Sri Krishnadevaraya University is established in 1968. It was originally founded as the Post Graduate Centre of Sri Venkateswara University. It was vested with autonomy in the year 1976. Later on in 1981, the centre was developed and acquired the status of the University.

Initially, Sri Krishndevaraya University functioned as a unitary residential University. It was conferred the status of an affiliating University in the year 1987. Presently, it is catering to the higher educational needs of the revenue districts of Anantapur and Kurnool. The Post Graduate centre at Kurnool was brought under the jurisdiction of the University in the year 1993.

The University is presently offering Post-Graduate courses and research programmes at the University College, Anantapur, and at the Post Graduate centre, Kurnool. The University College offers 38 post graduate courses through 28 departments. 11 post graduate courses are being conducted at the P.G. centre, Kurnool through 8 departments.
Besides, It is contributing to the cause of higher education through 112 affiliated degree colleges of which 7 are meant exclusively for women.

Sri Krishnadevaraya University has well-equipped library and laboratories to carry out research work. On the other hand, for the all round development of the students, it has
facilities such as outdoor stadium, playgrounds, gymnasium, E-Class Room, INFLIBNET, Internet, and computer networks.

The infrastructure of the University also includes Bhuvana Vijayam Auditorium, Janmabhoomi Canteen, Sabari Guest House, Health centre, Adhyapak Bhavan, NSS Building and several buildings for teaching departments and residential quarters.

Sri Krishnadevaraya University has completed only twenty years of its existence. Nevertheless it has gained recognition as a centre of academic excellence, as it is accorded a four star status by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Centre for Distance Education

The University created the centre for Distance Education (CDE) in the academic year 2000 – 2001. The courses offered by CDE are open to persons all over India. For the benefit of interested students, Personal Contact Programme Classes (PCP) are organized. These programmes are arranged at all important cities in India.  The courses are run on non-semester pattern and internal assessment constitutes a part of the University examination.

The University’s centre for Distance Education caters to the educational needs of the people of the region by offering 8 postgraduate courses and 3 PG Diploma courses in addition to MBA and MCA. It also offers 7 UG courses.

 The courses offered by the centre are open to persons all over India. The medium of instruction for the PG courses is English, though the learners have the option to write the examinations either in English or in Telugu except in languages, Management, and M.C.A. The pattern of the courses is non-semester and internal assessment is a part of the overall assessment of the candidates.