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Physical Sciences at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,587/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Large (74,700 openings/yr)

ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 2 Physical Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Physical Sciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$481K	$482K	$464K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.1x	16.1x	15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.8x	7.8x	7.5x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	69%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	53

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 (7.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$12,184

59% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$9,843

2.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,587/yr, roughly in line with the $41,504 national median for Physical Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $41,587 far exceeding the $9,843 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

With only 2 programs offering Physical Sciences nationally, this is a niche field. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranks #2 among them.

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

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

View all 2 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Physical Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Physical Sciences program score?

This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Physical Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Physical Sciences to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Physical Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

How affordable is Physical Sciences at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice after financial aid?

Sticker price is $29,880, but the average net cost is $12,184 — a 59% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →