The John Jay College of Criminal Justice, located on the West side of Manhattan, was first founded in 1964 as a liberal arts college focusing on criminal justice and forensic science. The school was created in response to growing concerns from civic leaders and the New York City Police Department over the increased complexity of police work and the ongoing relations between police and the NYC community.
The school was named after John Jay (whom you might have heard of from Hamilton), the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and one of the founding fathers. Today, over 15,000 students attend the college. John Jay is also affiliated with the City University of New York (CUNY) system. John Jay offers 35 majors, six combined BA/MA programs, 52 minors, and 14 master's programs. These programs include Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, International Criminal Justice, Political Science, Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics, Toxicology, and Psychology, to name just a few. It also runs psychology and criminal justice doctoral programs in conjunction with CUNY's Graduate Center.
There are currently over 13,000 undergraduates and over 2,000 graduate students at John Jay. 47% are Hispanic, 18% white, 17% Black, 15% Asian, and 3% other. More than 130 countries are represented.
With over 6,000 active alumni, there are a handful of notable members, including Pauley Perrette (actor), Jimmy Lovine (producer), Henry Lee (criminologist), Adam Saleh (content creator), James P. O'Neill (politician), Eric Adams (politician), Dennis Maeheail (business person), Scott Stringer ( politician), Lovely A. Warren (politician).
Most academic buildings are in Hell's Kitchen. Academic buildings can be found mainly between 54th to 59th Street from 9th Avenue to 11th Avenue. The college consists of six buildings, all of which are within a 10-15 minute walk of each other. Students are expected to commute by walking, biking, or public transportation. The closest subway station is the 59th St-Columbus Circle Station, but there are also plenty of different bus lines by the college.
John Jay currently doesn't operate any on-campus housing.
Since many attending John Jay are local New Yorkers, some students choose to live at home. However, for those who are new to New York City or who want to adopt a more independent lifestyle, Hell's Kitchen is among some of the most popular options. West Harlem, Washington Heights, and parts of Brooklyn and Queens are also great for commuting via the subway. Since the school is close to the 59th Street-Columbus Circle Station, those commuting might want to stay on the A, B, C, D, 1, and 2 lines. Check out RentHop's subway rent map to find more information on median rental prices along these lines.
John Jay alumni are spread throughout all five boroughs in New York City. Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods are some of the most popular options among those who recently graduated from John Jay.
Being almost directly in the middle of the West side, there are a lot of landmarks to explore surrounding John Jay. Here are a few of them.
There are many things to do near John Jay College of Criminal Justice. If you are a foodie, this is the spot for you. Within less than a 10-minute walk, there are multiple restaurants worth checking out, such as City Cooking West End, Amsterdam Ale House, Urbani Truffle Lab NYC. Perhaps you are interested in theater. If so, look no further. The New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera are only roughly six minutes away. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is also close by, where you can see a Jazz performance or play. The Big Apple Circus and Dizzy's Club are also less than a 10-minute walk if plays are not for you. Alternatively, you can catch a concert at Terminal 5, which is only a 5-minute walk from the school.
First time moving into the city? Don't stress! Take a look at our RentHop's Renter's Guide to get a better understanding of what you'll need to know to rent in the city. The guide will take you through the step-by-step process of renting an apartment.
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