The MSU is the only state university in the Philippines with the special mandate of integrating the cultural communities in Mindanao 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 region.

Starting as a Community High School in 1967, MSU-GSC grew into a junior college in 1971, but was then just limited to a two-year collegiate General Education Program.

With a strong clamor from the studentry and the community and all-out support from its constituents for the offering of complete degree programs, the Board of Regents was prompted to study the potential of the college for academic expansion especially when the "feeder" concept was challenged.

Fatima) enabled MSU-GSC to strengthen its functions in instruction research and extension, subsequently affirming the significant role it plays within its areas of coverage.

Concrete proofs of this are the establishment of its Research and Development Center & Office of Extension Services, and in the growth of its various colleges: Agriculture, Fisheries, Business Administration & Accountancy, Engineering, Education, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Social Science and Humanities and its College of Law (extension classes of the main campus).