Tufts Blue
A clear blue used as the official colour of Tufts University
Tufts Blue is the official colour of Tufts University, a private research university in Massachusetts, United States. It is a strong, clear blue, represented by the hex code #3E8EDE, and is used in the university's branding, uniforms, and symbols.
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- Tufts Blue is defined by the hex code #3E8EDE
- It is the official colour of Tufts University
- Used in the university’s seal, logos, and uniforms
- Paired with brown as the university’s colours
What colour is Tufts Blue?
Tufts Blue is a clear, medium blue that stands out as the signature colour of Tufts University. It is used in the university’s seal, logos, and many official materials. The shade is distinct from navy or sky blue, sitting between the two in brightness. Its precise appearance is defined by the hex code #3E8EDE, which gives it a strong, recognisable presence in both print and digital formats.
Where does Tufts Blue come from?
The colour takes its name from Tufts University, founded in 1852 in Massachusetts, United States. The university adopted this blue as its official colour, and it has become closely tied to the institution’s identity. The name 'Tufts Blue' is used to refer to this specific shade in university branding and materials.
How Tufts Blue is defined
Tufts Blue is defined by its digital hex value, #3E8EDE, which specifies the exact mix of red, green, and blue light for screens and printing. There is no single pigment or dye for Tufts Blue; instead, it is reproduced using standard colour matching in digital and printed materials to ensure consistency across all uses.
Where Tufts Blue is used
Tufts Blue appears on the university’s seal, wordmark, and official documents. It is also used for uniforms, flags, and other items representing the university, such as sports team kits and promotional materials. The colour helps to visually unify the university’s identity across its campuses and communications.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
The flag's colours have no official meaning. For the Great Seal of 1782, though, blue was said to stand for vigilance, perseverance and justice, white for purity and red for hardiness and valour.
Politics and protestTrustSource: Flag of the United StatesLapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsShades and relatives of Tufts Blue
Tufts Blue is sometimes paired with brown, the university’s other official colour. It is distinct from other university blues, such as Yale Blue or Columbia Blue, by its specific shade. The hex code #3E8EDE ensures that Tufts Blue is not confused with similar but different blues used by other institutions.
Colours that go with Tufts Blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #3E8EDE. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Tufts Blue
What colour is Tufts Blue?
Tufts Blue is a clear, medium blue, defined by the hex code #3E8EDE. It is used as the official colour of Tufts University.
Where does the name Tufts Blue come from?
The name comes from Tufts University in Massachusetts, United States, which adopted this specific blue as its official colour.
How is Tufts Blue used?
It is used in Tufts University’s branding, including the seal, wordmark, uniforms, flags, and printed materials.
Is Tufts Blue the same as other university blues?
No, Tufts Blue is a specific shade with the hex code #3E8EDE, distinct from other university blues like Yale Blue or Columbia Blue.
Good reading and sources
- Tufts University on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tufts University", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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