Public Policyat CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Graduates earn $48,881/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Public Policy average. Base-case 10-year earnings $541K; scenarios range from $500K to $546K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Public Policy 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 Policy programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Public Policy'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 Policy 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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Public Policy
How CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Public Policy offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Public Policy trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Public Policy at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Policy at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Public Policy nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Public Policy 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 Policy?
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.