They are in the NCAA Division II as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

During the 2004 season, the Gorillas finished 14–1, losing 31–36 to Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship.

Pittsburg State has won, outright or shared, a total of 27 conference championships during the 96-year history of its intercollegiate program, including 13 conference titles in the last 19 seasons under Coach Chuck Broyles PSU reached the Division II National Championship game in 2004, 1995, and 1992.

[2] The official mascot of Pitt State Athletic teams is Gus the Gorilla, designed in by L. Michael Hailey in 1985.

Pitt State is the only college in the nation with the Gorilla as its official mascot for its men's and women's teams.