A committee with commitment comprising Government officials and public had been formed to collect the sufficient fund in order to establish this well-renowned college. The committee was led by the then District Collector Mr. K. Sokkalingam, I.A.S, and the leading lawyer Mr. S. Varadharajan, B.A.,B.L., as secretary. After that the committee was extended on 20.01.1965 and Mr. P.Thangavelu,B.A.,B.L., the then Panchyat Union President served as secretary. The committee had bought 20 acres of land as well as collected Rs. 3, 83,876/- as donation from the public. At present this college has successfully accomplished fifty (50) academic years.

The college had been set in progresson 14th June 1965 with the able administrator and Principal Mr.Y.P.Ramachandran, M.Com. LLB,. Officially it was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Mr.M.Bhakthavathchalam on 23.08.1965. In the beginning the college was started in the building of Govt. Higher Secondary School, Ariyalur till 1966, afterwards it was changed to its own place with 18 classrooms on 23rd January 1967. Gradually its infrastructure had developed and in the year 1976-77 another building had been constructed with the donation received from the sacred temple of Lord Kaliyaperumal, Kallangkurichi, subsequently the waiting hall had also been constructed for the necessity of the girl students.

In 1966-67, the special language courses in Mathematics-History was converted into History-Economics and taught in Tamil Medium.Then in the year 1968-69, this college was promoted as degree-course College. At first History and Economics courses were started.During 1968-69, all first year U.G. classes were taught in Tamil.In 1969-70, U.G. course in Mathematics and in the same year, six other new courses were started and taught in both English and Tamil medium.

In the academic year 1976-77, Commerce,Economics, History and Botany courses were added to the folders of this well renowned college. In the following academic years 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1998-99, the UG courses B.A. Tamil Litt.; B.Sc., Zoology; B.Sc., Physics; B.Com; B.Sc., Computer Science and PG Course M.Sc., Environmental Science Courses were started respectively. On the basis of Self-financing course mode B.Sc.,Chemistry and P.G. courses Tamil, History, Economics, Computer Science were started during the year 2003-2004 and in the same basis M.Sc., Mathematics,and M.Com., courses were also started in 2005-2006 after that in the year 2006-2007, these courses were transformed into General Division Course mode.

Government Arts College, Ariyalur Application Process
Candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized school/board. B.Sc. Candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized school/board.

Placement
The objective of the placement cell is

To provide the job opportunities by bringing the various companies for campus recruitment to all the eligible students of final year
To have strong Companies- college interaction
To enhance various skills of students
Placement Cell is an integral part of this College. Training activities are conducted along with the soft skill centre throughout the year for preparing the prospective students for the campus recruitment. Placement cell takes initiative for developing right attitudes, motivating the students to have strong analytical capabilities and exposing them to requirements of competitive world

Activities
Arranging Guest Lectures from Resource Persons from Industry to deliver current knowledge to students and faculty
Conducting the recruiting companies at the end of the Academic year for campus selection
Conducting Soft Skill programmes to students by industry Experts
LIST OF PLACEMENT OFFICERS

Government Arts College, Ariyalur has well stocked Library with 51851 numbers of books. The institute also has Cafeteria, Auditorium, Sports Complex and Lab facility for its students. The Institute provides 18 labs facilities for the students.