Men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer and track & field; while women's sports included basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track & field.

Led by Bob Hirschfield until 2012, the NYIT baseball team was the only sport that competed at the NCAA Division I level, as an independent.

Since Bill Dunn has been appointed head coach, the Bears have won the East Coast Conference Championships in 2017 and 2018.

In 1980, the men's basketball team made its first and only appearance in the NCAA Division II national championship game, losing 80–74 to Virginia Union.

Several Bears have gone on to play professionally overseas including Bryant Lassiter, Manix Auriantal, and Kirk Stewart.

In 2009–2010, Anthony Crocitto was named head coach of the women's basketball program and since then the Bears have doubled their wins total each season.

Under third-year coach Kenny Parham, the program won its first East Coast Conference postseason championship in 2019.

NYIT men's soccer has four All-Americans: Vinny Caccavale (2012), Kyle Cupid (2007), Eduardo Anacelto (2005), and Algernon Lawrence (1984).