Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

Northwest Nazarene competes in NCAA Division II, which offers athletic scholarships while maintaining a balance between competitive sports and academics. The Nighthawks field teams in 11 varsity sports as members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. With 281 total athletes among 1,138 students, roughly 25% of the campus participates in varsity athletics. The university awards $3.17 million in athletic scholarships annually. Division II athletics creates a strong campus sports culture without the overwhelming pressure of Division I programs. The Nighthawks compete against regional rivals throughout the Pacific Northwest in their conference. This level of athletics allows student-athletes to pursue competitive sports while focusing primarily on their academic pursuits at this Christian liberal arts institution.