Naval Architecture & Marine Engineeringat Webb Institute
Graduates earn $75,834/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $749K; scenarios range from $661K to $769K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Webb Institute
Webb Institute offers a highly specialized path into a niche, global industry. The unique, tuition-free model means your financial outlook starts debt-free, a significant advantage not captured by raw earnings comparisons alone. While initial salaries may appear different from the few other programs nationally, consider where graduates typically land: smaller, high-impact design firms, classification societies like ABS, or specialized roles in defense shipbuilding. These roles often prioritize deep technical expertise over immediate high-volume compensation, especially in the Northeast's specific marine sector.
The "high" AI risk reflects the evolving nature of design and analysis tools in engineering, where AI will likely augment rather than replace human creativity and strategic oversight in complex projects. You'll still need to understand the underlying physics and regulatory frameworks. Your education here prepares you for a tight-knit community with strong alumni connections, which can be invaluable for career progression. Focus on leveraging Webb's unparalleled practical experience and network to carve out your unique specialization within this essential field.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Webb Institute's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
How Webb Institute stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Frequently asked about Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at Webb Institute
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering at Webb Institute?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $661,397 in decade earnings vs $768,692 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from Webb Institute?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Is Webb Institute a hidden gem for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering?
After financial aid, the average student pays $76,308 over four years — 69% below the $244,240 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.