Mindanao State University (MSU) Sulu is formerly known as MSU-Sulu Development and Technical College (SDTC). The campus was a founded by the government to rehabilitate the educational situation of the province of Sulu in 1974. When it began, the school had temporarily held classes at the grandstand of the Elementary School with its office and at resident of then Commission on Election (COMELEC) Commissioner Hashim R. Abubakar. Out of necessity, founding Director Exuan T. Dagbusan appealed and asked the intercession of the provincial officials and subsequently, the Sulu Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 64, Series 1974 donating 11.5 hectares lot for the decent occupancy of MSU-SDTC. The present campus site is about 1.3 kilometers from Jolo town proper.
Mindanao State University-Sulu is mandated to strengthen the quality of instruction in Agriculture and Fisheries and other socio-economic oriented programs.
Mindanao State University-Sulu envisions to become a center of Exellence and Development for Agriculture and Fisheries, Science and other socio-economics Development Oriented.
Mindanao State University-Sulu envisions to become a word-class University in Sothern Philippines committed to exellence in Science and Technology for the total devepment of man.