What are Harvard's official school colors?

Harvard’s official school color is called “crimson,” and it’s been that way for well over a century. The university officially adopted crimson as its color in 1910, after a student vote, but the tradition of using this shade stretches back even further—to a couple of students who handed out crimson scarves to their crew team in 1858 so spectators could identify Harvard rowers during a regatta.

You might see slightly different shades of red, but the official Harvard crimson is a deep, rich red—definitely not a basic or bright "red." The closest matching color codes used for branding are PMS 201 (Pantone Matching System), HEX #A51C30, and RGB (165, 28, 48). Merch companies sometimes tweak it, but if you’re looking for the most accurate or authentic hue, those codes are what the university uses for its logos and official gear.

Harvard doesn’t have any official blue as part of its primary color scheme. If you’re seeing blue apparel, those are likely secondary accent colors or just design choices by individual stores, not official school colors.

Next time you’re picking out Harvard merch, aim for something labeled as “crimson,” ideally in that true shade. It’s a fun piece of history to know, especially if you’re going for maximum school spirit or college trivia points!