Mindanao State University System is the only university in the Philippines with a special mandate of integrating the cultural communities, specially the Muslims into the mainstream of the nation's socio-cultural and political life by providing them with opportunities for quality and relevant public education for their self development and providing trained manpower skills and technical know-how for the economic development of the Mindanao, Sulu (Basilan and Tawi-Tawi) and Palawan region.

Mindanao State University System (MSUS) grew from one-campus University into a multi-campus University of seven (7) autonomous campuses and one (1) online campus, namely:

 Mindanao State University Main Campus
 Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

 Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology
 Iligan City, Lanao del Norte

 Mindanao State University Naawan
 Naawan, Misamis Oriental

 Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography
 Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

 Mindanao State University Sulu
 Jolo, Sulu

 Mindanao State University General Santos
 General Santos City, South Cotabato

 Mindanao State University Maguindanao
 Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao

 Mindanao State University Maigo School of Arts and Trade
 Maigo, Lanao del Norte

 Mindanao State University Wisdom International Online