Varsity Sports Offered: 17

For Women (10): Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field (indoor and outdoor), Volleyball

For Men (7): Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Track & Field (indoor and outdoor), Wrestling

Conference Affiliations: UNI's 17 athletic teams compete at the Division I level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Football competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

Missouri Valley Conference (MVC): The oldest conference west of the Mississippi River was founded in 1907. It is comprised of 10 institutions and provides championship competition in 19 sports. The Panthers compete in the MVC in all sports but football and wrestling. Current members include Bradley University, Creighton University, Drake University, University of Evansville, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Missouri State University, University of Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois University, and Wichita State University.

Missouri Valley Football Conference: Founded in 1984, the conference is regarded as one of the top conferences in the Division I Football Championship Subdivison. In recent years, The Valley has two national championships and numerous other semifinal trips. It is comprised of nine institutions and sponsors football as its only sport. Although the league will share the Missouri Valley name, the football-playing members will compete under a separate administrative umbrella, as the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference will remain separate entities. Initially, the conference competed under the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (1985-91) and the Gateway Football Conference (1992-2007). Current members include Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Missouri State University, North Dakota State University, University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University, Southern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University and Youngstown State University.

Western Wrestling Conference: The Western Wrestling Conference was founded in 2006. Members are United States Air Force Academy, North Dakota State University, University of Northern Colorado, University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University, Utah Valley University and University of Wyoming.