What can you do with a Criminal Justice degree from John Jay College (CUNY)?

First, some facts. Of the Criminal Justice graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 37 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 52%, Criminal Justice graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) have a much lower likelihood (-15%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 52%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 37% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Criminal Justice graduate.

See the details:

View a random Criminal Justice graduate from John Jay College (CUNY) and our analysis:


Relevance score: 25%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from John Jay College (CUNY) with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Criminal Justice. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Marketing Assistant
REALTY EXECUTIVES TODAY
Oct 2020 - Sep 2022
The position of Marketing Assistant at Realty Executives Today does not require any specific knowledge or skills in Criminal Justice, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.

Real Estate Agent
NY Space Finders
Sep 2022 - Present
Although the role of Real Estate Agent at NY Space Finders primarily focuses on sales and customer interaction, an understanding of laws and ethics, which are part of a Criminal Justice degree, can be somewhat applicable in dealing with contractual agreements and property rights.

ABOUT

[NAME REMOVED] is an Astoria native and has practiced real estate throughout New York City. While finding his clients the perfect place to live, he also is a property manager throughout Astoria. He prides himself on the rapport he builds with his clients and makes sure they receive a personable experience with him. [NAME REMOVED] is full-time Realtor with a lot of experience and ready to assist you with your next real estate transaction. Born and raised in New York, [NAME REMOVED]s vast knowledge of the region and its people allow him to make the connections for all your needs prior, during, and the after residential/commercial buying or selling process. He leverages these relationships to help clients each step of the process. [NAME REMOVED] has the background and expertise to guide you through the process of finding and securing your dream home!

What jobs can you get with a Criminal Justice degree from John Jay College (CUNY)?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When it comes to graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) who earned a degree in Criminal Justice, there’s definitely a mix in the types of jobs they've landed. A lot of them have gone the route of law enforcement or security roles, like being police officers, correctional officers, or various positions within the Transportation Security Administration. These jobs closely relate to what they studied and put their knowledge to practical use. For example, roles like Deputy Sheriff and Immigration Services Officer show a strong connection to the criminal justice field.

However, not all graduates have stuck to the core of criminal justice. Some ended up in jobs like marketing, event management, or even as customer service representatives, which barely tap into the skills they learned in their degree program. While some roles can relate back to legal contexts, like working with community organizations or in administrative positions, many of these pathways stray pretty far from the central themes of criminal justice. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, honestly, with those who stuck to criminal justice utilizing their degree directly while others ventured into unrelated fields. Overall, a significant portion of these graduates have found work that aligns with their studies, but there’s also a notable number that drifted away from the core of the discipline.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Criminal Justice graduates (this is across all Criminal Justice graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to John Jay College (CUNY)):

What kind of career trajectories do Criminal Justice graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The career trajectories of graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) with degrees in Criminal Justice show a mix of successful paths in the field and some more challenging detours into unrelated industries. A lot of alumni started off strong with career choices that align with Criminal Justice, such as positions in corrections, law enforcement, and various roles within the government, including jobs at agencies like the TSA and USCIS. For example, many graduates from the class of 2013 moved up the ranks within the TSA, indicating a clear trajectory towards more senior roles over just a few years. Similarly, others found work as private investigators or law enforcement officers, showcasing the potential for building a career directly related to their studies.

However, it’s also noticeable that not everyone stuck to the core Criminal Justice jobs over the long term. Some graduates veered off into roles that seem pretty far removed, like being a production supervisor or a customer service rep. Over five to ten years post-graduation, while some have landed impressive positions like Assistant District Attorney or specialized roles in law enforcement, others are still at office jobs or customer service roles, which don't utilize their Criminal Justice degrees as effectively. This indicates that while a degree from John Jay can lead to meaningful careers in the field, not all graduates may find the ideal path right after college or even years down the line. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, showing different levels of success in finding relevant, fulfilling careers post-graduation.

How hard is a Criminal Justice degree from John Jay College (CUNY)?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at John Jay College (CUNY) can be a pretty manageable challenge, especially if you’re interested in the subject matter. You’ll dive into a mix of theory and real-world application, covering everything from criminal law to sociology. It’s not all about crime shows and action; you’ll have to tackle research papers and understand some complicated concepts, but many students find it engaging if they’re passionate about justice and society. Overall, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s definitely doable if you’re willing to put in the effort and keep up with your assignments.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice.

Do Criminal Justice graduates from John Jay College (CUNY) tend to make good money?

It looks like the Criminal Justice grads from John Jay College have had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some have landed solid positions with good potential for growth, like private investigators or high-level roles within the TSA or law enforcement, which usually pay well, especially with experience. However, others took on jobs that might not be as lucrative, like teaching or working as customer service reps. A few have even jumped around industries, which can lead to instability in their earnings. Overall, while some of these folks are clearly on a path to good salaries, others seem to be still figuring things out or settling for jobs that might not be paying their worth. So, it really just depends on the particular career choices they made after graduation.

What buzzwords do Criminal Justice graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice (this is across all Criminal Justice graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to John Jay College (CUNY)). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Criminal Justice?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice (ordered by the average relevance score of their Criminal Justice graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Westfield State University 77 10
University of Central Missouri 70 11
Monroe College 69 13
Bowling Green State University 67 10
American Military University 67 28
Kennesaw State University 64 12
East Carolina University 62 18
Ferris State University 62 16
Liberty University 61 18
San Diego State University 61 17
Temple University 60 16
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 60 10
Michigan State University 59 17
University of Delaware 59 11
Old Dominion University 59 13
California State University-Sacramento 55 22
Georgia State University 54 10
Florida Atlantic University 54 16
University of Phoenix 53 31
San Francisco State University 53 12
Radford University 52 10
John Jay College (CUNY) 52 37
Sam Houston State University 51 42
University of Nevada, Reno 51 10
University of Central Florida 50 27
Florida International University 50 33
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 50 17
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 49 10
University of New Haven 49 17
University of Maryland University College 48 11
The University of Texas at San Antonio 46 17
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 45 12
University of Cincinnati 44 14
Grand Valley State University 43 12
Saint Leo University 43 13
University of North Texas 41 21
Troy University 38 12
Colorado Technical University 33 17
Texas State University 31 13
University of North Florida 28 10
Norwich University 27 13