Consistent use of color creates visual cohesion, strengthens recognition of the Metropolitan State University of Denver brand and amplifies the impact of our storytelling. Our brand colors should be used across all University and external-facing materials to promote consistency, visibility and Roadrunner pride.
The foundation of our palette is the classic MSU Denver Navy, Red and Gray—a trio that reflects our identity. Secondary and accent colors expand the palette, providing flexibility in the recommended proportions. White and Black are official brand colors, supporting accessibility and contrast across all applications.
The primary University brand colors are MSU Denver Navy, MSU Denver Red and MSU Denver Charcoal and are the same classic colors used since we became a university with a few updates to follow current Pantone® color conversion recommendations. The primary colors and white should be used to cover 70% or more of any design connected to MSU Denver.
Introduced in 2025, our secondary colors expand the palette with lighter and darker variations of the primary colors. They offer additional flexibility for creative designs while maintaining a cohesive University look. Use these for no more than 25% of any design.
Accent colors are intended to draw attention and provide emphasis for key elements. These colors should be applied thoughtfully in small amounts—no more than 5% of any design.
From print to digital and from signage to apparel, MSU Denver’s brand colors are designed for consistent reproduction across all media. Each color has a corresponding PANTONE® ink formula, which serves as the standard for other formats, including:
Wherever possible, these equivalents should be matched closely to maintain a consistent and recognizable University identity. The PANTONE®, CMYK and RGB values for each primary, secondary and accent color are provided in this guide.
Below are the color tools to ensure brand consistency. The swatch palettes can be easily uploaded into your software programs to save time. (Marketing Toolkit Login Required).
MSU Denver Navy is an original brand color, selected in 1965 by the Colorado state legislature, a cornerstone of our visual identity. Referred to as MSU Denver Blue from 2012-2025 this brand color pre-dates the PANTONE® color swatch system, but PMS 295 was assigned by our team during the earliest ink formulations.
While the PMS 295 color remains exactly the same- you may note that CMYK build, and RGB/Hex equivalents were updated in 2025 to correspond to the 2025 PANTONE® Bridge Equivalent. Please feel free to reach out to the UCM brand team to learn more about our methodologies.
MSU Denver Red was added in the early 2000s to complement the navy and brightened in 2007 to the vibrant red used today. The first red mentioned was PMS 194 following an agency recommendation and the second red was updated by our internal team to PMS 193.
MSU Denver Charcoal was introduced in 2012 when the MSU Denver achieved university status, providing a neutral balance to the palette. It was known then as MSU Denver Gray and we renamed it MSU Denver Charcoal in 2025.
While the PMS Cool Gray 11 color remains exactly the same- you may note that CMYK build, and RGB/Hex equivalents were updated in 2025 to correspond to the 2025 PANTONE® Bridge Equivalent. Please feel free to reach out to the UCM brand team to learn more about our methodologies.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility and visual contrast, white was officially added to the primary color palette in 2025.
MSU Denver Medium Blue, an option for cases where the navy tone may be too dark, was added to enhance design flexibility. This was brought into our palette in 2025 as PMS 2945 to help bridge and clarify a range of blue brand colors.
MSU Denver Dark Red which adds depth and emphasis to visual materials, was added to our palette in 2025. PMS 202 also rounds out our range of red colors.
Black was officially added to the brand color palette after proving to be successfully engaging in our 2023 Changemakers Wanted ad campaign as well as providing more contrast for accessibility purposes.
MSU Denver Retro Blue is not only a lighter blue option, but it was also an original brand color given to Metropolitan State College in 1965. This was a primary brand color until the early 2000s.
Referred to initially as Centennial Blue and assigned by the legislature, our team designated this hue PMS 292 during the earliest PANTONE® color ink formulations. If you look through early publications, you will see a lot of this spot color – used to save money back in the day.
MSU Denver Bright Red is a brighter version of our primary color. Red is used for emphasis and brings excitement to Roadrunner events. PMS 185 was added in 2025.
MSU Denver Light Gray is meant to be used as a lighter version of MSU Denver Charcoal and emulates the look of silver metallic surfaces as used in our University signage, event collateral and buildings. PMS 428 was added in 2025.
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