Head-to-head · 2026
CUNY City College vs CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Compare average net price ($3,776 at CUNY City College; $3,203 at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice), ROI score (43.72 vs 43.86), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($66,039 vs $56,195), and admissions selectivity (60% acceptance at CUNY City College; 57.1% at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | CUNY City College | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 43.72 | 43.86 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $3,776 | $3,203 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $15,104 | $12,812 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $7,340 | $7,470 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $15,290 | $15,420 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $66,039 ✓ | $56,195 |
| Acceptance rate | 60% | 57.1% |
| Graduation rate | 56.8% ✓ | 55.8% |
| Retention rate | 79.3% | 81.6% ✓ |
| Median debt | $11,990 | $11,000 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 12,505 | 11,590 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | 1260 | 1080 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | CUNY City College | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,251 | $1,073 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,990 | $2,506 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $6,811 | $6,760 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $9,982 | $8,427 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $12,806 ✓ | $13,292 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | CUNY City College | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 0% | 14.4% |
| Public Administration | 0.6% | 5% |
| Economics | 3.8% | 1.3% |
| Political Science and Government | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 0.2% | 4.5% |
| English Language and Literature, General | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2.4% | 0.3% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice reports the lower average net price by $573 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $2,292 difference over four years ($12,812 vs $15,104).
CUNY City College reports $9,844 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($66,039 vs $56,195). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 79.3% at CUNY City College and 81.6% at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Median federal debt among completers is $11,990 vs $11,000, respectively.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
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Frequently asked
CUNY City College vs CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, answered
4 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is cheaper — average net price $3,203 per year vs $3,776 at CUNY City College. The annual difference of $573 adds up to about $2,292 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
CUNY City College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $66,039 vs $56,195 at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The gap in the federal data is $9,844. This is not major-specific earnings.
Which school is harder to get into?
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is more selective at 57.1% acceptance vs 60% at CUNY City College.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.