ARC Viswanathan College is a self financing college affiliated to Annamalai University, Chidambaram. The college has been approved by the Tamilnadu Government vide G.O. No.167/Higher Education(EI) Department dated 31.05.2000. The College has completed 20 years of service to the rural and downtrodden students.

ARC family, well known to the people of the composite Mayiladuthurai district is in Gold and Silver Jewellery business for six generations. They are the descendants of A.Rathinam Chettiyar of Mayiladuthurai. The philanthropic members of the family, in order to serve the society, have established various institutions namely ARC Natesan I.T.I., ARC Kamatchi Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and ARC Kamatchi Kalynana Mandapam. Any income derived through these are ploughed back, besides providing additional finance for developmental activities.

To commemorate the shastiyapthapoorthi 61st birthday of Shri.A.R.C.N. Viswanathan Chettiyar by way of fulfilling his pious wishes, a public charitable trust has been created as ARC N VISWANATHAN CHETTIYAR TRUST. In conformity with one of the objectives, ARC College was established in the millennium and thus the ARC N Viswanathan family has entered into the portals of higher education. The college is to be utilised by the new generation in pursuit of academic excellence and personality development.