Oswego State has a history of competition on and off the field with dedicated student-athletes. The college was created in 1861 as a teacher-training institution and was a founding member of the State University of New York's statewide system in 1948.

Oswego offers some of the best academic and athletic support programs in Division III for its student-athletes, including sponsorship of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM) programs. Oswego is proud to have developed one of the leading NCAA Challenging Athletic Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS)/Life Skills programs.

Oswego's 8,300 students enjoy the scenic 690-acre campus along the shores of historic Lake Ontario. The city of Oswego offers the combination of small-town ambiance and big-city proximity, as it is about one hour from Rochester and 45 minutes from Syracuse.

The varsity athletic facilities include the Campus Center, Laker Hall and the South Athletic Complex providing homes for the school's 24 intercollegiate teams. Oswego competes in Division III with affiliations with the NCAA and the State University of New York Athletic Conference, the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association.