It was founded in 1974 by Mindanao State University Board of Regents through Resolution No.

[4] 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.

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.