The Best Side Hustles for College Students to Make Money

The Best Side Hustles for College Students to Make Money
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley
Published:

Key Takeaways

  • College students can earn extra income while studying, including pursuing online and in-person jobs and dropshipping.
  • Some online jobs, however, may require specific skills and subject knowledge.
  • Pursuing side hustles during college helps students earn money and enhance their skill set.
 

The average tuition fee for college students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in the United States is $36,436 per year. According to EDS, this figure shows a 2% annual growth over the past ten years. This means that college costs are proliferating rapidly, making it difficult for students to afford a higher education.

While there are scholarships and financial aid opportunities through the federal government and other private agencies, even that may not be enough to pay for college. As a result, more and more students are seeking ways to generate income for their college education. Here’s a quick guide on the top three side hustles for college students.

High-Paying Freelance Opportunities for College Students

College students have a lot of responsibilities on their plates that extend beyond their academic responsibilities. From attending lectures and engaging in extracurricular activities and hands-on learning opportunities to navigating social dynamics, college students have undeniably hectic schedules. In addition to this, college students also have part-time jobs to help support themselves.

If you need help in navigating your hectic schedule, we have tips for balancing the demands of college and your work responsibilities.

Side hustles are among the best ways for college students to ensure they have money to help pay for college. There are several high-paying freelance jobs college students can do while enrolled full-time. Deciding which of them is the best will depend on their personal interests, academic schedules, and available resources.

Some college students opt to apply for online jobs to have the flexibility of working inside their dorm room, while other students use the internet to do dropshipping and e-commerce. However, some students prefer in-person jobs since these side hustles generate tips, which can mean more money.

Below, we will rank the top side hustles college students can do in their spare time. We’ll also help you evaluate which will serve as your most lucrative side hustle!

young college student standing in an office with his arms crossed
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The 3 Best Side Hustles for College Students

Online Jobs

Online jobs are among the most mainstream choices for college students seeking flexible work arrangements to accommodate their academic schedules. This line of work allows students to earn money while they stay in the comfort of their own rooms. Online jobs can also be one of the best ways to save on transportation costs since you don’t have to travel to get to work.

College students have many opportunities to pursue online/remote jobs, whether part-time or freelance. In fact, this may be the best time to pursue online opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of “work from home” opportunities. Businesses are increasingly allowing workers with the right skills, including college students, to work from home with a computer and a reliable internet connection.

The average salary of online jobs depends on several factors, such as skill level and position. But they are likely to pay well above minimum wage and, in some cases, even more than traditional in-person jobs. Online jobs often operate freelance or contract, allowing you to set your own rates based on your expertise and task complexity.

Here are some of the most popular online jobs for college students:

  1. 1

    Online Tutoring Services

    As a college student, you can tutor high school and elementary students. There are several online platforms to explore for this kind of job, including:

    Your other option is to offer tutoring services virtually directly to students without going through an online tutoring platform like the ones mentioned above. Another benefit of having your own clientele is you won’t have to pay any other parties for services.

  2. 2

    Freelance Writing

    College students with solid English vocabulary and creative writing abilities can apply as freelance writers. This side hustle is one of the highest-paying ones in the market, depending on the company that hires you, the type of content you’ll be creating, and the amount of content you are able to produce. Freelance writers are tasked with writing emails, blog entries, social media posts, and more.

    In addition to earning extra cash, a freelance writing gig can help you to enhance your writing skills, learn SEO strategies, become efficient in research, and discover how to adhere to style and brand rules, all skills that are valuable in the job market.

    Here are some goldmine websites where you can find freelance writing opportunities:

  3. 3

    Virtual Assistant

    A virtual assistant job is perfect for college students because of its highly flexible nature. VAs are in high demand, especially since many small firms and entrepreneurs require assistance with things like scheduling, email management, data entry, and research. Working as a virtual assistant offers fantastic chances to develop your professional skills across various industries.

    The top websites for start-up VAs include:

    4. college student sitting in front of a laptop smiling
  5. 4

    Social Media Management

    Social media has taken center stage as the main channel for marketing, communication, and brand promotion. A social media manager is responsible for managing an individual’s or a company’s social media accounts and presence. If you have a knack for marketing and are fond of social media platforms, this side hustle could be for you.

    Among the best ways to find a social media management job is by inquiring with local businesses and fellow students if they want their platforms to be professionally managed. You can explore online platforms for job openings if you have less of a network. Some options include:

  6. 5

    Graphic Design

    If you have a knack for design, you can pursue online graphic designer jobs. Freelance graphic designers can create visual content for clients, including logos, banners, and social media graphics. This side hustle requires a good eye for aesthetics and a firm grasp of design principles. You should also be competent with design software.

    Although it could be alluring to start a freelance graphic design business to make quick money, the industry’s highly competitive nature demands a specific caliber of skill most commonly possessed by art students.

  7. 6

    Web Development/ Web Design

    Web development and web design are two different things. Web development involves coding and programming to create a website, including backend and front-end development. On the other hand, web design focuses on visual aesthetics and user experience, using tools like Adobe Photoshop or Sketch to create layouts, color schemes, typography, and user navigation.

    Both job positions require specific technical skills and particular subject knowledge. As a result, these online jobs are among the highest-paid side hustles for college students.

If you have discovered that you love working online, you may want to pursue a college degree that would allow you to continue to work from home even after graduation. Check out the best degrees for working from home.

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In-Person Jobs for College Students

Although remote work is among the most convenient ways of earning while studying, it’s not for everyone. Some college students prefer to work in-person jobs to feel the separation between work and personal life. Plus, these in-person opportunities are known for tips, which can provide an additional source of income beyond a fixed hourly wage or salary.

There are several in-person jobs you can do. You’re not restricted to waiting on tables and flipping burgers. Moreover, some in-person jobs even allow you to set your rates, which can boost your entrepreneurial skills.

Offer Pet Services

This side hustle allows you to generate extra income, create your own schedule, and fully experience the delight of taking care of furry friends. Some pet owners will even pay for your travel expenses!

Pet sitters are paid an average of $16 per hour.

Consider the possibility of establishing a dog walking service. This opportunity is perfect for those who may find pet sitting too time-consuming. Many pet owners work long hours and struggle to meet their pet’s walking needs. You can set your own rates and schedule appointments based on your availability, giving you full control over your time.

According to Zippia, dog walkers are paid $17/hour. If you walk at least three dogs daily for an hour or two, you can generate up to $100 daily.

 Become a House Sitter

Another popular option to earn money as a college student is to offer house sitting services. As a house sitter, you can be responsible for many things, including watering the plants, picking up the mail, mowing the lawn, and keeping the house secure.

In most cases, homeowners are looking for house sitters because they have a pet they can’t bring during their travels. In this case, you’ll also be required to look after your pet.

The most common rate for house sitters is $17/hour. This may increase depending on your established rates and your tasks.

 Use Your Car

Most college students have their own car, which can be expensive, factoring in car payments, insurance, and maintenance. If you have a car, why not use it to earn extra money? You can use your vehicle for dropshipping packages, food delivery, or transporting packages.

Here are some popular websites where you can sign up:

  • Uber: This popular ride-sharing platform allows students to become drivers and earn money by picking up and dropping passengers at various destinations. Uber also features an Uber Eats service, allowing you to become a food delivery driver.
  • Postmates: Postmates is a courier service offering a flat $5 fee for deliveries, with drivers keeping 80% of the fee; it is popular for college campuses and urban areas.
  • Lyft: This ride-sharing service is similar to Uber, offering flexible work schedules and is available in major US cities.
  • Wingz: Wingz is a peer-to-peer ride-sharing service offering airport, event, and senior rides in cities across the US. You can earn up to $30 for transporting seniors to appointments, worship services, and shopping while the steady demand for airport rides keeps you busy.
  • HopSkipDrive: This ride-sharing service for children, schools, and families offers safe transportation to various destinations. You can earn cash for each child you pick up and deliver, with summer earnings reaching up to $30 an hour.
  • DoorDash: This restaurant delivery service employs “dashers” capable of picking up and delivering food orders. You can earn an average of $14.03 per hour. The highest earners at DoorDash earn nearly $30 per hour.
  • Amazon Flex: Amazon Flex drivers deliver orders for Amazon Prime, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Restaurants. They can earn between $18-25 per hour and are paid twice weekly. You can apply here if you have a midsize sedan, SUV, or pickup truck.

These apps require drivers to have a car, a valid license, and adequate insurance to meet company specifications.

 Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a model of e-commerce. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, here’s a quick overview of what this entails:

  • A drop shipper contracts with a manufacturer, retailer, or wholesaler to sell its products online.
  • Consumers visit the drop shipper website and submit orders for products.
  • The business with which the drop shipper is contracted handles orders and sends the products to the buyer.

In simpler terms, a drop shipper acts as an intermediary between customers and product manufacturers, earning money by purchasing wholesale and reselling items at a chosen price, dividing the difference between the wholesale and retail prices. This business allows you to work on your own schedule. And in addition to generating extra money, dropshipping can boost your entrepreneurial skills.

It is one of the best ways for a college student to earn a passive income while completely managing their own schedule. Although you can be very successful at dropshipping, you may need to spend countless hours on careful planning and execution.

The first three steps to creating an online dropshipping store are choosing an e-commerce platform, designing a user-friendly website, and establishing pricing, payment, and shipping options. This may seem easy, but the struggle comes in when considering factors like time, cost, features, scalability, customization, marketing tools, supplier integrations, and customer support.

But before plunging into this business, you need to know some important things. Because, unlike other side jobs for students, the market for dropshipping is highly competitive.

  • Dropshipping offers limited customization as products are functionally identical to other customers, forcing products with unique selling propositions to compete for the lowest price.
  • Drop-shipped products can present quality control issues because they are delivered directly from the supplier to the end user. This may result in greater return rates and less motivation for the manufacturer to do rigorous inspections.
  • Dropshipping eCommerce models offer higher wholesale prices and lower profit margins but require more capital for inventory and overhead costs.
  • Dropshipping often leads to products going out of stock, causing frustration for all parties involved.
 college student working in a bakery
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Student Submitted Questions on the Best Side Hustles for College Students to Make Money

Louie asks, ”What online resources and platforms help college students find side hustle opportunities?”

Dr. James Barham’s answer: There are several online resources and platforms that can help college students find side hustle opportunities. Here are some popular ones:

Bernie asks, ”How can students manage and save money earned from their side hustle?”

Dr. Jed Macosko’s answer: You should always keep personal and business finances separate. Open a second savings or checking account and use online banking apps to simplify transactions. This helps you avoid confusion between personal and business spending.

Ken asks, ”How do college students balance their academic tasks and side hustle?

Dr. James Barham’s answer: While side hustles are great opportunities to gain extra cash and experience, some college students sadly forget how to balance their time between classes and work. As a result, some students end up having lousy grades or losing their side hustle. Here are quick tips on how to balance your academic tasks and side hustle:

  • Plan and write down what you need to do for the day or week.
  • Setting clear boundaries and communicating these boundaries to peers, professors, and clients, and ensuring side hustles complement and not hinder studies.
  • Utilize campus resources like academic advisors, career development offices, workshops, peer tutoring, and writing centers, ensuring a balanced education investment.

Trying to juggle a full college schedule and a side hustle can be more than some students can handle. Learn how to avoid burnout as an online student.

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