
Webb Institute was founded in 1889 through a bequest from William H. Webb, a New York shipbuilder who wanted to educate future ship designers and engineers. Originally established in New York City as Webb's Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, it developed into a small college focused on the maritime industry.
Webb moved to Glen Cove, Long Island, in 1947, occupying a former estate overlooking Long Island Sound. Its present-day identity still reflects its founding purpose: students pursue a single undergraduate engineering degree and complete practical work in the maritime field as part of their education.
Webb Institute does not have a collection of separate colleges or a broad catalog of majors. It offers one undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
The curriculum combines ship and vessel design with engineering subjects such as structures, propulsion, machinery, mathematics, and the sciences. Humanities and other nonengineering coursework are also part of the degree. Each student completes required winter work terms, connecting classroom study with work in maritime settings. Applicants seeking several possible majors or a graduate program should recognize how specialized this academic structure is.
Webb Institute is in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island's North Shore. Its residential campus is in a suburban setting overlooking Long Island Sound, rather than in a dense urban college district.
New York City and the wider metropolitan area are accessible from Glen Cove, but travel requires planning. Students weighing off-campus jobs, appointments, or visits home should consider local transportation and the time needed to reach regional transit connections. LaGuardia Airport is a practical airport for many trips, though the best route depends on the destination.
Webb Institute's stated educational purpose is to prepare students for work in naval architecture, marine engineering, and related maritime fields. Its single-degree curriculum and required industry work terms put that purpose into practice.
The institute's approach emphasizes technical study alongside hands-on experience and broader coursework. That focus is useful for applicants already interested in ships and marine systems; it provides less room to explore unrelated majors after enrollment. Webb is not a religiously affiliated institution.
Name of the institution
Webb InstituteLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1889Webb Institute is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.