In 1969, a bold ad hoc group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, N.C., to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference. Dissected from these discussions, a steering and planning committee was formed to fully investigate the idea, present a detailed report with recommendations to interested collegiate institutions, and then construct a workshop to outline proposals.

After adopting a program, seven institutions (Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State College) agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Its major objective was to establish, organize and supervise an intercollegiate athletic program among a compact group of educational institutions of high academic standards and with a sound philosophy of co-curricular activities. The league agreed to seek Division I status for its sports.

The conference was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in football in 1971. 

In 1978, a milestone was reached when the MEAC selected Kenneth A. Free to be its first full-time commissioner. He had been preceded by three interim (part-time) commissioners: Dr. Leroy Walker (1971-74); who later had the distinction of serving as the President of the United States Olympic Committee, the late Earl Mason (1974-75) and the late Dr. James Young (1975-78).

Kenneth A. Free served the conference for 18 years before stepping down in May of 1996. In July of 1996, Charles S. Harris was named commissioner and served in the capacity until April 2002. Longtime MEAC administrator Brenda H. McCoy served two stints as Interim Commissioner, one in 1996 (May-June) and again in 2002 (April-August). On September 1, 2002, Dr. Dennis E. Thomas was named the commissioner and has served in the position for seven years.

The leagues' first expansion occurred in October 1979 when Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University were voted into the MEAC as new members. Original members Morgan State, North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore withdrew from the conference at the end of the 1979-80 fiscal year. Maryland Eastern Shore was readmitted in 1981 and Morgan State returned in 1984.  Florida A&M opted to resign in 1984 but rejoined the conference in 1986. Coppin State College was granted admittance in 1985, becoming the ninth member institution.