We have obtained surface photometry in U, B, R and I for a complete optically selected sample of 45 early-type spiral galaxies, to investigate the colors and color gradients of spiral bulges. Color profiles in U-R, B-R, U-B and R-I have been determined in wedges opening on the minor axes. Based on several criteria, we have defined a subsample of 18 objects whose colors are largely unaffected by dust. We find that the colors of bulges are predominantly bluer than those of ellipticals. This result holds even when bulges are compared to ellipticals of the same luminosity, and indicates that bulges are younger and/or more metal-poor than elliptical galaxies. Most bulges do not reach solar metallicities. Bulges show predominantly negative color gradients (bluer outward) that increases with bulge luminosity. The similarity with ellipticals suggests that the formation of the disk did not affect the stellar populations of the bulge in a major way.Comment: 14 pages in Latex + 4 tables + 41 figures (available through anonymous ftp at iac.es (161.72.14.2) in pub/rpelet), Kapteyn preprint 125, SLK-125, AJ, January 199