University of Michigan School Colors
University of Michigan's school colors are Maize (#FFCB05) and Blue (#00274C). Michigan's brand standards define 17 colors in all; every official HEX, RGB, CMYK and Pantone value is listed below, along with the story of how the colors were chosen.
History of the Michigan colors
In 1867 a committee of University of Michigan students declared azure blue and maize the school's colors, choosing maize as a contrast to the blue, though a deep blue ribbon had been attached to a diploma as early as 1859. Because no exact shades were specified, the colors drifted, so in 1912 the Board of Regents set up a committee that described the blue as a deep lapis or cobalt blue and maize as the color of golden corn rather than pale lemon. The committee picked sample ribbons as the official standard, and they are preserved in the Bentley Historical Library. Athletics favored darker shades than those used for campus events.
Sources: record.umich.edu · bentley.umich.edu · mgoblue.com
Photo: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: SecretName101, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: AndrewHorne, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michigan primary colors
| Color | HEX | RGB | CMYK | Pantone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maize | #FFCB05 | — | 0, 18, 100, 0 | PMS 7406 | |
| Blue | #00274C | — | 100, 60, 0, 60 | PMS 282 |
Michigan secondary colors
| Color | HEX | RGB | CMYK | Pantone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tappan Red | #9A3324 | — | 8, 92, 100, 33 | PMS 484 | |
| Ross Orange | #D86018 | — | 0, 71, 100, 3 | PMS 1595 | |
| Rackham Green | #75988D | — | 44, 12, 34, 24 | PMS 5565 | |
| Wave Field Green | #A5A508 | — | 14, 6, 100, 24 | PMS 398 | |
| Taubman Teal | #00B2A9 | — | 81, 0, 39, 0 | PMS 326 | |
| Arboretum Blue | #2F65A7 | — | 88, 50, 0, 0 | PMS 660 | |
| A2 Amethyst | #702082 | — | 72, 99, 0, 3 | PMS 2603 | |
| Matthaei Violet | #575294 | — | 70, 77, 7, 23 | PMS 668 | |
| Peony Pink | #E01F7C | — | 7, 98, 17, 0 | PMS 225 C | |
| UMMA Tan | #CFC096 | — | 6, 14, 39, 8 | PMS 7502 | |
| Burton Tower Beige | #9B9A6D | — | 21, 15, 54, 31 | PMS 451 | |
| Angell Hall Ash | #989C97 | — | 14, 19, 21, 39 | PMS Warm Gray 6 | |
| Law Quad Stone | #655A52 | — | 26, 36, 38, 68 | PMS Warm Gray 11 | |
| Diag M Metallic | — | — | — | PMS 872 | |
| Puma Black | #131516 | — | 100, 79, 44, 93 | PMS Black 6 |
Matching Michigan colors on clothing
Clothing sold as a given color can be noticeably off from Michigan's official values, and supplier color codes describe the dye target rather than the finished fabric. So we measured the actual fabric color of every garment we carry from product photos and fabric swatches, then compared it to Michigan's official colors. The pieces below are the closest in-stock matches, out of 182 styles close to Maize, 1721 styles close to Blue.
Clothing in Maize #FFCB05
Blank apparel whose fabric color is a close match to Maize, measured from the garment itself. 182 matching styles in stock.
Clothing in Blue #00274C
Blank apparel whose fabric color is a close match to Blue, measured from the garment itself. 1721 matching styles in stock.
Michigan colors: frequently asked questions
What are Michigan school colors?
University of Michigan's school colors are Maize (#FFCB05) and Blue (#00274C).
What is the hex code for Michigan Maize?
Michigan Maize is #FFCB05 (CMYK 0, 18, 100, 0).
What is the hex code for Michigan Blue?
Michigan Blue is #00274C (CMYK 100, 60, 0, 60).
What Pantone color is Michigan Maize?
Michigan Maize is PMS 7406.
What Pantone color is Michigan Blue?
Michigan Blue is PMS 282.
Why are Michigan's colors Maize and Blue?
In 1867 a committee of University of Michigan students declared azure blue and maize the school's colors, choosing maize as a contrast to the blue, though a deep blue ribbon had been attached to a diploma as early as 1859. Because no exact shades were specified, the colors drifted, so in 1912 the Board of Regents set up a committee that described the blue as a deep lapis or cobalt blue and maize as the color of golden corn rather than pale lemon.
Color values are taken from the official University of Michigan brand standards (source), checked October 2026. Sweatshirt Station is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Michigan. We sell blank apparel in matching colors; no logos or trademarks are sold. Photos are used under their Creative Commons or public domain licenses and are credited above.