If you are in college, you are probably acutely aware of just how expensive everything has gotten. Therefore, you might be thinking about getting a job as well. Of course, your studies need to come first, but that does not mean there aren't ways for you to make some extra cash on the side.
While you might not necessarily be able to pay your tuition with any of these side hustles, they do provide you with a bit of extra spending money to cover some emergency expenses and go out with your friends.
The good news is that there are plenty of side hustles for college students that do not necessarily require any special skills or qualifications at all. If you are looking for the best side hustles for college students, take a look at some of the top choices below, and consider giving these options a try.
1. Sign Up For Pet Sitting
Are you someone who loves dogs and cats? If so, you might be surprised at just how much money you can make on the side by taking care of pets for other people. Pet sitting is a rewarding and enjoyable experience because you can make plenty of money taking care of other people's furry friends. You are in total control of your schedule, so you can decide when you want to take care of pets and when you do not.
Many of the people you might pet-sit for will be people who are going out of town on vacation. Maybe they need someone to actually stay at their house to take care of their dogs and cats, or perhaps they simply need someone to come by a few times a day. If you are willing to sleep in someone's house, they may be willing to give you some extra money. This could also be a great way for you to get away from campus for a little while and enjoy a meal you can cook at home.
If you do not want that commitment, you may want to sign up as a dog walker. You will be responsible for going over to someone's house, letting the dogs out, and walking them while they are at work. If you are willing to set this type of schedule, you may be able to get more customers.
You can certainly advertise your services online, but if you want to get started right away, you should consider signing up for Rover.
2. Become a Rideshare Driver
Another opportunity you may want to explore is becoming a rideshare driver. While many college students do not have a car, there is a chance that you might have your car with you on campus. If that is the case, you may want to sign up to be a driver with a company such as Uber or Lyft. You will be paid to drive people around, and you might even make some extra money through tips.
This is another great opportunity for college students because you can set your own schedule. If you want to drive, all you need to do is turn your phone on. If you do not want to drive, you can simply turn your phone off. You can actually make a substantial amount of money as a driver because you may be able to take advantage of surge pricing. Surge pricing takes place when there is a lot of demand for drivers. In response, the app will actually charge people more money, giving you a chance to make a bonus.
Keep in mind that you will be responsible for maintaining your car. You will have to put gas in your car more often, and you might have more frequent maintenance visits as well. Now, you might be able to get some of this money back because you may be able to write it off on your taxes as a business expense, but before you start claiming a bunch of tax deductions, you should reach out to an accountant who can clarify what is deductible and what is not.
3. Take Some Online Surveys
If you are looking to make some extra money, one of the top options you have probably heard about is taking some online surveys. You do not necessarily need to have any special qualifications to take these surveys, and there are plenty of platforms such as Swagbucks, that give you the opportunity to take some surveys in exchange for points.
There are lots of research companies that send out surveys about specific services, products, and brands you may have tried in the past. They want you to give your opinion of them because they will use your opinion to improve the products and services they offer.
You certainly are not going to get rich by taking a bunch of surveys, but you can make a few extra bucks in your spare time. You might even be able to knock out a survey when you are waiting for your food in the cafeteria, and those points will add up quickly. Then, you might be able to redeem those points for a gift card to your favorite store or restaurant.
These surveys are typically offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so you need to check back regularly if you want to snag the highest-paying surveys.
4. Babysit for Friends, Teachers, and Family Members
Do you think you are good with kids? If so, you may want to sign up to be a babysitter. There are different ways you can advertise your babysitting services, and you may want to use social media and flyers around campus to get the word out. Then, you might be able to get some regular customers for whom you can babysit when they are out of town or when they go on a date.
This is another great opportunity that allows you to set your own schedule. If you feel like you have too much work right now to babysit, then you may want to turn down some jobs. On the other hand, keep in mind that you may be able to study after the kids go to bed, which could make it easier for you to make money while also getting your work done.
5. Become a Tutor or Teaching Assistant
Remember that there are plenty of potential side hustles that might work well for you on campus as well. For example, if you have done well on exams in the past, then you may be able to sign up to become a tutor. There are a few different options available if you are interested in becoming a tutor. For example, you may want to start by taking a look at some of the organizations on campus. They might put you in touch with students who need help, and the organization will pay you by the hour.
Or, if you want to start your own business, you may want to advertise your tutoring services independently. You may have to work harder to find students who want to sign up for your services, but you will not have to worry about giving a cut of your money to a college organization. If you are a strong tutor, you may be able to make more money.
Remember that you do not necessarily need to limit yourself to college students exclusively. If you are interested in growing your business, you may want to tutor kids in the community as well. There might be some high school students who are struggling with their school work, and there could even be some other students who need help studying for a standardized test.
You may also want to see if there are some classes at your university that are looking for teaching assistants. If you got an A in a larger class, the professor might be looking for some teaching assistants to help them tutor students and administer exams next year. You may want to consider applying to be a teaching assistant for these classes.
6. Sign Up To Be an Editor
Do you feel like you have strong writing and editing skills? If so, you should consider applying to be an editor. This is a great option for college students who excel in writing, and there are a lot of companies that will pay college students to edit their website content and blogs. There might even be a few college students who are looking for someone who can help them proofread their essays.
There are different ways you can make money with this service. For example, you might want to start by advertising your services around campus. There might even be a writing center that will hire you to be an editor and pay you by the hour.
On the other hand, there are plenty of online platforms that could help you expand your business. For example, you may want to consider exploring Fiverr and Upwork. Then, you can take jobs that you can complete on your own schedule in your free time.
7. Sign Up To Be a Lifeguard
Does your college or university have a local pool? Is there a local pool in the community that you can get to quickly? If so, you may want to sign up to be a lifeguard. This is a laid-back job that does not require a lot of qualifications, and as long as you are a good swimmer, you should make a fantastic lifeguard.
Generally, this is a seasonal job, as there will be more lifeguarding opportunities during the summer. On the other hand, if there is an indoor pool in your area, there might be more opportunities available.
Keep in mind that this could open the door to other opportunities as well. For example, if you develop strong relationships with people in a local community, they might ask you to offer swimming lessons as well. This could be a great way for you to make even more money.
8. Be a Summer Camp Counselor
This is another seasonal job that could work well for you. When kids are out of school during the summer, parents look for something to keep their children busy. One of the best ways for them to do so is to put their kids in summer camp.
There are different types of summer camps out there. For example, there are some summer camps that are simply glorified daycare centers. You will be responsible for watching and entertaining the kids during the day. Then, there are other summer camps that are overnight camps, and you might be responsible for taking care of the kids for an entire week.
It is up to you to decide what is right for your needs, but if you are good with children, this could be a great opportunity for you.
9. Help People Move
Do you feel like you are pretty strong? Do you like to work out? If so, you might be able to apply for a job with a local company that gives you the opportunity to help people move from place to place. There are plenty of people in the local community who might not be strong enough to move some of their heavy furniture on their own. If you work with a bunch of other college students, you may be able to make a significant amount of money helping people move from one house to another.
There might even be some local businesses that are moving locations and would like college students to help them move their heavy furniture. While you certainly will not be able to do this job 40 hours a week, as it would be far too physically demanding, you can make plenty of money per hour.
10. Become a Personal Trainer
If you find yourself going to the gym regularly, you may want to sign up to be a personal trainer. While there are certain certifications you can earn that might give you the opportunity to charge more money, you might still be able to be a personal trainer at the college gym without having to earn any additional certifications.
There are different opportunities available in this area as well. If you have experience with yoga, pilates, rowing, or cycling, you may be able to sign up to lead some group classes. If your class gets larger, you may be able to
11. Apply To Be a Virtual Assistant
If you are looking for a job that provides you with the ultimate amount of flexibility, you may want to turn to the internet for help. One job that is in very high demand is a position as a virtual assistant. If you have an extra few hours per week, you may end up helping business people manage their schedules and keep up with their tasks.
There are different types of jobs that you could be asked to do in this area. For example, they might ask you to answer their emails for them, or they might be looking for someone who can help them manage their social media accounts. You may also be asked to help them manage their appointments or calendars. This is also a great way to gain some additional experience in the business world, so you can have a better resume when you look for jobs when you graduate.
12. Be a Website Designer
If you have a lot of experience with graphic design, you may be able to find a great job as a website designer. While this is certainly a job that you can do in your free time, you might be surprised at just how much money you can make if you get better at it.
The younger generation is much better with technology than the older generation, and people still use the internet when they are looking for products and services they need. Having a strong website is essential for finding success in the business world today. If you have experience designing websites, this could be a great opportunity for you.
13. Clean People’s Houses
If you find cleaning to be therapeutic, you may want to sign up to clean houses for other people. There are plenty of people who do not particularly enjoy cleaning their homes, but it is still something that has to be done from time to time.
This is a job that you will mostly spread using word of mouth, but you may be able to advertise your services online. If you are looking for the best way to get started, you may want to talk to some of your teachers and professors to see if they need someone to clean their house for them. Then, once you have cleaned their house for them a few times, they may be willing to refer your services to other people. This could be a great way for you to make some extra money.
14. Sell Items Online
Did you know that there are plenty of platforms that give you an opportunity to sell items online? If you have a lot of junk that you do not have any particular use for, you may want to consider trying to sell them online. These platforms will typically charge you a commission on the amount of money you make per item, but this is one of the easiest ways to generate some spending cash.
If you find that you are particularly good at it, you may want to consider selling some items for other people. They might be willing to provide you with a commission if you can sell their items on their behalf.
15. Be a Landscaper
If you did chores growing up, there is a chance that some of them involved yard work. If you are good at yard work, you may want to see if you can make some extra money as a landscaper. You might want to start by mowing lawns for other people, but as you get better, you may be able to make some money edging and gardening as well. If you have the necessary tools and experience, consider asking people if they need help trimming their bushes, trimming their trees, or even cleaning up their gutters. If you like to spend time outside, this could be the best side hustle for you.
Consider Giving These Side Hustles a Try
As a college student, a bit of extra spending money can go a long way, but you might have a difficult time getting a traditional job, particularly with your study schedule. Now, there are plenty of jobs that provide you with an impressive degree of flexibility, giving you an opportunity to make your own schedule while also making some extra cash. Take a look at the skills you have, consider these opportunities, and find the right side hustle for you.
