Tiny Webb—total enrollment is only around 80 undergraduates—offers just one double major: naval architecture and marine engineering. For students interested in that subject matter and related fields, it’s an extraordinary value. Start with the price tag: free. Thanks to a substantial endowment, every Webb student who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder gets a full-tuition scholarship, worth $44,000 this year.
Bolstered by four required internships over the course of their studies, Webbies also typically graduate into terrific jobs. The typical recent grad reports earning about $65,000 a year, which compares favorably with graduates of other engineering schools.
The path to those stellar outcomes isn’t easy; the workload at Webb is routinely described as “intense.” All students—about 80% of whom are male—are required to live on campus, which is scenically and conveniently located (given the nature of the program) on the Long Island Sound. One of the most popular of the five sports on campus, not surprisingly, is sailing.