Penn State University Logo PNG
A flexible education system that adapts to the needs of the market is reflected in the university’s logo – the university produces specialists who are not equally trained. The Penn State University logo is infused with the pride and dignity of its graduates.
Penn State University: Brand overview
Penn State – Pennsylvania State University (PSU) is an institution of higher education geographically located in the northeastern part of the state. It was founded in 1855 under the name Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania, as the founders initially avoided mentioning the college. But then the new structure was renamed Pennsylvania Agricultural College (1862-1874) and then Pennsylvania State College (1874-1953). Now, it is a research university where students study full-time (bachelor’s, master’s) and part-time (on-the-job, online in residence). It has several branch campuses and its own athletic club, is part of the Big Ten Conference, and is a member of NCAA Division I.
Meaning and History
Today, Penn State is one of the four major universities that has become an administrative center. Its branches are spread across the state and represent several fields of study, including agriculture, astronautics and marine science, medicine, law, and others. You can major in any of the 160 majors. Only the annual enrollment at the central campus of University Park reaches almost 47 thousand people, which puts this institution among the leaders. In total, it has almost 98 thousand students.
In addition, the university has its own sports department, Penn State Nittany Lions, which receives excellent sponsorship support. Thanks to the increased attention and continued funding, members of the club have achieved great results. Teams are in the Big Ten Conference, and members have been honored with 54 Olympic honors.
Penn State is one of 15 universities in the United States to play Division I FBS soccer and hockey. The other two sports are in other conferences because they are not sponsored by the Big Ten. They are the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) men’s volleyball team and the College Hockey America (CHA) women’s hockey team. There are also fencers that compete as independents.
Each entity has its own logo that reflects its individuality. They are linked by basic elements and a color palette that emphasizes their unity. University-wide symbols represent official seals with historical motifs. The emblem of educational units is a shield with a mascot. The emblem of the sports club is the image of the Nittany lion (in this case, there are three of them).
What is Penn State University?
It is a public institution of higher education located in University Park, Pennsylvania. It is a research institution and is among the top 15 universities in the United States. The year of its origin is considered to be 1855. Now, it has more than 46 thousand students.
the 1980s – 2015
The emblem is in the form of a shield, on which an eastern cougar is depicted. She is behind a small hill where she is hiding from attack. This is evidenced by its squat posture: the Nittany Lions are pressed to the ground and expressing wariness. In the center is a horizontal line marking the date of PSU’s appearance: widely spaced numbers “1”, “8”, “5”, “5”. Above the shield, there is a long, thin strip stretching far to the right. Above it is the name of the educational institution written in capital letters with the accent “C.”
2015 – today
In the modern logo, all the elements remain the same, but they are slightly reorganized. The designers rounded the shield at the corners and made the top part convex. They redrew the eastern puma, using for the logo only its head, which now occupies the entire space. In the inscription, the developers changed the font, taking a variant with serifs. At the same time, they shifted it to the right, slightly away from the icon. The authors of the updated version removed the horizontal stripe.
This is a sign from the flag of the state of Pennsylvania. It has the form of a round seal, which is based on the classic rondel. The central part is occupied by a shaped frame divided into three sectors, which denote the main directions of this administrative territory. The upper one shows a ship (maritime department), the middle one a plow (agricultural and technical), and the lower one three sheaves of wheat (agricultural crop production). To the right and left are two horses.
On the frame sits a bald eagle – the symbol of the United States, below him – an ear of corn with leaves and an olive branch with fruit. A red ribbon with the Latin maxim “VIRTUE LIBERY AND INDEPENDENCE” is stretched over the curved elements with a fork at the ends. Around it is a wide band with the full name of the institution and the year of its foundation – double edging, white and black.
Penn State Nittany Lions Logos
The primary image used in the symbolism of Penn State University is the eastern cougar. It is a native but long-extinct species of big cats, the last individual of which was killed in 1856. The university nicknamed it the Nittany Lions – from the name of the highlands where it lived. And it, in turn, got its name from the expression “neet-a-nee”: that’s what the local population called the mountain.
Their head created the team’s personal varsity badge, H. D. “Joe” Mason, who, at one of the away games, was surprised that they didn’t have their own emblem. Upon returning, he painted the Nittany Lions. The animal has been the mascot of the sports club ever since. There are three logos in total.
1983 – 2000
The head of the eastern cougar (locals called this animal “lion” because of the color of its fur) is turned to the right. Its ears are up, its eyes are looking away, and its posture is wary. The drawing is made by several white strokes, which form a negative space overlooking the dark blue background. The base of the logo is an oval. Below is the name of the university, “Penn State” in lowercase letters (except for the first letter).
2001 – 2004
After the redesign, the logo underwent significant changes. The authors turned the Nittany Lions to the left half-face and added realism. Now, the animal’s eyes, ears, nose, whiskers, forehead, and mouth are clearly distinguishable. Thanks to the penumbra formed by dark blue, blue, and white colors, the image of the eastern cougar turned out realistic and three-dimensional. On the double ribbon under the head, the designers placed the name of the university. A large font with serifs was used for it. Whereas for the names of sports teams, the developers chose a grotesque font consisting of small symbols.
2005 – today
Now, the debut logo is used – with the head of an eastern puma in an oval. The only changes were the color (it became darker) and the name (the developers removed it).
Penn State University: Interesting Facts
Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, is a big public university with many campuses in Pennsylvania. It started in 1855 and has become known for its research, community service, and sports.
- Early Start: In 1863, thanks to the Morrill Act, it became one of the first land-grant universities, focusing on agriculture and mechanics.
- Research: Penn State is a top research university known for its work in engineering, health sciences, information sciences, and environmental studies.
- Mascot: The Nittany Lion, chosen in 1907, represents Penn State’s sports teams and is inspired by mountain lions from Mount Nittany nearby.
- THON™: This student-run event is the world’s largest charity dance marathon, raising millions for children and families fighting pediatric cancer since 1973.
- Online Campus: Since 1998, the Penn State World Campus has let students worldwide take Penn State courses online, offering over 150 programs.
- Ice Cream Course: The College of Agricultural Sciences offers a famous ice cream-making course taught by leaders in the ice cream industry.
- Alumni Association: Penn State has one of the world’s biggest alumni groups, offering networking and support to graduates everywhere.
- Colors: The school’s colors, blue and white, were chosen in 1890 to represent Penn State pride.
- Beaver Stadium is one of the world’s biggest stadiums, holding over 106,000 fans, and is known for its lively atmosphere during big games.
Penn State is a university that improves lives through education, research, and service, living up to its motto, “Making Life Better.”
Font and Colors
The seal of the University of Pennsylvania consists of elements of the Pennsylvania state flag and contains only the state symbols: a sailing ship, sheaves of wheat, a plow, corn, an olive tree, a bald eagle, and horses. The remaining visual identification signs contain a single image, the Nittany lion, which became the university’s mascot in the 1980s.
In accordance with Penn State guidelines, Serifa and Avenir fonts are recommended for print products. A modified and adapted version of the Gf Special 151 font and another closely related font, Impact, are also used on the emblems.
The brand palette of the university and its athletic teams has always consisted of a combination of several shades of white and blue.
Penn State University color codes
| Bleu Celeste | Hex color: | #86c0e8 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 134 192 232 | |
| CMYK: | 42 17 0 9 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 297 C |
| Safety Blue | Hex color: | #003e7f |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 62 127 | |
| CMYK: | 100 51 0 50 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 294 C |
| Cool Black | Hex color: | #002964 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 41 100 | |
| CMYK: | 100 59 0 61 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 2757 C |
FAQ
What is the Penn State logo?
Penn State’s logo is the eastern cougar, representing an extinct species of large feline. The animal is depicted in negative space on a five-sided shield. To the right of the cougar’s head with white pupils is the name of the university.
Can I use the Penn State logo?
No personal use of the Penn State logo is prohibited, as is its use as a designation for student organizations. This must be cleared with the university administration in advance by sending a request to licensing@psu.edu.
Who owns Penn State University?
In the 1970s, Penn State University became a state-owned university. Thus, it is now owned by the Commonwealth System of Higher Education.
What is Penn State University known for?
Penn State University has high passing grades for admission and a very large competition per seat. The university is also known for its large student population, with more than 100,000 students enrolled each year.
