GLEN COVE, N.Y., August 26, 2026 – Webb Institute has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, earning a place in the 2027 edition of The Best 392 Colleges, the education services company’s flagship annual guide to undergraduate academics.
Published by Penguin Random House and released August 18, the guide profiles only 14 percent of America’s four-year colleges. Now in its 35th edition, it draws on surveys of 172,000 students at the schools featured, who rate their institutions and report on their campus experiences. The Princeton Review does not rank the 392 schools hierarchically.
Webb’s profile in the guide reflects the college’s singular focus. Webb is the oldest institution in the United States devoted to naval architecture and marine engineering, and every student graduates with a dual degree in both disciplines.
Standout ratings
Webb earned some of the guide’s highest marks in the categories that matter most to prospective engineering students. The Princeton Review scores each school on a 60–99 scale across several rating categories. Webb’s 2027 ratings include:
| Category | Rating |
| Professors Accessible | 96 |
| Professors Interesting | 95 |
| Academic | 93 |
| Admissions Selectivity | 99 |
| Fire Safety | 99 |
| Quality of Life | 83 |
A different kind of engineering education
The guide highlights several features that distinguish Webb from larger engineering programs, including the Winter Work Term – a paid maritime industry internship completed during winter break each year, which the guide credits with significantly strengthening students’ professional development. Students surveyed described hands-on work ranging from assembling and disassembling engines to shipboard field trips, alongside a Monday Lecture Series that brings industry leaders to campus.
“Recognition from The Princeton Review means a great deal to us because it comes directly from our students,” said Mark Martecchini, President of Webb Institute. “What they describe- professors who know them by name, real industry work every winter, and a class small enough that everyone matters is not a marketing promise. It’s how Webb has operated for more than a century. We’re grateful to be included alongside the best undergraduate colleges in the country.”
With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, no teaching assistants, and about 105 students living together on a single waterfront campus, faculty engagement at Webb happens daily and informally. 94% of students return for their sophomore year, and 87% graduate within four years.
Webb admits about 19% of applicants. Every enrolled U.S. citizen and permanent resident receives a full-tuition scholarship, and the college has maintained a 100% job placement rate for graduates.
“Since 1992, our mission has been to showcase colleges we consider the nation’s best for undergraduate academics,” said Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of The Princeton Review and lead author of The Best 392 Colleges. “We are delighted to recommend Webb Institute to prospective students and families looking for standout academics, dedicated faculty, and transformative career preparation.”
Additional information
The Princeton Review’s Best 392 Colleges profiles and the guide’s 50 ranking lists are available at princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges.
About Webb Institute
Webb Institute is a private undergraduate engineering college in Glen Cove, New York, and the only college in the country dedicated exclusively to naval architecture and marine engineering. Every admitted U.S. citizen and permanent resident receives a full-tuition scholarship. Webb’s students complete a paid industry internship every winter through the Winter Work Term and graduate with a dual degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. The college maintains a 100 percent job placement record and, in 2026, was designated a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.
About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its tutoring, test preparation, and admission resources, and for its annual college guides and rankings. The Best 392 Colleges has been published annually since 1992. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.