Northwest is a founding member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 1912 and has remained in the conference ever since.

From 1937 to 1957, they competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics before joining NCAA Division II.

Northwest has appeared in ten Division II football title games (winning six) since 1998.

The Bearcats have appeared in ten NCAA Division II national title games (and won six) since going 0-11 in Mel Tjeerdsma's first season in 1994.

[6] The Bearcat softball team appeared in one Women's College World Series in 1975.