New York, NY · Private University
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$56,195
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,470
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$15,420
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$61,680
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.64x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2.9 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
55.5%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$11,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$3,046
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduates earn $11,195 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked by graduate earnings
113 graduates
52 graduates
98 graduates
53 graduates
1,849 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management: $65,483) and the lowest (Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences: $34,619) is $30,864/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementBest ROI | $65,483 | 4.3x |
| Economics | $56,879 | 3.7x |
| Public Administration | $56,859 | 3.7x |
| Security Science and Technology | $55,359 | 3.6x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,358 | 3.6x |
| Political Science and Government | $52,769 | 3.4x |
| Philosophy | $51,730 | 3.4x |
| Criminology | $51,389 | 3.3x |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $51,332 | 3.3x |
| Fire Protection | $49,907 | 3.2x |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $49,895 | 3.2x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $49,676 | 3.2x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,939 | 2.7x |
| Physical Sciences(1yr data) | $41,587 | 2.7x |
| Sociology(1yr data) | $40,401 | 2.6x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics(1yr data) | $37,442 | 2.4x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesLowest(1yr data) | $34,619 | 2.3x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $56,195 10 years after starting, $11,195 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2.9 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.