Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Arts and Commerce is a brainchild of age old Sri Adichunchanagiri Mutt known for Anna, Akshara, Asharaya. Sri Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust(R.) was established on 13-12-1973. The trust is a representative body from all walks of life like Religion, Law, Education,Politics, Environmental, Agriculture, and Medicine. The establishment of Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Arts & Commerce in the lovely and serene atmosphere of Sri Adichunchanagiri kshethra in 1975 was a discovery of an oasis in a desert for the students in and around Nagamangala Taluk. The college is a sample of Gurukula system even in the modern times.

The college was established under the auspice of Sri Adichunchanagiri Trust, a reputed religious, social and cultural institution in Karnataka State. The then President of the trust His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji started the college with the Prime intention of providing higher education to the rural students who were deprived of the same for want of accessibility.

The present 72nd pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mutt and the president of SAC Trust(R.), His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Nirmalanandanatha Maha swamiji, a great visionary and a ocean of knowledge, is giving a new dimension to the institution with a cultural-spiritual touch and a scientific outlook.

Today, higher education is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Our Swamiji has made higher education not only accessible but also affordable to the rural students. Majority of the students at Kshethra were free borders of the mutt. To comply with the policy of having a First Grade College in every Taluk Headquarters the college was shifted to Nagamangala town in 1988. Majority of the students are commuting every day from various corners of Nagamangala Taluk and even from the adjacent taluks like Mandya, K.R.Pet (Mandya Dist), Turuvekere & Kunigal (Tumkur Dist), C.R.Patna (Hassan Dist) etc., Thanks to the Govt. of Karnataka for providing concessional bus-pass to students.

In 1975, B.A degree course had HEP, HES & HEG combinations. B.Com degree was also introduced in the same year. Presently,there are HEP, HES, HEG & HEE combinations. B.Sc., Degree was introduced from the academic year 2006-07 with Physics, Maths, Computer Science and Chemistry as electives. Post-graduation course in commerce (M.Com) was started from the academic year 2014-15. The college is permanently affiliated to the prestigious Mysore University.