Sri. C. Achutha Menon Govt. College, Thrissur was established in 1972 as an arts and commerce college by the Kerala Government by the veteran Communist leader, the C. Achutha Menon.

The college was built in the wake of the protracted strike of the All-Kerala Private College Teachers' Association.

This is the one of the two colleges built by Kerala Government in Thrissur District. Other one is Panampilly Memorial Government College in Chalakudy.

The college was initially housed in the available space in the Government Training College in Thrissur.

The Institute started functioning with three degree courses in history, economics and commerce and two pre-degree batches in history and commerce. B.Com course was added in 1978 and M.Com in 1984.

The constraint of space did not permit the college to start the science courses sanctioned by the university.

However, the stage for the second phase of the development was set with the college shifting to the sprawling 25-acre campus at Kuttanellur in 1991.