Andhra University was established in 1926 by the Madras University Act to serve the entire linguistic region of Andhra as a residential teaching- cum-affiliating University. The Telugu speaking people are emotionally attached to the University as it was the result of a prolonged struggle of Telugu elite. Andhra University is not just one of the oldest educational institutions in the country but also the first to be conceived as a residential multi-disciplinary University. The 94-year old institution is fortunate to have Sir C.R. Reddy as its founder Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as the second Vice-Chancellor followed again by Sir C.R.Reddy and Dr. V.S. Krishna. The foundations laid by these three visionaries proved to be fruitful in the succeeding decades.

The University has the distinction of having 8 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardees, 3 Padmavibushan Awardees, 4 Padmasri Awardees and One Sahitya Academy Awardee and many more recipients of highly rated awards among its academic staff members and alumni.

The alumni of the University during their lifetime occupied important positions in government administration and research organizations. This includes Vice-President of India, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ministers for Central and State, Governors to State and RBI, Judiciary of Supreme Court, High Courts, Bar Council of India, CMDs & CEOs of various public and private sector organizations, Scientists, Chairman of UGC, Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of Universities and so on. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has appointed the Professors of the University as Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the APSCHE and the University contributed more than 50 Vice-Chancellors and 10 Chancellors to lead Universities in various parts of the country. A good number of alumni are settled and working in countries like USA, UK, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Africa, Germany, France, Russia, Bangkok, Malaysia and so on. Many alumni became entrepreneurs and promoted companies within and outside the country.

The Andhra University Alumni Association (AAA) is very active in extending support to the institution in all spheres. Apart from organising different programmes, Andhra University Alumni Association conducts grand Annual Alumni Meet every year in December commemorating the birth anniversary of its founder Vice-Chancellor Sir C.R. Reddy ..