45 Underrated Religious College Towns Across America You'll Fall in Love With

34. Emmitsburg, Maryland: Marian Devotion in the Blue Ridge Foothills

Tucked in the scenic hills of northern Maryland, Emmitsburg is home to Mount St. Mary’s University—one of the oldest Catholic universities in the country—and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Pilgrims and visitors alike come to walk the shrine’s peaceful grounds, visit the basilica, and explore the life of America’s first native-born saint. The town’s charm lies in its serenity: colonial homes, quiet chapels, and tree-canopied paths that make reflection feel effortless. Emmitsburg radiates quiet reverence, offering both spiritual pilgrimage and academic tradition amid the simplicity of small-town life.