Healthcare students are turning to Kalshi and betting platforms to pay for their degrees, survey shows

A recent survey of 1,000 healthcare students reveals a concerning trend regarding how they manage the high costs of their education. Data from the workforce infrastructure company Clasp indicates that over 70 percent of these students engage with betting and prediction market platforms at least a few times each week.

Students are increasingly relying on these platforms to bridge the gap between their income and their tuition or living expenses. While some participants reported significant wins, the financial reality remains grim for many. Less than half of the respondents recorded positive gains from these activities. Most students involved in this practice only managed to win or lose between 100 and 1,000 dollars.

Clasp CEO Tess Michaels suggests that this behavior is not recreational. Students are attempting to treat these platforms as a viable budget line item for their schooling. The pressure is mounting as many graduate students lack the financial support of wealthy parents and must find alternative methods to secure quick cash. With 30 percent of students unable to cover their monthly expenses, these platforms provide a high-risk route for temporary financial relief.

Beyond betting and prediction markets, the survey highlights that 56 percent of students use other non-traditional revenue sources. These include credit cards and various forms of content creation on digital platforms. As healthcare education remains expensive and time-consuming, the need for stable funding mechanisms remains a critical issue for students entering these essential fields.