Legal Studies at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,649/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (26% exposed)
Job Market
Large (44,000 openings/yr)
ROI
19.7x earnings multiple (9.6x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Legal Studies graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $595K | $589K | $553K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 19.9x | 19.7x | 18.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 9.6x | 9.6x | 9.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 52% | 50% | 44% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 43 | 49 |
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 (9.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,557
79% growth from Year 1
About CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
A 57% admission rate makes CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice accessible to a wide range of qualified students, 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
Legal support workers, all other
$68,760/yr
Paralegals and legal assistants
$61,010/yr
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Legal Studies at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Legal Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Can you still earn well with Legal Studies from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice a hidden gem for Legal Studies?
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 →