The Founder of the GRG Trust, Sri. G.R. Govindarajulu, following the footsteps of his illustrious parents, started a high school for girls in 1956 in Peelamedu, Coimbatore. Growing in popularity and driven by the desire of the public, the school blossomed into a full-fledged college for women. Thus was started PSGR Krishnammal College for Women on 28th June 1963 under the auspices of the GRG Trust. Sri G.R. Govindarajulu was the Founder Trustee and Smt. Chandrakanthi Govindarajulu, the Founder Correspondent of the college.
Due to the untiring efforts of the founders and their family members, the college in the second year of its inception (1964) was upgraded to a First Grade college. This is the first women’s college in this area to start MA (Literature) in 1969, BCom in 1970 and BBM in 1987, exclusively for women. Another pioneering initiative at the state level is the starting of MBA course exclusively for women during 1993-94. The MBA programme of KCW has been internationally accredited by the ACBSP, USA in 2019.
To make quality an inherent aspect of the institution, the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) was bconstituted in January 2004. Autonomy in 2004, ISO 9001:2000 certification in March 2007,accreditation with ‘A’ grade by NAAC in 2014, and ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2018 have been the modest but reaffirming assurances in the vertical climb of the institution towards excellence.
The Department of Botany has been elevated to the DST-FIST sponsored status in 2009. In 2011,the college was awarded ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ status by UGC. This was followed by a celebrated elevation of the basic science departments with the inclusion under the ‘Star Status Scheme’ of the DBT in 2012. The institution has entered into new ventures with the UGC sanctioning skill-enhancing programmes through BVoc (in two disciplines) and a Community College in 2014. A Rural Women Technology Park (DST-sponsored) has been launched to empower women in rural areas through technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
KCW was awarded with ‘College of Excellence’ status by UGC in 2016 and has been ranked #6 among colleges in the country in NIRF2022. In 2016, three computer stream departments, Computer Science, Computer Applications and Information Technology were included in the DBT star scheme along with the five basic science departments. These departments were upgraded to Category II star status in 2017 (Basic Sciences) and 2019(Computer Stream Departments).
Under the banner of Campus Companies, “Magical Shades” was inaugurated on 19 February 2016, which is an initiative of students of GRGSMS to showcase their entrepreneurial skills. It serves an experiential lab that enables students to experiment their business ideas offering a unique platform for the students to experience the business environment, analyze suppliers, understand consumer behaviour, manage financials, balance inventories, implement promotions, practice teamwork, implement strategies and develop business.
Vogue and Style Fashion Studio, inaugurated on 3rd August 2018 is an initiative of PSGR Krishnammal College for Women to develop entrepreneurial skills among students. The college has been ranked #5 among government and government-aided colleges in ARIIA 2020.
In 2021, NAAC declared the college as accredited with CGPA of 3.71 on a four-point scale at A++ grade. In December 2022, KCW has been recommended by DST FIST in level A category (PG Colleges), to strengthen research facilities in the college.