The college is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) since the 1996–97 academic year.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling.

Women's sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, triathlon, and volleyball.

[7] Pruitt also began the Newberry College Jazz Festival, held each spring since 1958.

[8] The festival has hosted artists including Jeff Coffin, Delfayo Marsalis, Terell Stafford, Al Chez, and others.