A growing number of U.S. healthcare students are using betting platforms, prediction markets, and other unconventional income sources to help cover education costs, according to new survey data released by workforce infrastructure company Clasp.

The findings, based on responses from 1,000 healthcare students surveyed between June 16 and June 28, 2026, suggest that traditional financial aid and borrowing options are leaving many aspiring clinicians searching for additional ways to fund their studies. The survey included students from nursing, allied health, and other healthcare programs, with 81% of respondents identifying as women and 84% under the age of 36.

The report arrives amid changes to federal student borrowing rules that took effect on July 1, 2026. Clasp said some programs could face significant funding gaps under the new limits, creating added pressure for students already struggling with tuition and living expenses.

According to the survey, more than one-quarter of respondents have used sports betting or prediction market platforms. Many participants indicated that any money earned through those activities plays a role in their plans for paying educational expenses.

“The survey finds that more than 1 in 4 (27%) have used a betting or prediction market platform,” according to Clasp. “Two-thirds of student bettors (67%) treat winnings as real or potential school money: 24% say winnings are part of their plan to pay for school, and another 43% say it could help.”

Students Seek Alternative Sources of Funding

The research points to a wider trend extending beyond betting and prediction markets. More than half of respondents reported relying on income sources that do not typically appear in traditional financial aid calculations.

Clasp found that 56% of surveyed students use alternatives such as credit cards, content creation, or other side-income activities to support tuition payments or everyday expenses. The report identified platforms including TikTok, YouTube, OnlyFans, and Substack as common sources of supplemental income.

Among respondents, 21% reported participating in paid content creation. The survey also found that 6% had sold feet pictures or similar content online, while 10% had considered egg or sperm donation as a potential source of money.

Clasp described these activities as part of a broader financial reality facing healthcare students. Nearly 30% of respondents said they are unable to consistently cover a month of basic expenses.

The company’s report also found that many students remain unaware of recent borrowing policy changes. At the same time, respondents expressed strong commitment to completing their healthcare education despite mounting financial challenges.

Betting Activity Outpaces National Trends

Survey results indicate that healthcare students engage with betting platforms at rates exceeding those typically reported among young adults.

According to Clasp, 73% of healthcare students who use sportsbooks or prediction markets access those platforms multiple times per week, while 15% participate daily. By comparison, the report cited broader figures for 18-to-22-year-olds showing participation rates of 14% multiple times per week and 4% daily.

Several major platforms appeared prominently in the findings. Half of student bettors reported using DraftKings, while 42% said they had wagered through FanDuel. Nearly one-third, or 31%, said they had traded event contracts on Polymarket. The survey also highlighted the use of prediction market operator Kalshi among students seeking additional income.

Despite frequent usage, financial outcomes were mixed. Only 40% of student bettors reported being ahead overall, while approximately half said they had essentially broken even.

“The most common amount won or lost is $100 to $1,000, and 1 in 10 report amounts over $5,000. Two respondents reported wins or losses above $50,000,” notes Clasp. Fourteen respondents said they had gained more than $5,000, while two others reported losses of similar size.

Women Increasingly Participate in Prediction Markets

Although betting activity remains more common among male students, the report found notable participation among women pursuing healthcare careers.

Nearly half of male respondents reported using betting or prediction market platforms. Among female respondents, approximately one in five said they had participated. Clasp noted that this figure is roughly double the national rate of sports betting participation among women.

The company said the results challenge assumptions that betting activity remains concentrated among men, particularly given the heavily female composition of healthcare education programs.

Clasp Chief Executive Officer Tess Michaels said financial pressure appears to be the primary factor driving students toward these platforms.

“These students aren’t betting for fun,” said Tess Michaels. “They’re budgeting winnings into their tuition plans, and most of them are barely breaking even.”

Michaels also pointed to the time demands associated with healthcare education as a factor influencing student decisions.

“Time is really precious in healthcare, and there are different jobs that you can do to try and earn extra cash,” she said. “And so the fastest routes to being able to get access to cash are probably going to win.”