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UCR BRAND COLORS

In addition to logos, colors are an important recognizable aspect of brand identity. UC Riverside’s brand colors reflect a diverse and young campus. Consistent use of UCR's brand colors ensures our communications establish a shared identity among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the local community, and creates visual recognition nationally.

The university's primary color palette is an important asset in establishing a unified, consistent identity. Our primary palette uses UCR blue and UCR gold.


UCR Primary Colors

The primary colors of the UC Riverside visual identity are shown here. The dominant color on UCR designs should always be Pantone 293c complimented by Pantone 1235c.

For contrast or visual depth, Pantone 660c and 130c may be used. These colors may not be used alone or substituted for the primary colors.

Proportional color use recommendation is shown in the pie graph to the right. 

UCR Blue

PANTONE 293c
CMYK: 100/69/0/4
RGB: 0/61/165
HTML: #003DA5

UCR Gold

PANTONE 1235c
CMYK: 0/31/98/0
RGB: 255/184/28
HTML: #FFB81C

Proportional color use recommendation

 

NOTE: Pantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone, Inc. Due to the inconsistent nature of monitors, screens, and desktop printers, please refer to the specific Pantone number when specifying or proofing color. All CMYK, RGB, and HTML values shown here are provided by the Pantone color manager and may not match Adobe or other alternate ways to specify such color values.


UCR Extended Color Palette

The extended color palette is intended to add a range of diverse colors for use in collateral and various other university communications. They are intended to be used with, and in compliment to, the primary color palette shown above.  

Pantone 368c

CMYK: 65/0/100/0
RGB: 120/190/32
HTML: #78BE20

Pantone 2925c

CMYK: 85/21/0/0
RGB: 0/156/222
HTML: #009CDE

Pantone 165c

CMYK: 0/70/100/0
RGB: 255/103/31
HTML: #FF671F

Pantone 120c

CMYK: 0/13/60/0
RGB: 251/219/101
HTML: #FBDB65

Pantone 185c

CMYK: 0/93/79/0
RGB: 228/0/43
HTML: #E4002B


Neutral Color Palette

The neutral color palette is intended to add a range of different tints of black. They are intended to be used with, and in compliment to, the primary color palette shown above.

Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/100
RGB: 0/0/0
HTML: #000000

80% Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/70
RGB: 76/76/76
HTML: #4C4C4C

60% Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/60
RGB: 102/102/102
HTML: #666666

40% Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/40
RGB: 153/153/153
HTML: #999999

20% Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/20
RGB: 204/204/204
HTML: #CCCCCC

10% Black

CMYK: 0/0/0/10
RGB: 229/229/229
HTML: #E5E5E5


Color Tints for Web

Here is a guide for color tints for web:

  • Using tints from UCR primary or extended colors for different effects and objectives across various marketing collateral gives your brand a polished, unified look.
  • Creating contrast is crucial for visibility and effortless navigation. For instance, pairing a light tint with a dark shade creates contrast.
Primary Colors
100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 0/61/165
HTML: #003DA5

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 51/100/183
HTML: #3364B7

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 102/139/201
HTML: #668BC9

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 204/216/237
HTML: #CCD8ED

100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 255/184/28
HTML: #FFB81C

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 255/198/73
HTML: #FFC649

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 255/212/119
HTML: #FFD477

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 255/241/210
HTML: #FFF1D2

Extended Colors
100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 120/190/32
HTML: #78BE20

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 147/203/77
HTML: #93CB4D

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 201/229/166
HTML: #C9E5A6

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 228/242/210
HTML: #E4F2D2

100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 0/156/222
HTML: #009CDE

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 51/176/229
HTML: #33B0E5

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 153/215/242
HTML: #99D7F2

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 204/235/248
HTML: #CCEBF8

100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 255/103/31
HTML: #FF671F

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 255/133/76
HTML: #FF854C

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 255/194/165
HTML: #FFC2A5

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 255/255/210
HTML: #FFE1D2

100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 251/219/101
HTML: #FBDB65

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 252/226/132
HTML: #FCE284

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 253/241/193
HTML: #FDF1C1

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 254/248/224
HTML: #FEF8E0

100%

Opacity: 1
RGB: 228/0/42
HTML: #E4002B

80%

Opacity: 0.80
RGB: 233/51/85
HTML: #E93355

40%

Opacity: 0.40
RGB: 244/153/179
HTML: #F499AA

20%

Opacity: 0.20
RGB: 250/204/21
HTML: #FACCD5


Accessibility Contrast Grid

Color contrast is very important to legibility. To meet current accessibility standards, use only approved color combinations. For websites and other online uses, WebAim Color Contrast Checker is a good tool to measure contrast. For printed materials, the standards are not as easy to measure. Be sure to take special care with reverse type and type overlays, especially if your audience tends to be older.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) require a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text to achieve Level AA compliance. To achieve Level AAA compliance requires a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text. Large text is defined as 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold or larger, or 18 point (typically 24px) or larger.

Download Accessbility Contrast Grid (JPG)


Accessible Brand Color Combinations

To find accessible color combinations, we provided a list of background colors and text colors to use. We recommend using primarily Level AAA color combinations in your content. If you would like to use a Level AA combination, we recommend using these colors for just the main heading content. 

  • UCR Blue
    UCR Blue/White
     

    #003DA5

     

    #FFFFFF

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    UCR Blue/UCR Gold
     

    #003DA5

     

    #FFB81C

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    UCR Blue/78BE20
     

    #003DA5

     

    #78BE20

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    UCR Blue/009CDE
     

    #003DA5

     

    #009CDE

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    UCR Blue/FF671F
     

    #003DA5

     

    #FF671F

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    UCR Blue/FED141
     

    #003DA5

     

    #FED141

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • UCR Gold
    Gold/Black
     

    #FFB81C

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Gold/Blue
     

    #FFB81C

     

    #003DA5

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • Pantone 368c
    Pantone 368c/Black
     

    #78BE20

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 368c/UCR Blue
     

    #78BE20

     

    #003DA5

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • Pantone 2925c
    Pantone 2925c/White
     

    #009CDE

     

    #FFFFFF

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 2925c/UCR Blue
     

    #009CDE

     

    #003DA5

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 2925c/Black
     

    #009CDE

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • Pantone 165c
    Pantone 165c/Black
     

    #FF671F

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 165c/UCR Blue
     

    #FF671F

     

    #003DA5

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • Pantone 120c
    Pantone 120c/UCR Blue
     

    #FBDB65

     

    #003DA5

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 120c/Black
     

    #FBDB65

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

  • Pantone 185c
    Pantone 185c/White
     

    #E4002B

     

    #FFFFFF

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 185c/FED141
     

    #E4002B

     

    #FED141

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

     

    Pantone 185c/Black
     

    #E4002B

     

    #000000

    Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

    At UC Riverside you won’t just take classes—you’ll take action. Powered by a great education, world-leading research, and knowledge-driven impact, our students are transforming the nation and the world. Because at UCR, we are a tapestry of trailblazers—from first generation students to globally recognized researchers—bringing together fluency of thinking that accelerates bold solutions and transforms lives.

Download

The UCR Colors Guide (PDF) is a useful reference because it includes the specifications for the full palette and the color contrast accessibility chart. Please do not use it for visual matching — it will only be as accurate as your color printer. We recommend purchasing Pantone color swatches for the most accurate visual matching. You should avoid using the eyedropper tool to pick out colors on the screen. Use accurate colors by entering the values instead.

For color swatches to use with Adobe applications, you can use the UCR Color Swatches (Adobe Swatch Exchange) included in the .zip file that includes both RGB and CMYK color swatches.

Included in your download:
  • UCR Colors Guide (PDF)
  • UCR Color Swatches (ASE)

Download UCR Brand Colors (ZIP)