 The National College was founded in 1919 under the affiliation of University of Madras.Prominent visitors to the college include Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajaji, Annadurai, as well as alumnus, R. Venkataraman, who went on to become President of India.The college offers undergraduates and postgraduate programmes in arts and science affiliated to the Bharathidasan University.