Rutgers University Logo PNG
The Rutgers University logo is an institution with a capital letter. The elongated elements encode the high elite position of the university and participation in scientific research programs. Therefore, all students have excellent prospects for a further brilliant career.
Rutgers University: Brand overview
Rutgers University’s history began during the colonial era when America was still under British rule. Queens College became the sixth oldest college in colonial America when King George III signed a charter establishing it on November 10, 1766. Founded by the Dutch Reformed Church, the college aimed to educate aspiring church ministers and professionals in other fields.
In its early years, the college was relatively small. The first instructor, Frederick Frelinghuysen, taught a small group of students at George Leonard’s Tavern in New Brunswick in 1771. This modest beginning did not last long, as the college acquired its first dedicated building on Somerset Street three years later.
The American Revolution had a major impact on the young college’s future. One thousand seven hundred seventy-six, the college building was converted into military barracks, and classes were suspended. Between 1777 and 1783, the institution temporarily relocated to North Brunswick to avoid the conflict.
Rev. Jacob Rutzen Hardenbergh served as the college’s first elected president from 1785 to 1790. During his tenure, work began on the iconic Old Queens building, which remains an architectural symbol of the institution today.
The college faced serious financial challenges in the early 19th century and had to suspend operations in 1810. A generous donation from Colonel Henry Rutgers, a prominent New York merchant and Revolutionary War veteran, enabled the institution to reopen in 1825. In gratitude, Queens College was renamed Rutgers College.
1864, the institution reached a new milestone when the State of New Jersey designated it a land-grant college under the Morrill Act. This designation allowed it to receive federal funding, leading to a major expansion of its programs, particularly in engineering and agriculture.
Intensive research efforts began in the 1880s by establishing the first agricultural experiment stations. In 1918, the university continued its growth by adding a women’s college, Douglass Residential College.
In 1924, Rutgers achieved university status, officially becoming Rutgers University. The campus expanded rapidly in the following decades by constructing new academic buildings.
The post-war era brought significant developments. Between 1945 and 1956, new departments and colleges were established, including a medical school. In 1956, it became the public university of New Jersey, marking a pivotal moment in its history.
The 1960s and 1970s were years of rapid growth. Enrollment increased substantially, new research centers and graduate programs were established, and campuses were opened in Camden and Newark.
The university gained new recognition in the 1980s when it joined the Association of American Universities. The Department of Pharmacy was established in 1989 and quickly became one of the largest in the nation.
A major reorganization occurred in 2013 when the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) merged with the institution, significantly enhancing its medical and research capabilities.
Expansion continued in the following years. 2014, the Brain Research Institute was established, and a $115 million chemistry research building was completed on the Busch Campus. In 2015, the University Services Center opened, along with a new academic building with 2,000 seats on the Livingston Campus.
To celebrate its 250th anniversary, the university completed an $84 million student center on the College Avenue Campus in 2016. Two In 2017, the new Mason Gross School of the Arts building opened, and the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center was completed.
By 2023, the university had grown into one of the largest public research institutions in the United States, with three main campuses, over 70,000 students, and an annual research budget exceeding $750 million. Over its 250-year history, it has transformed from a small colonial college into a leading center for advanced education and research.
Rutgers University is represented by its athletic teams, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Competing in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Ten Conference, the Scarlet Knights are known for their dedication and competitive spirit, particularly in sports like football, basketball, and soccer. With a loyal fan base and a rich history, the Scarlet Knights embody the pride and tradition of Rutgers, bringing energy to the campus and uniting students, alumni, and supporters around the university’s athletic achievements.
Meaning and History
The modern Rutgers University has three large campuses with dozens of different schools. The range of specialties is very wide – from business and engineering to fine arts and medicine. It all began more than modestly: the educational institution appeared in 1766 as Queen’s College, where one could receive a spiritual education. At first, theology lessons for future church ministers were held in one of the taverns in New Jersey. A little later, they were moved to private houses. At the same time, the educational institution made money from the slave trade, but it still did not have enough funding. Donors funded his building.
In 1825, another important event in Queen’s College’s history occurred: it became known as Rutgers College in honor of Colonel Henry Rutgers. According to the university’s heads, this person embodied Christian values. Flattered by this honor, Henry presented the educational institution with several thousand dollars and a huge dome.
Rutgers received the status of State University in 1945. Later, it was joined by the University of Newark, which became the basis for one of three regional campuses. A common visual identification system unites all departments of the university. The modern identity was adopted in 2006 and approved by the Board of Governors. It includes a signed logo and an official seal. Trademark licensing began in the mid-1980s, and the educational institution benefits from this: it sells the right to use its graphics and name.
What is Rutgers University?
This is New Jersey’s flagship university, located across three dynamic campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, and recognized as one of the nation’s leading public research universities. Offering over 150 undergraduate majors and more than 400 graduate programs across a vast range of disciplines—from the humanities to advanced biotechnology—it stands out as one of America’s oldest colonial colleges and a rare example of an institution that has evolved from a private academy into a major public research center. A blend of modern research facilities and historic colonial architecture with Dutch influences shapes the university’s distinctive character. The university provides students with outstanding professional and cultural opportunities in the Northeast corridor between New York City and Philadelphia.
before 2006
The previous logo, like the modern one, contained the full name of the educational institution. The word “RUTGERS” was written in big red letters with triangular serifs. The phrase “THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY” was at the top. The designers made it black and reduced it slightly so that both stitches were the same length. Dark bounding lines were drawn above and below the text.
2006 – today
After the redesign, the horizontal stripes disappeared, and “RUTGERS” became the main word. The letters remain red, but their shape has changed markedly. They are slim and elegant, especially the “R” with an extra-long stem. The phrase “THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY” is an identifying text in the new identity system. It contains thin gray letters and is shifted to the lower right corner. The secondary inscription was placed in two lines to take up less space.
The Seal
The university seal can be found on diplomas, contracts, and other documents. It consists of three concentric circles with a white sun in the middle. The luminary, surrounded by several dozen thin rays, symbolizes the light of knowledge and truth. This is confirmed by the motto written in red on the nearest white ring: “SOL IUSTITIAE ET OCCIDENTEM ILLUSTRA.” It combines passages from the biblical texts Matthew 13:43 and Malachi 4: 2.
Both the Latin phrase (with minor edits) and the sun were taken from the official seal of Utrecht University, which appeared in 1636. Originally, the light source represented God, but then the symbolism changed. Its meaning is reduced to the desire to illuminate the New World with rays of knowledge.
Queen’s College accepted the first seal around the 1770s at the suggestion of one of the alumni – John Henry Livingston. Of course, the modern version looks different. In addition to the sun, the motto has additional elements: a white inscription, “RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY,” placed in a red ring, and a decorative edging in the form of many short wavy lines. The year of the university’s foundation (1766) is next to the Latin dictum.
Font and Colors
An educational institution’s branding is based on simple but stylish logos. The main text symbol of the university contains its full name, and the emblem of the sports teams includes only the first letter of the word “RUTGERS.” In terms of their multi-part nature, they are inferior to the official press, which reflects the motto of the university and its historical heritage.
The typography system is based on two fonts: Formata BQ and ITC Giovanni. The first grotesque identifies text (“THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY”). A second serif typeface was chosen for the lettering on the stamp, and a modified version was used for the word “RUTGERS” in the logo structure. The university licenses the Formata BQ typeface. The symbol of the sports Block R contains a letter with wide rectangular serifs.
The school’s main color is scarlet (# CC0033). It was officially adopted in 1900 but began to be used much earlier – back in 1869, during the first intercollegiate match. In print and wordmark, it is complemented by calmer shades: gray (# 5F6A72), white (#FFFFFF), and black (# 000000).
