Michigan Colors: The Maize-Blue Legend of the Wolverines Palette

November 2, 2026

When we think of Michigan Colors, the legendary duo of “dark navy blue seriousness” and “lemon yellow energy” immediately comes to mind: Michigan Blue and Maize.

Think about it, they've been hanging out together on campus since the 1800s; one like a professor in a tie, the other like a cheerleader constantly jumping up and down shouting, “Let's go to the game!”

The brand guide also includes a few close friends alongside these colors: the nostalgic Tappan Red, the appetite-whetting Ross Orange, and the Wave Field Green that evokes the feeling of rolling on the grass… In short, the vibrancy of this palette can be seen everywhere, from Wolverine uniforms to university brochures.

Now, let’s first get to know these colors by their names and HEX codes, and then explore how each one makes a difference—from psychology to design—in an entertaining way. (We’ll cover the historical gossip about Michigan Colors in the next section, so don’t worry!)

Primary and supporting colors

The university’s published palette lists Maize and Michigan Blue as primary colors, with the other shades below in its secondary palette. These ten HEX values match that reference.

Michigan Blue — #00274C

Michigan Blue is the darker half of the university’s primary pair. Its deep navy gives Maize lettering a strong light–dark separation.

Maize — #FFCB05

Maize text on Michigan Blue has a calculated sRGB contrast ratio of about 9.89:1. This figure applies to the exact HEX pair above.

Tappan Red — #9A3324

Tappan Red is a dark, earthy red in the supporting palette. A small red section marker can add variety without replacing Maize and Blue as the main identity.

Ross Orange — #D86018

Brighter than Tappan Red, this orange can mark a highlighted figure in a presentation.

Wave Field Green — #A5A508

Wave Field Green has a pronounced yellow cast. Beside Maize, it gives a smaller change in lightness than Michigan Blue does, so label chart segments directly rather than relying on the two fills alone.

Taubman Teal — #00B2A9

The teal color adds a blue-green direction to the supporting set. It is noticeably more saturated than Rackham Roof Green below.

Rackham Roof Green — #75988D

This gray-toned soft green gives photographs a quieter surround than a bright teal panel would.

Arboretum Blue — #2F65A7

Arboretum Blue sits between the deep primary blue and the lighter supporting colors. It can carry a secondary illustration while the darker blue anchors the page.

A2 Amethyst — #702082

A2 Amethyst introduces a redder purple than Matthaei Violet, with a strong visual contrast against a Maize field.

Matthaei Violet — #575294

Matthaei Violet is the bluer, more muted of the two purples.

How Maize and Blue became the school colors

In 1867, a student committee chose “azure blue and maize.” The exact shades varied: a later committee selected ribbon samples in 1912 to settle the differences. The Bentley Historical Library’s account traces that history.

Michigan Colors grid with Maize, Michigan Blue and seven supporting color swatches

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Related Palettes: University of Utah Colors, Temple University Colors

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