Lawrence University is a founding member of the Midwest Conference. The conference was established in 1994 through the merger of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference (1921) and the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women (1977). The conference provides championship competition in ten men's and ten women's sports for ten liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Member schools are Beloit, Carroll, Grinnell, Illinois College, Knox, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Monmouth, Ripon, and St. Norbert.
Lawrence participates in Midwest Conference play for all varsity sports except wrestling, hockey, and fencing. Hockey is part of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association. Wrestling competes in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and fencing is an independent.