Northwest Nazarene University includes the following sports in its intercollegiate athletic program:
- Men: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and indoor and outdoor track and field.
- Women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball.
The men's and women's teams are members of the NCAA Division II. Teams compete in the NCAA Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). The individuals and teams compete for conference and regional championships, which may qualify them for national competition.
Graduate and undergraduate students who wish to compete and/or perform in intercollegiate and/or University-sponsored athletics, activities and/or academic courses which require audition and performance must be enrolled for at least 12 credits as an undergraduate or 6 credits as a graduate student and meet the specific academic standard of the group in which participation is sought. Other requirements to compete include:
As a freshman, being registered with and declared qualified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Meeting all academic and general eligibility requirements as outlined in the NCAA Division II Manual and as required by the GNAC and NNU.
Freshmen student-athletes who do not meet all academic requirements to compete may be allowed to participate in designated activities (competition not included) depending on their status of "Partial Qualifier" or "Non Qualifier" as outlined in Bylaw 14.3 of the NCAA Division II Manual, "Freshman Academic Requirements." Transfer student-athletes who do not meet all academic requirements to compete may be allowed to participate in designated activities (competition not included) as outlined in Bylaw 14.5 of the NCAA Division II Manual, "Transfer Regulations." Student-athletes who do not maintain all academic requirements to compete may be allowed to participate in the same activities (competition not included) designated for a freshman "Partial Qualifier."
Student-athletes may not compete more than four seasons in any one sport.