On May 11, 2011, Northwestern Oklahoma State announced that they had accepted an invitation to the Great American Conference for all sports in the 2012–13 academic year and would begin their transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II.

[2] Schools must complete a membership process, spanning 3 years, before gaining active status and becoming eligible for championship competition.

On July 17, 2015, the NCAA announced that effective September 1, 2015, the school had become active Division II members.

[4] On January 26, 2018, following a 30-year absence from competition, Northwestern Director of Athletics Brad Franz announced that the school would be adding women's track & field to its varsity sports.

[5] The team competed in its first event February 1, 2019, at the Wichita State Invitational under head coach Jill Lancaster.