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

35. Shawnee, Oklahoma: Sacred Heart on the Plains

Shawnee’s Catholic heritage runs deep, thanks to the presence of St. Gregory’s Abbey and Oklahoma Baptist University. Once home to St. Gregory’s University, the monastic community still anchors the town with its liturgical life and outreach. Nearby, the Baptist university fosters robust theological study in a town where Catholic and Protestant traditions live in parallel harmony. The surrounding plains offer wide skies and even wider spiritual welcome—ideal for those seeking clarity, solitude, and contemplative learning. Shawnee embodies the quiet coexistence of multiple faith traditions without spectacle, grounded instead in community, education, and enduring belief.