Andhra University was established in the year 1926 prior to the establishment of
UGC and the University is receiving planned grants from UGC.
The NAAC or National Assessment and Accreditation Council accredited twice the university at grade ‘A’. It secured 3.65 CGPA out of four point scale which is the highest among the State Universities in India.
It is ranked second among state universities and eighth among all universities in the country in a study conducted by Nielsen survey.
It is internationally ranked 151 by the QS World Universities Rankings in 2015.
It is recognized by the Department of Science and Technology as one of the 14 universities in India in terms of contribution to research in Science, Technology and Engineering based on H-index developed by Scopus.
Its engineering college got sanction of TEQIP phases I & II based on its excellent performance. The AU College of Engineering (A) was adjudged best government engineering college by rating organizations.
The International Society for Space Research in the Asia-Pacific region has recognized it for academic standards and sponsored four M.Tech., programs. It is the only university in India selected for the program.
Career 360 magazine in its rating to various universities and institutions in the country awarded 5 star category to the university based on its contribution to research. It is one of the ten universities in India to secure this recognition.
The Current Science Journal 2013 has mentioned it is in 8th position among all Indian institutions doing research in social sciences based on e-publications.
There are 575 affiliated colleges spread across five districts under the territorial jurisdiction of Andhra University.

The enrollment in undergraduate courses is more than 77,000 and in postgraduate courses more than 20,000 students.

It is supported by 860 teachers and 2500 non-teaching and technical staff.