It is currently illegal for Missouri State University to offer doctoral programs in medicine, law, architecture, dentistry, or any other program offered by the University of Missouri.

Mizzou strong-armed the state legislature in 2005, ensuring that the only way Southwest Missouri State University could change its name to Missouri State University was if such a change included a "non-compete" clause.

This was intended to hold MSU back. Mizzou offers scores of PhD programs; MSU can only offer 4. No other state crushes competition in higher education like this. MSU should have the freedom to offer any doctoral program it sees fit, and students from Missouri and around the country should have the freedom to choose to attend MSU for their doctoral degrees.

Section 1 of the name-change bill, S.B. 98, reads:

"Missouri State University shall not seek the land grant designation held by Lincoln University and the University of Missouri nor shall Missouri State University seek the research designation currently held by the University of Missouri. Missouri State University shall offer engineering programs and doctoral programs only in cooperation with the University of Missouri; provided that such cooperative agreements are approved by the governing boards of each institution and that in these instances the University of Missouri shall be the degree-granting institution. Should the University of Missouri decline to cooperate in the offering of such programs within one year of the formal approval of the coordinating board, Missouri State University may cooperate with another educational institution, or directly offer the degree. In all cases, the offering of such degree programs shall be subject to the approval of the coordinating board for higher education, or any other higher education governing authority that may replace it. Missouri State University may offer doctoral programs in audiology and physical therapy. Missouri State University shall neither offer nor duplicate the professional programs at the University of Missouri including, without limitation, those that train medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, lawyers, and architects. The alteration of the name of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University shall not entitle Missouri State University to any additional state funding."