St.Xavier's College of Education was established by the Society of St.Francis Xavier in 1950 in Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu as part of the Roman Catholic Church’s effort to share the nation's responsibility in this sphere of teacher education. This was the sole recognised Training College located outside Madras city at the time of its inception. Prior to this College, four Training Colleges existed inside the city of Madras in the State of Tamilnadu. It is governed and administered by the Society of Jesus popularly known as the Jesuits.