Your chances of getting into CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at John Jay is 57.2%. Its admission rate is the 40th lowest in New York.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into John Jay and can you get accepted?
John Jay is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 10,255 out of the 17,921 who applied were admitted.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.24. 20% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Can you get into John Jay?
57% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.24 or better
- Earn B grades in high school
- Score 1130 on the SAT
John Jay GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
GPA Requirements
The GPA requirements for getting into John Jay are to have around a 3.24 high school GPA. You need about average high school grades.
If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as John Jay accepts 57% of students who apply.
Average GPA
The average unweighted GPA at John Jay is 3.24 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B letter grades and regularly score around 83-86 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #86 in New York for highest average GPA.
Importance of GPA
Since John Jay is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.2 GPA range.
Competitiveness by GPA Ranges
The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024
John Jay SAT Scores
Testing Requirements
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 86% of students submitted SAT scores.
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | 520 |
| Math 25th Percentile | 480 |
| Composite 25th Percentile | 1000 |
| SAT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | 640 |
| Math 75th Percentile | 610 |
| Composite 75th Percentile | 1250 |
| Average SAT Score | 1130
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice?
Average Score & Range
The average SAT score at John Jay is 1130 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1000-1250. Students who get into CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice score in the top 60 percent of all SAT test takers.. John Jay ranks #80 in the state of New York for highest average SAT composite score.
Score for Acceptance
You should target scoring 1130 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. John Jay regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1000 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1000, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 870, but scores this low are outside the normal range.
Score Submission Requirements
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".
View other colleges which accept students in the 1130 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1125, you have around a 57% chance of being admitted. A 1250 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 72% chance of getting in.
John Jay ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 25th Percentile | N/A |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Average ACT Score | N/A |
Applying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 10,400 | 7,230 | 17,921 |
| Accepted | 6,361 | 3,706 | 10,255 |
| Acceptance Rate | 61% | 51% | 57% |
| Enrolled | 1,332 | 644 | 2,033 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 21% | 17% | 20% |
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is $65.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) |
| High School GPA | Required to be considered for admission |
| High School Class Rank | Not considered for admission, even if submitted |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required to be considered for admission |
| Recommendations | Not considered for admission, even if submitted |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Required to be considered for admission |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | Yes |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=190600 IPEDS survey data for CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Last updated February 24, 2025