The university offers ten varsity sports for women (soccer, field hockey, tennis, cross country, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, softball, track and field, and lacrosse), eight for men (football, cross country, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, baseball, and lacrosse), and one co-ed sport (sailing).

The men's rugby program competes at the Division III level, and the women's program competes on the Division III level in the National Small College Rugby Organization.

The university mascot is the Seahawk.Over the last eight seasons, the men's rugby team and the women's basketball team have enjoyed the greatest success, earning 8 conference championships, and 1 runner-up finishes in that time frame.[when?]

The Commonwealth Coast Conference governs eight varsity sports for women (soccer, field hockey, tennis, cross country, basketball, volleyball, softball, and lacrosse) and eight for men (cross country, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, baseball, golf and lacrosse).

The Salve Regina Men’s Rugby team won the national championship in Spring 2012.