The Fighting Hawks compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level as a member of the Summit League.

The Fighting Hawks competed in the Western Athletic Conference in baseball, plus men's and women's swimming and diving, before dropping all three sports.

[4] On January 24, 2017, reports stated that North Dakota would leave the Big Sky Conference to join the Summit League in all sports but football beginning in 2019.

A charter member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, the Fighting Hawks play in the $100+ million Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, sponsored by the UND Letterwinners Association, is held each fall in conjunction with a football game.

On November 18, 2015, it was revealed at a press conference held by President Robert Kelley that Fighting Hawks, with 57.24% of the vote, would become the new university nickname.