The history of Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College is the history of materialising the noble vision of its great founder Padmabhushan Sri. N. Ramaswami Ayyar. Committed to the cause of empowerment of women through education in the background of Indian tradition, culture and values, way back in 1930s, he gave up his lucrative legal practice and laid the foundation for a girls' elementary school, Savitri Vidyasala, in 1938.

As a natural step in the vertical development of his dreams, in 1951, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College came into being, with a meagre strength of 11 students and 13 teachers. In 1957, the institution grew into a full-fledged first grade college offering three B.A and B.Sc. degree courses. With the introduction of M.Sc. Mathematics programme, in 1963 the college was upgraded as a post-graduate institution.

The 1980s witnessed the college blooming into a centre of higher learning and research when M.Phil and Ph.D programmes were started in various departments. In recognition of the commendable service rendered by the institution, the status of autonomy was conferred on the college in 1987, which, in turn has enabled the institution to offer innovative and socially relevant courses that cater to the changing academic and professional demands of the younger generation. As a pre-requisite to becoming a deemed university -- the cherished dream of its founder -- the college was accredited by NAAC in 1998 (One of the FIRST seven colleges in the whole of the country to be accredited by NAAC).

With an aim to attain excellence in the field of education, the academic programmes offered by the college are constantly assessed and revamped to suit the changing social scenario and growing professional demands of the students.