CEG was established in May of 1794, as a School of Survey with one student in a building near Fort St. George. Founded by Michael Topping, the school became the Civil Engineering School in 1858. Subsequently, CEG was established as a college in 1859 under the Madras University. It was then rechristened as College of Engineering in 1861 with the inclusion of the Mechanical Engineering course.

Located in the heart of Chennai city, the sprawling campus of the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) with cutting edge infrastructure has been the foundation for many a successful engineer, scholar, and leader. The University offers 18 UG, 35 PG (Regular) and 34 PG Self-supporting courses. CEG has 16 Departments, 6 University Affiliated Centres, and 12 Research Centres where research programs are offered. With close ties with industry, excellent research practices and multiple extra-curricular options, the institution advances the progression of the student's quest for knowledge. The faculty along with the excellent student population makes the campus one of the best places to study in the nation.

Anna University shall strive towards a World Class Institution by producing professionals with high technical knowledge, professional skills and ethical values. The University shall be a preferred partner to the industry and community for contribution towards their economic and social development by providing high quality manpower through excellence in teaching, research and consultancy. Anna University shall be recognized as a point of reference, a catalyst, a facilitator, a trend setter and a leader in technical education.

Anna University shall contribute to the educational, economic and social development by:

• Producing students who are intellectually and technically equipped with well-defined knowledge, skills and ethics who are creative thinkers, inspiring leaders and contributing citizens.
• Introducing high quality academic and research programs and providing extension services in cutting edge technologies
• Ensuring a supportive campus climate with dynamic leadership and development opportunities to meet the needs of the students, faculty and staff.
• Enhancing academic productivity through induction of quality, accelerated graduated, credit banking, augmented continuing education opportunities and adoption of current technology.
• Sharing the intellectual resources and infrastructural facilities among the academia from other institutions among the industrial society, funding agencies and government.
• Enhancing the collaborative partnership between Industry and Institute for commercializing and transferring the latest technological know-how towards societal development.
• Setting up a Global University Network Campus that embodies the ideals of an open, democratic and global society catering to the needs of the global community and satisfying cultural, ethnic and racial diversity.
• Expanding global participation spread across continents wit the aid of interactive satellite based education and the usage of digital library.
• Enriching the national and international character of the university.
• Ensuring efficient administrative co-ordination and effective decision-making through necessary reforms and by strategically allocating resources.
• Benchmarking against technologically sound global leaders with a view towards continuous improvement.