Periyar University was established by the Act 45 of Government of Tamil Nadu in 1997. The University is named after a renowned social reformer popularly called "Thanthai Periyar". The University thus established had its origin with the three departments (Commerce, Geology and Mathematics) of Postgraduate extension center of Madras University functioning at Salem at that time. The University Grants Commissions, New Delhi bestowed the 2f status on 09.10.1998 and 12(B) status on 17.05.2005 to the Periyar University. The university is certified accredited with NAAC.