Colleges usually have a set of colors that they use for various purposes – for instance, their logos, banners, or blazers may all be part of a set color scheme. Generally, schools choose two colors to make their unique color combination. While the most common color combination is red and white – famously used by Harvard University – a close second is blue and white. In this article we shall see What College Has Blue and White Colors?
The most prominent college that uses the blue and white color combination is Yale University. While other colleges like Johns Hopkins University and Duke University may also use this combo, Yale is the one most closely associated with it.
In fact, Yale is so tied to this color scheme that the shade of blue they use is named ‘Yale Blue’ and was created especially for use by the college. Yale’s use of these two colors has a rich history and the students of the college take a lot of pride in their custom graduation outfits, banners, and official stationery. The color scheme is a vital part of Yale students’ identities, and it creates feelings of solidarity and loyalty within students. Yale’s sports teams – including the basketball Bulldogs and the lacrosse Elis teams – also don the blue and white colors as part of their uniforms. The color sets Yale apart from other Ivy League competitors and fosters a feeling of uniqueness within students. Color has historically served as an important way for colleges to create their own identity, and the system of choosing a special college color has a rich past.
Why do College Colors Matter?
- They Create A Unique Identity
Just like high schools, colleges use their color schemes to differentiate themselves from other institutions. It is the same reason why they have things like logos and different apparel – they wish to set themselves apart in some way.
- They Promote Unity in Students and Teachers
Colleges are full of diverse people from all over the country and even the world! That’s why it is so important to have a uniting force for all these different people to feel a sense of togetherness. This is where college colors come in. Grouping many kinds of people under common colors suggests that despite all their differences, the one thing that unites students is their loyalty and knowing that they all belong to one college.
- Colors are Used to Express School Spirit
College colors help students feel closer together and nurture feelings of affiliation to their college in the face of competition. Many colleges use their color scheme as the uniform for their sporting teams and for their blazers in academic competitions. This fosters school spirit and healthy competitiveness with opponents who obviously wear ‘different’ colors and belong to other institutions.
The History of Yale’s Colors
Yale did not always use the iconic blue and white color scheme. In fact, until 1894, the official Yale color was green. However, the Yale Rowing Team had been using blue as their color since 1850, and eventually, the college decided to adopt that color for the entire university.
The color ‘Yale Blue’ itself did not come into existence until much later. Many varying shades of blue were used for the official colors of the college, and there was no definitive way of knowing which one was correct. That is why, in 2005, Yale tasked the University Printer – John Gambell – to decide what would be the official shade of Yale’s blue. After going through dozens of different colors and studying the remains of some historic Yale banners, Mr. Gambell arrived at the perfect shade of blue. He crafted a meticulous serious of instructions to help people recreate it and since then Yale Blue has been a standardised, custom shade of blue.
Alongside the classic shade of Yale Blue, Yale has also created variations on this color that can be used for different purposes. So, if Yale Blue is too dark to use against a particular background, there is a higher intensity version of it that has been created and similarly for brighter backgrounds there is a low intensity Yale Blue that can be used.
Accent colors to complement and accompany Yale Blue have also been customised and created. The most famous of these is ‘Yale Gray’ – a shade that accompanies Yale Blue in most official documents.
Other colleges have also recognized the eye catching nature of Yale Blue and have adopted Yale University’s colors into their own color scheme as well. These colleges include: Indiana State University, the University of Mississippi, and Southern Methodist University.
Where Does the Color System for Colleges Come From?
The rules for choosing the colors of a college actually have a pretty long and interesting history. A lot of colleges in the United States started in colonial times. That’s why, a lot of their naming and coloring traditions are descended from British aristocratic practices.
In order to design coats of arms the aristocracy used a system of design and decoration known as heraldry. Within that system, the palette of colors that they preferred using was called ‘tincture’. According to the rules of tincture, there are five traditional colors that should be used: red, green, blue, purple, and black. Metallic shades such as gold and silver could also be used to accentuate the colors. Modern applications of the rule of tincture also try to avoid placing more than two colors in the same logo.
Even though there are some exceptions, the example of Yale shows how most schools and colleges still closely follow these rules and stick to the traditional color schemes allowed by this system.
Conclusion
College colors aren’t just simple design or decoration – they are used to foster a sense of identity and to promote unity and a sense of school spirit within students. They are important elements and examples of the things that help a student feel like they belong to a particular college.
While on the face of it, it may look like a college’s colors were chosen at random there is actually a rich history and an ancient past that determines how this is done. So next time you’re looking at a college’s color scheme, remember that it probably reflects important parts of a college’s journey through time.
FAQs
What college has red and white colors?
Red and white is the most common color combination for colleges in the United States so a lot of colleges use these colors. However, some of the most famous examples include Harvard University and Mississippi State University.
What are the most popular college colors?
The most popular college colors in the United States are red and white or maroon and white. Other popular options include blue, yellow, green, and purple – all usually put together with black or white.
Are graduation gowns always the color of the college?
It’s completely up to the college. While the most common color for graduation gowns in the US is still black, many colleges choose to add embroidery or accessories in their college colors.
