Founded as the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) in 1987, it reincorporated under its current name in 1998 with the addition of several schools from Ohio.

Original members of the HCAC included Anderson, Bluffton, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, Mount St. Joseph, Wabash, and Wilmington.

The Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) was formed in June 1987, with 1990–91 being the first full season of competition (all eight teams competing in eight varsity sports).

In October 2009, Earlham College of Richmond, Indiana was accepted as the 10th member of the conference and began competition in the fall of 2010.

The HCAC currently has ten full members, all private schools: The HCAC has five former full members, all were private schools: Member teams compete in women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving and volleyball and men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving and track and field.