NKU Athletics is an NCAA Division I program with membership in the Horizon League. Following a storied history as a Division II program that included 72 conference titles, 25 regional championships and three national championships, NKU made the transition.
In May 2015, after just three years in Division I, Northern Kentucky accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Horizon League. Prior to the 2016-17 season, the NCAA granted Northern Kentucky active Division I status, and Northern Kentucky won Horizon League Tournament Championships in men's basketball and women's soccer and appeared in the NCAA tournament in both sports.