Waitlisted at Michigan State? New Study Says Not to Worry

If you live in or around Lansing (especially East Lansing), you see it every year.

Thousands of wide-eyed new college students coming to Michigan State University for the first time, with big dreams of what their futures might hold.

Waitlisted at MSU? Probably not the terrible thing you might think it is. (Photo via JR, Townsquare Media Lansing)

Less visible, however, are the thousands of would-be MSU freshmen who are still waiting to find out if they'll get to be a Spartan — the prospective students on the dreaded waitlist.

We've got good news if you've been waitlisted by Michigan State. History says you shouldn't panic.

Michigan State Accepts Most Students Off Its Waitlist

According to new data put together by U.S. News & World Report, Michigan State is actually one of the nation's leaders when it comes to accepting students off the waitlist. In the fall of 2025, MSU accepted 87% of the students who were placed on its waitlist.

In other words, a waitlist at Michigan State is very different from a rejection.

READ MORE: East Lansing Outranks Ann Arbor Among 'Best College Towns'

Of course, every year is different, and there's no guarantee the same thing will happen again. But the numbers show that MSU regularly uses the waitlist to help build its incoming class.

Why MSU Relies on Its Waitlist

It makes sense when you think about it. Consider the university's rolling admissions process. Students change their minds, choose other schools, or decide to stay closer to home, creating openings that MSU can fill with applicants from its waitlist.

What Waitlisted Students Should Do Next

So if you recently received that dreaded waitlist notice, don't throw away your green-and-white dreams just yet.

READ MORE: East Lansing Ranked Among America's Best College Basketball Cities

Accept your spot on the waitlist, keep an eye on your email, and have a backup plan in place. That's important. But there's also reason to stay optimistic.

Get our free mobile app

Being waitlisted at Michigan State isn't the end of the story. In fact, if recent history is any indication, it might just be the beginning.