The NWC was formed in 1926, making it one of the oldest athletics conferences in the western United States. For 60 years, the Northwest Conference sponsored sports exclusively for men. The charter members included Willamette University, Whitman College, Pacific University, the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound), Linfield College, and the College of Idaho. In 1931, Albany College joined, left in 1938, and rejoined in 1949 under its new name of Lewis & Clark College. Pacific Lutheran University was added in 1965, and Whitworth College in 1970. In 1978, the College of Idaho dropped out of the conference. Whitworth also left in 1984, but then returned in 1988. In 1996, George Fox joined when the conference moved to the NCAA. Seattle University was also a member for one year before it switched to NCAA Division II. From 2006-2010 Menlo College was also a part of the conference as an associate member in football.

In 1984 the NWC joined with the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges to become the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. In 1996 it joined the NCAA as a Division III conference, and changed back to its original name, Northwest conference. The move to NCAA Division III in 1996 was embraced as one that would foster equity, sportsmanship and genuine concern for the student-athlete in all endeavors of competition. Athletics competition at the NCAA Division III level is based on the development of student-athletes through a “comprehensive educational experience” (NCAA Division III Identity Initiative).