Public Administration at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,881/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (528,800 openings/yr)
ROI 18.1x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #13 of 45 Public Administration programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Administration graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $546K $541K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 18.1x 16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.9x 8.8x 8.1x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 49% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,880
Out-of-state: $61,680 (8.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$12,184
59% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,604
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,522
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Public Administration program produces graduates earning $48,881/yr — within striking distance of the $49,353 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,604 in median debt clears quickly against $48,881 in annual earnings.

At #13 of 45 Public Administration programs, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $57,522 are relatively flat compared to the $48,881 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's 57% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 11,340 in New York, NY. With 59% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $12,184 over four years — 59% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Construction managers $106,980/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Public Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Administration at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Public Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Public Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,185 in decade earnings vs $546,072 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice a hidden gem for Public Administration?
After financial aid, the average student pays $12,184 over four years — 59% below the $29,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →