Webb Institute

With only 90 students total, Webb operates like a maritime monastery—everyone lives on the 26-acre waterfront campus, eats in the same dining hall, and bonds over late-night CAD modeling sessions. Student clubs range from the Queer Student Union (which hosts 'fun gay activities') to the American Society of Naval Engineers. The vibe is intensely collaborative rather than competitive, with traditions like the 'Stevenson Taylor Memorial Lecture' bringing in industry legends. Instagram posts show students welding in the machine shop one moment and kayaking in Long Island Sound the next.

Webb's ROI is staggering: 83% of graduates earn $73,043+ within two years, with mid-career salaries hitting $92,973—outpacing many Ivy League humanities majors. The 81% graduation rate (top 15% nationally) reflects the program's intensity, but those who persist are virtually guaranteed jobs at firms like Bollinger Shipyards or the Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command. Alumni dominate niche maritime sectors; one recent grad reported a $81,500 starting salary at a Houston offshore engineering firm.

Here's the kicker: every U.S. citizen receives a full-tuition scholarship covering Webb's $65,268 sticker price. Need-based aid?Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. (averaging $11,231) helps with room/board, and 70% of students qualify. The net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $21,488—cheaper than most state schools for a degree that reliably prints six-figure salaries. Financial aid packages average $61,075, with options like Pell Grants and NY State TAP filling gaps. One caveat: international students pay full freight.

Webb is the only U.S. college that combines ultra-selectivity with universal full-tuition scholarships in a single hyper-specialized field. Its 8:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know every student's welding technique by heart, while the mandatory internship program ensures no graduate enters the job market untested. The trade-off? Zero academic flexibility—you'll spend four years thinking about hull forms and wake turbulence. But for maritime obsessives, it's the closest thing to a professional guild still operating in American higher ed.