Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), the leading institution of higher learning in northern Philippines, provides advanced instruction in the arts, agricultural and natural sciences, and a wide range of technological and professional fields. Over the years, the University has distinguished itself through excellence in its core functions of instruction, research, extension, and resource generation.

Currently, MMSU has 14 colleges offering diverse academic specializations: Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development; Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology; Arts and Sciences; Business, Economics, and Accountancy; Engineering; Health Sciences; Industrial Technology; Computing and Information Sciences; Teacher Education; Veterinary Medicine; Dentistry; the Graduate School; Medicine; and Law. It also provides elementary and secondary education through its Laboratory Schools, along with various short-term diploma, microcredentials, and training programs.

Strategic Strength

MMSU is widely recognized as a model within the State Universities and Colleges (SUC) system for its strong research and development initiatives, international linkages, and successful commercialization of innovations. It holds a four-star rating under the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating System as well as a ranked university in the QS University Rankings Asia, establishing its reputation as an internationally recognized institution that is gaining international visibility, particularly in research performance and graduate employability.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) designates MMSU as one of the country's few National Universities of Agriculture and Fisheries and recognizes it as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education and a Center of Development in Agriculture, Biology, Forestry, and Information Technology. The University is classified as a Level IV SUC under the SUC Levelling scheme, institutionally accredited at Level IV by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), and certified compliant with ISO 9001:2015 standards.

MMSU sustains a robust and diverse resource base spread across multiple campuses, with the Batac Campus alone covering 1,412.82 hectares, including its 264-hectare Main Campus that houses academic, administrative, research, extension, production, residential, recreational, and general service facilities. The Batac Campus also encompasses three major auxiliary sites: the 1,054-hectare Payao site, which includes areas declared as forest reserve; the 34.28-hectare Lubbot research and experimental area; and the 59.6-hectare Sarnap site, which includes Sarnap Lake and surrounding lands. Across its multi-location system, MMSU hosts a range of specialized facilities such as agricultural, agro-industrial, and agri-fisheries areas; protected lands; and spaces projected for future economic zones. Additional campuses extend the University's reach and capabilities: Laoag 1 (7.79 ha), home to the College of Teacher Education and the Graduate School; Laoag 2 (2.18 ha), which houses the College of Industrial Technology; Currimao (8.55 ha), a seaside campus supporting aquatic sciences and applied technology; and Dingras (16.9 ha), a site dedicated to agriculture instruction, research, extension, and production. Together, these campuses create a comprehensive environment that supports MMSU's academic, research, innovation, and community development mandates.

Research Center Complement

MMSU is home to a strong and expanding research, development, and innovation ecosystem supported by specialized centers and cutting-edge facilities. The University's Research Directorate hosts several advanced units, including the Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research, which provides state-of-the-art capabilities in genomics, molecular diagnostics, microbiology, pharmacology, and bioinformatics; the Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Research Center, which leads innovations in probiotics and health-promoting products; and the Garlic Research Center, which develops scientific solutions to strengthen the local garlic industry. MMSU also houses the Coastal Engineering Research and Development Center for coastal risk mitigation, the Regional Research and Training Center for Climate Change Studies for climate-resilience initiatives, the Tuklas Lunas Development Center for plant-based therapeutics, and the Center for Histomodeling and Biocomputing for advanced biomedical modeling and analytics. Other notable units include the Bamboo Research, Training, and Processing Center; the Natural Resources Conservation and Management Center; the Center for Innovative Materials in Emerging Applications; and the Social Development Research Center, which supports interdisciplinary work in the social sciences. MMSU is also the home of the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center, a national hub for bioenergy research and technopreneurship in partnership with eight state universities and colleges. These research centers collectively position MMSU as a leader in scientific innovation, community-responsive research, and sustainable regional development.