UNC Logo

UNC Logo PNG

The rich historical past is encrypted in the visual sign of the university. The UNC logo reflects the ease and accessibility of learning at the institution. The main features of symbols are clarity and consistency.

Meaning and History

The decision to open the school was made at the North Carolina General Assembly in 1789, and the foundation stone was laid in 1793. In any case, now it is among the top 3 oldest universities in the United States. During the Civil War, the university continued to operate, although, during that period, the area lost a large number of its population. As a result, due to the lack of students, the educational institution developed slowly. In December 1870, it was closed for renovation. Its relaunch took place in 1875.

In 1931, UNC merged with Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina and State College of Agriculture and Engineering. The result was the Consolidated University of North Carolina. But the full transition to coeducation took place only in 1963. Now it is a very large educational structure not only in the region but throughout the country. It has more than 550 student organizations in various fields and is the cradle of many outstanding personalities. The university also became one of the founders of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which appeared in 1953.

The most legendary symbol of the University of North Carolina is Old Well. This is a small rotunda built in neoclassical style. It is used in the emblem of the educational institution and is a tribute to the well from which the water is used to feed the entire school. It is now (after the campus sprawl) located in the southern end of the northern block of McCorkle Place and rises between Old West and Old East, the oldest buildings.

The university seal has a classic look: a rondel with a central part surrounded by several rows of rings. Shield with a wide diagonal stripe in the middle, separating the Roman numeral “LVX” and the word “Libertas” in capital letters. They are located at the top and bottom. On the sides of the shield are two burning torches in the ancient Greek style.

A round frame with double edging follows this. It separates a broad line with the full name of the university (“University of North Carolina”) and with an indication of its location (“Chapel Hill”). The inscription is made in printed type in the upper case. All signs are supplemented with serifs. Several stripes of different sizes run along the outer edge of the print. One of them is decorated with a pattern of a chain of white dots on a blue background. The frame is also blue.

The emblem is a combination of text and graphics. To this end, the institution of higher education uses its full name and one of the key mascots – the Old Well rotunda, which is installed above the well. The architectural structure is shown in full – with steps, a dome, and four columns. Moreover, her image seems to emerge from the negative space because, besides the play of blue and white, no other technique is used in it. The white color emphasizes the monumentality of the structure and the sun’s location, as it looks like a glare from the illuminated side.

On the right is the name of the educational institution, ungrouped into three lines. At the top is the word “The University,” in the middle – “of North Carolina,” at the bottom – “at Chapel Hill.” The central row is the longest. The prepositions “of” and “at” are in handwritten italics; the rest of the words are in capital letters with serifs. There is a vertical bar on the border between the text and the picture.

North Carolina Tar Heels Logo

The university is one of the founders of the Atlantic Coast Conference. It has its own sports division called Tar Heels. It has achieved considerable success, where three teams stand out in particular: one for men (basketball) and two for women (football and hockey).

1900 – 1931

The very first logo contains the abbreviation “NC,” derived from the name of the state of North Carolina. It consists of a monogram composition, where the letters are so harmoniously intertwined that both are in the foreground. Both “N” and “C” are shaped like ram’s horns, as they are not straight but slightly curved.

1954 – 1967

During this period, the image of a steep-horned ram appeared. He has a slanting face in a frightening grimace, which is located in full face. On the animal’s head, there is a small peakless cap with the inscription “UNC.” The wide horns are twisted in several turns and painted yellow, the headdress is blue, and the eyes, eyebrows, bangs, nostrils, and mouth are black.

1968 – 1982

After the redesign, the ram head received a different position: it is turned in profile. But the drawn image of the animal remained formidable. The developers removed the yellow and black colors, leaving only light blue outlines. They also moved the name of the university down, as the inscription on the headdress was hard to see.

1983 – 1998

The designers presented a full-length anthropomorphic ram on the logo. He goes to the left, threateningly advancing on his rivals. The appearance remained the same: an angry expression, a raised lip, stern eyes, and steep horns in a few turns. Hands are clenched in fists. The blue sweater features a white “N” and “C” monogram. They are closely intertwined. The cap is written with the abbreviation of the university – “UNC.”

1999 – 2004

The sports club returned to the old structure of the emblem – with superimposed “N” and “C,” the ends of which diverge in different directions. This is the original version of 1900, only in the center between the letters is now the head of a ram. This time she is drawn in a realistic style and not in a cartoon, as before. At the top of the “C,” it says “Carolina,” at the bottom, it says “Tar Heels.”

2005 – 2014

During this period, the developers removed text and hand-drawn elements from the monogram. All that remains are the outlines of the intertwined letters circled in a dark blue line.

2015 – today

The current logo is an identical copy of the past, with a slight color difference. It became darker by several tones.

Font and Colors

The university’s identity and its sports club are different: their symbols do not have similar elements, except the color scheme. If it is classic and strict at an educational institution, then at the sports department, it is innovative and playful.

The university gives detailed recommendations regarding using typefaces on various media: on the Internet, on posters, in advertisements, etc. So, he uses ITC Franklin Gothic LT Pro, Whitney, and Bembo Std. The signature color palette consists of neutral white and Carolina Blue (Hex # 4B9CD3).

UNC color codes