What Is the Mascot for Harvard University?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

The mascot for Harvard University, as of 2014, is the pilgrim John Harvard. John Harvard was the first benefactor of the university. Harvard University’s school color is crimson, which is also the name of its athletic teams.

Harvard University was founded in 1636, and it is the oldest university in the United States. Two years later, John Harvard left half his estate to the school. A statue of John Harvard stands in Harvard Yard.

In 1875, crimson won the popular vote of students as the representative color of Harvard, officially becoming the school color in 1910. As of 2014, Harvard University has 12 schools that grant degrees and over 20,000 students.