Missouri State University (previously known as Southwest Missouri State) is home to the Missouri State Bears. is a state university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is the state's second largest university in student enrollment, second only to the University of Missouri. From 1972 to 2005, MSU was known as Southwest Missouri State University. MSU was granted a statewide mission in Public Affairs in 1995. The name was changed in 2005 to reflect this mission. In addition to its main campus, it has a two-year branch campus in West Plains, a research campus in Mountain Grove, and various programs in China.