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Political Science and Government at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,828/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 19.3x earnings multiple (9.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #82 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $587K $576K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.6x 19.3x 17.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.5x 9.3x 8.5x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 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 (9.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$12,184
59% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,645
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,730
67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,828/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $35,828 far exceeding the $11,645 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #82 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $59,730 show a 67% jump from the $35,828 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

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

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($49,580) Public Administration ($48,881) Fire Protection ($48,121) Security Science and Technology ($44,092) Physical Sciences ($41,587) Sociology ($40,401) Social Sciences, Other ($37,919) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($37,442)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $525,326 in decade earnings vs $586,831 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Political Science and Government program stand out?
Ranked #82 of 521 programs nationally, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?
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 →