Northwestern College Athletics

Northwestern College competes in NAIA Division II, which sits between major college sports and intramural-level competition with athletic scholarships available but smaller crowds than Division I. With 620 total athletes out of 1,125 students, an impressive 55% of the student body participates in varsity sports. The Red Raiders field 17 varsity teams and distribute $3.9 million in athletic scholarships annually. Northwestern competes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference alongside other Midwest Christian colleges. The school has built a reputation for competitive wrestling and football programs that regularly contend for conference titles. Basketball also draws strong local support in Orange City's tight-knit community. The high participation rate reflects the college's emphasis on developing well-rounded students through both faith-based academics and athletic competition.