The former name of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University is Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University and it was established with its earlier name on 12th of June 1964 at the capital city Hyderabad. But, the university was officially launched by the late Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, only on the 20th of March 1965.

It got its present name on the 7th of November 1996 in memory of an extraordinary parliamentarian Acharya N.G. Ranga, who rendered noteworthy services to farmers and was also a freedom fighter. The university is skillfully training manpower, who are technically confident and qualified to formulate area specific technologies in the fields of home science, polytechnic and agriculture. The list of colleges affiliated to this university under each of these three fields is given below:

Polytechnic colleges:

• College of Diploma in Horticulture, Ramachandra Puram, East Godavari

• College of Diploma in Horticulture, Dasnapur, Adilabad

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Rudrur, Nizamabad

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Utukuru, Kadapa

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Reddipalli, Anantapur

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Podalakur, Nellore

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Maruteru, West Godavari

• College of Diploma in Agriculture, Jagtial, Karimnagar

• College of Diploma in Agriculture,  Palem, Mahabubnagar

Home Science Colleges:

• College of Home Science,  Bapatla, Guntur

• College of Home Science,  Saifabad, Hyderabad

Agriculture colleges:

• College of Agricultural Engineering, Bapatla, Guntur

• Agricultural College, Mahanandi, Kurnool

• Agricultural College, Naira, Srikakulam

• Agricultural College, Aswaraopet, Khammam

• S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Chittoor

• Agricultural College, Bapatla, Guntur

• College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Ranga Reddy

The university has gained status as a top most state agricultural university in India serving the requirements of farmers. The university is also trying to formulate new technologies for increasing productivity of home science and agriculture. Admission of students to all under graduation courses are made through common examination called EAMCET.

One of the main aims of the university is to provide opportunities to young men and women from rural areas to learn and adopt of improved technologies related to the field of agriculture. The university also wishes to adopt advancements in computer and information technology for development of academic programs and to introduction of distant and contact learning programs for the good fortune of farmers and rural women and men.