the lower-earning psychology track produces a reasonable ROI - median debt of $13,421 against these earnings is manageable. Most psychology graduates at John Jay pursue graduate or professional degrees; year-one earnings reflect the early-career period before graduate placement.
Political Science and Government
Political Science and Government (204 graduates) earns $33,798 year-one and $57,396 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.325 (ROI grade B+). At only $11,000 in median debt, even these modest year-one earnings produce a defensible repayment ratio. John Jay political science graduates often target law school, government careers, and policy roles - the four-year jump to $57k reflects those career trajectories.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 54.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 57.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-620 |
| Enrollment | 11,590 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 59.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,169 |
John Jay admits 57.1% of applicants, making it moderately selective. SAT Math 450-600 and Reading 480-620 describe the middle range. The school's low net price ($1,073 for the lowest income bracket) means the cost barrier is minimal; the primary challenge is completing a degree. Students with strong academic preparation and clear career goals in public safety or law-related fields are the most likely to succeed.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (this school) | 78 | $3,203 | $56,195 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Rhode Island | 79 | $21,440 | $69,743 |
| University of North Florida | 78 | $10,154 | $56,343 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
Who Thrives Here
John Jay admits 57.1% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 450-600 Math and 480-620 Reading. ACT score ranges are not reported by Scorecard. The 59.8% Pell grant rate reflects a majority lower-income student body. Students from New York City's diverse communities who are interested in law enforcement, legal studies, public administration, or criminal justice policy represent the clear fit. The 55.8% completion rate is a risk factor that prospective students should discuss with advisors.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice pays off. You'd pay about $3,203 a year after aid ($12,812 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $56,195 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $11,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Common Questions
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice pays off. It scores 78/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $3,203 a year after aid ($12,812 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $56,195 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.2 years to earn back.
How much does CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $3,203 a year, or roughly $12,812 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,195 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,395 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.2 years for CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,000, against average earnings of $33,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.