Are you a college student looking to make some money on the side?
College is expensive, but a nice side hustle or two can help offset your academic expenses. Plus, do you really want to survive on just ramen noodles?
Contrary to popular belief, side hustles can be lucrative, so if you are looking for money-making ideas, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, I’ll explore 15 different side hustles that anyone can do and how much money you can expect to make. Let’s get started!
- Freelancing
- Blogging
- Landscaping
- Social media management
Best Side Hustles for College Students
There are many side hustles that pay good money for college students. Find a few that work for you to start making money in no time!
Landscaping Services
Landscaping is an easy and lucrative way to make a lot of money in a short period of time.
Anyone can weed, edge, and mulch, but no one wants to. That is where you come in.
A simple mulch job can earn you around $300 to $600 dollars for 2 to 6 hours of work. That may seem absurd, but many people just really do not like doing their own landscaping.
After watching a YouTube video or too, you can earn even more money by offering hedge trimming services. I have personally made $400 to $600 in profit for a 2-hour hedge trimming job, and, believe it or not, that is normal.
So, if you are willing to sweat a little, you can make $500 to $1,000 a week in profit with just 2 to 4 days of work!
You don't always need expensive tools to get started either.
For example, mulching will just require a vehicle to transport the mulch, a wheelbarrow, and a few rakes.
Making money with landscaping is a lucrative side hustle for college students looking to earn money on the side.
Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is another great way to earn some extra cash in your spare time.
Blog writing and article writing is on the rise, and both small and big business alike use blogs to bring in organic users to their site.
So, if you like to write, then there are ample opportunities to write on just about any subject you can think of.
If you are into fashion, gaming, finance, or any other topic, there are companies looking for articles on those topics, and some are willing to pay big bucks amounting to $100 to $500 per article for the right freelancer.
Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are two great places to start your freelancing journey; so, why not start now?
It can take some time to grow your business and find the right clients, but it is definitely possible to make $200 to $600 a week as a freelance writer.
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Proofreader/Copy Editor
Are you a grammar nut? Do you have an eye for detail? If so, there is always proofreading and copy editing work to be done.
You can charge your fellow classmates for your editing services, or you could go down the freelancing route and edit anything from articles to books!
Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are also great to find editing work.
A lot of proofreaders will charge around 2 cents a word and copy editors will usually charge 3 cents a word—which means you can make $20 to $30 for every 1000 words you edit!
This is a great option for college students because you can often work your own hours on your own schedule whenever you have some spare time.
Social Media Manager
Do you have social media accounts? Have you posted something on social media? I would assume that most of you would have said “yes” to that question. If that is the case, then you are already a social media manager in the making.
Businesses and influencers will often hire social media managers to manage their social media accounts.
Social media managers complete a variety of tasks including:
- Creating Content
- Scheduling Posts
- Running Campaigns
- Developing Strategies to Ramp Up Engagement
- Interacting with Social Media Followers
If you think you have what it takes, you can reach out to companies and influencers, do freelance work, or apply to the many social media manager jobs out there to get your first gig.
Plus, social media managers can easily make $30 to $50 an hour!
Junk Removal
If you have a truck or know someone with a truck, then junk removal is a great way to earn quick and easy money.
Not everyone has a truck, so many will pay someone else to haul off an old refrigerator, grill, bed, etc.
You can charge about $150 a truckload and either dump or resale whatever you hauled off.
To find work, you can post an ad on Craigslist or Nextdoor, or you can go door-to-door asking if anyone has any junk they need removed.
Junk removal is a great way to utilize your truck and make a lot of money doing so!
Photography
Photography can be a lucrative business. If you are good with a camera and have basic editing skills, then photography can be a great side hustle option.
There are many different types of photography you can consider.
A wedding photographer, for example, can easily make $1,000 on a single wedding.
As a college student, you can offer to take senior pictures and charge anywhere from $25 to $400 for your services!
Plus, you can schedule the shoots so that they do not interfere with your classes. So, starting your own photography side hustle will provide you with both flexibility and a decent income.
Stock Photography
Selling stock photos can be a great option to use your photography skills to make money.
You can use a platform like Shutterstock to sell your photos online and earn money for each one sold.
The amount of money you can make will depend on the platform you use but for most platforms you can earn a few dollars for each photo you sell.
Tutoring
If you like teaching, then why not start now? Tutoring is a prime side hustle to do in college because you are already surrounded by students.
You can become a writing tutor, math tutor, science tutor, or more.
You can tutor students on a freelance basis or you can apply for a tutoring position at the college.
If you're looking for more flexibility, you can work as an online tutor and tutor via Skype or another video call service.
You can also use tutoring services like Chegg and Tutor.com to connect with students who need help.
Tutors can make anywhere from $10 to $80 dollars an hour!
If you are willing to do some extra studying, then tutoring for important tests can bring in the most amount of money an hour.
So, if you enjoy teaching, then tutoring is a great side hustle to do while in college.
Dog Walker
There is a fluffy friend waiting for any who dares walk it… If you like dogs, then dog walking is a great way to make easy and fun money.
For a classic 30-minute walk, you can make anywhere from $10 to $30 dollars plus tips!
Apps like Rover or Wag are great places to sign up to be a dog walker. So, if you want to have fun with a four-legend friend, then dog walking is an easy way to do so!
Flipper
Are you a good researcher? Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Well, if so, then being a flipper is a great way to satisfy your entrepreneurial spirit and make money.
A flipper is someone who buys items and resales the same items for more.
You can flip clothes, electronics, antique books, and more.
All it takes is some market research. If you see, for example, that a used Xbox 360 is selling, on average, for $100, then you will want to buy one for less and then turn around and sell it for $100.
Flipping is best done in bulk, so if you can find a couple of items to specialize in, you can build up your inventory and have a steady stream of sales coming in.
If you have a lot of storage space, then you can constantly have a big inventory of products and make $1,000 a week.
Babysitting
If you are great at entertaining kids, then babysitting may be for you. One great aspect about babysitting is that it is usually done in the evening. So, as long as you are not taking evening classes, babysitting is a perfect side hustle for the evenings.
A beginner will probably make around $10 to $20 an hour plus tips!
Apps like Sittercity and Bambino are two great places to start your babysitting side hustle.
You can also let friends and family know that you are available to babysit—so that you can start rolling in the clients!
Sell on Etsy
Perhaps you are one who loves to create pieces of jewelry or design unique stickers. Whatever it is, you can sell it on Etsy.
Etsy allows you to sell your creations to the world. So, if you already find that you enjoy making a piece of art in your free time, why not monetize that?
You can set up your own virtual store through Etsy and start selling your goods. How much you make is really up to you. You can set your own prices and then advertise your own products on social media.
Selling on Etsy is something you can do in your free time, and therefore it’s a perfect side hustle for a busy college student.
Uber/Lyft Driver
If you have a car, then becoming an Uber or Lyft driver on the side can be an easy and convenient way to make some money.
Being an Uber or Lyft driver gives you the flexibility to choose when you want to work. Once you are signed up as a driver, requests for your driving services will be sent right to your phone. It is then up to you whether to accept or reject the request.
You can expect to make anywhere from $10 to $30 an hour plus tips!
So, if you are looking for an easy side hustle, then becoming an Uber or Lyft driver is one way to go!
Deliver Food
If you have a car, a bike, or can run really fast, then you can deliver food to earn a decent income.
Working for DoorDash and Uber Eats is like being an Uber or Lyft driver. You can choose to accept or reject delivery requests—which gives you flexibility on when you choose to work.
You can expect to make around $10 to $20 an hour plus tips!
Plus, if you decided to deliver using a bike, you can stay in great shape and make money at the same time.
Delivering food is a great option to make more money on the side as a college student.
Deliver Groceries
Another great delivery side hustle is delivering groceries with platforms like Instacart.
With this side hustle, you can choose to work as little or as much as you want.
Once you are signed up, requests for grocery deliveries will come through the app. You can then choose to accept or reject the request to start earning.
Pay for this side hustle ranges from $12 to $20 an hour plus tips!
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants do pretty much anything.
Generally, a virtual assistant will manage the calendar, do some data entry, communicate with clients, etc.
When it comes down to it, a virtual assistant’s job is to make someone else's job easier.
If you are an organized person with basic computer skills, then you can be a virtual assistant. You can sell your services on Fiverr, and you can also specialize in certain tasks.
For example, you may just answer phones, conduct research, or manage a blog. Whatever it is, you can sell it.
Depending on the services that you offer, you can make anywhere from $10 to $50 an hour!
The greatest perk about being a virtual assistant is that you can do it anywhere that has an internet connection—which makes it a great digital side hustle for college students looking to make money online.
Hanging Christmas Lights
While Christmas only comes around once each year, you can still make a pretty hefty profit from it by hanging up Christmas lights.
While it may seem unbelievable, businesses will pay $15,000 to $25,000 for a professional to wrap a decent-sized tree in Christmas lights.
You are probably not a professional at hanging Christmas lights, but that does not mean that you can’t make a lot of money hanging Christmas lights in a neighborhood.
For an average-sized home or small business, you can make $200 to $600 on average for a couple of hours of work!
Plus, it does not take a genius to hang Christmas lights, it just takes someone with access to a YouTube instructional video.
Take Online Surveys
While this isn't the most profitable side hustle, it can be an easy way to make a few bucks whenever you have some spare time.
With this college side hustle, you can earn money by giving your thoughts and opinions on various topics.
There are many different survey sites you can use to make extra cash but some of my favorites include:
Most of these sites will throw in some free money when you sign up, making it even more attractive.
Complete Focus Groups
Similar to taking surveys, another way to get paid for your thoughts is by completing focus groups.
Focus groups are a bit more involved than taking surveys but they pay significantly more.
With focus groups, you will meet with a group of people to discuss a certain product or service.
The company conducting the focus group will then use your feedback to make improvements or changes to their product or service, which can be extremely valuable.
Focus groups usually pay anywhere from $50 to $200 but can sometimes pay even more.
You can use a site like Survey Junkie to find paid focus groups in your area. Don't forget to confirm your email right after creating your account so you don't miss any opportunities.
Donate Plasma
If you want to make extra money without much effort, donating plasma is an easy side hustle for college students.
With this college side hustle, you can earn a few hundred dollars a month by donating your plasma.
While it may not seem like much, donating plasma is a great way to make some extra cash without putting in too much effort.
To get started, just find a local blood bank in your area and see how much they pay.
Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is a great passive side hustle college students can do to make passive income.
With this side hustle, you can get paid to watch other people's pets while they are out of town.
Pet sitting is a great way to make money because you can do other things while watching over pets.
For example, you could start a blog, take surveys, or do some other digital side hustles while pet sitting.
To get started, just create a profile on Rover.com. Once you create your profile, you can start applying to pet sitting jobs in your area.
The amount you can make with this side hustle is also quite attractive. Some pet sitters make a few hundred dollars a week for their services. Not bad!
Data Entry
If you need money fast, data entry is a great option.
With this side hustle, you can get paid to input data into various computer systems.
The amount you can make with data entry work depends on the company you work for and how fast you can type.
However, most data entry jobs pay between $12 and $15 per hour.
To get started with data entry, just search for “data entry” on job sites like Indeed.com or Upwork and start applying for gigs.
The best part of this side hustle is that you don't need any special skills or expertise to start making money.
Rent Out Space
It can be very difficult to find space in college towns. If you do have some space, this can be a great way to make extra money on the side by renting it out.
Whether you have extra storage space, parking space, or various other types of spaces, you can rent it out on a platform like Neighbor.com.
The amount of money you can make will vary depending on the space and city, but it's possible to make a couple hundred dollars a month with this side hustle.
This is a great passive income idea for college students because it doesn't require any effort to maintain and earn money.
Blogging
Blogging is a tremendous way for anyone to make money online, including college students.
Blogging has many benefits like working around a busy college schedule, being able to work online, and being able to work from anywhere in the world.
Additionally, the costs to start a website or blog are minimal, meaning if you have $100 or less – you can get started.
There are many ways to make money through blogging but some of the most common include:
- Display advertising
- Affiliate marketing
- Selling digital products
- Consulting or coaching
- Creating and selling online courses
While growing a profitable blog is no simple task, it can be extremely rewarding.
Depending on how you build your blog, the majority of your traffic can become more passive over time making your income more passive.
So, how much money can you really make?
Some bloggers can make over $20k a month from their sites while others only make a few hundred.
It really depends on how much effort you put in and how you monetize your site.
Blogging can become a full time job if you dedicate the time and resources to growing your site.
If you're searching for a lucrative side hustle for college students, blogging should be at the top of your list.
Fix Electronics
If you're looking for a unique side hustle that has the potential to make a lot of money, consider fixing electronics.
With this side hustle, you can get paid to repair phones, laptops, and other electronic devices.
But you might be thinking, “I don't know how to fix electronics!”
The good news is that there are plenty of resources online that show you the exact steps to fix iPhone screens, battery replacements, and many other common repairs.
The amount of money you can make with this side hustle varies depending on the type of repairs you do and how much you charge.
However, most electronic repair shops charge between $75 and $300 per repair.
Rent Your Car
If you have your own car or pickup truck that you don't need every day, consider renting it out to make money.
With this side hustle, you can list your car on a platform like Turo or GetAround and start earning money when people rent it.
The amount you earn varies depending on the platform you use, the type of car you have, and where you live.
However, most people earn between $50 and $200 per day with this side hustle.
Advertise on Your Car
If you're searching for passive income side hustle ideas, advertising on your car is an easy gig.
With this side hustle, you can make extra money just for driving around town.
By using a platform like Stickr, you can get paid to drive your car with a removable sticker advertisement on it.
The amount you earn from this side hustle varies depending on how many hours you drive, where you're located, and several other factors.
It's possible to make a few thousand dollars a year with this side hustle – and you don't have to do any extra work to make it.
Do Odd Jobs
Odd jobs can be some of the highest paying side hustles and are perfect for college students looking to make extra cash.
There are many random jobs you can complete to make some extra money such as assembling furniture, walking dogs, or even mowing lawns.
The amount you earn from this side hustle really varies depending on the job you're doing and how long it takes to complete.
But for most odd jobs, you can expect to earn around $20-$30 per hour.
The best part about this side hustle is that you can complete it on your own hours whenever you have time between classes.
To find work, you can use sites like TaskRabbit or Craigslist.
Work as a Mystery Shopper
Mystery shopping is a simple side hustle that is great for college students.
With this gig, you can get paid to shop at stores and report back on your experience.
The amount of money you make really varies depending on the type of mystery shopping gig you're doing.
For example, you might get paid $5 to visit a store and take pictures of the products.
Or you might get paid $20 to fill out a survey after you purchase a product.
Most mystery shopping gigs pay between $5 and $20 per task.
To find work, you can sign up with a mystery shopping company like Market Force.
Work as a Transcriptionist
Transcription, or transcribing audio files into text, is a great way to make some extra money from home.
This side hustle is perfect for college students as it can be done entirely online and on your own schedule.
The amount you earn as a transcriptionist really varies depending on how fast you type and the company you work for.
However, most transcriptionists earn between $10 and $20 per hour of audio they transcribe.
To get started, you can sign up with a transcription company like Rev or use freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork.
Start a Podcast
Podcasting is a fun side hustle that can be a cool way to pay for your living expenses while attending college.
Similar to other types of content creation, success won't happen overnight.
But if you stick with it, you can build a large audience and make a lot of money from your podcast.
The amount you earn really varies depending on how many listeners you have and the type of sponsorship deals you're able to land.
For some podcasters, you can make $10,000 a month or more. For smaller podcasters, it's possible to make an extra $1,000 a week.
Your income potential podcasting is tremendous so the sooner you get started, the better.
Check out the video below to learn exactly how to start a profitable podcast!
Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube has become one of the worlds largest search engines, and creators are making a killing from it.
To start a YouTube channel, all you need is a phone and some editing software.
If you can create engaging videos, you can make a lot of money from YouTube.
Test Websites
Testing websites is a great option if you want to make money in just an hour or less.
By using a platform like UserTesting, you can earn $10 for every 20 minutes of testing you complete.
While this might not sound like a significant income, that's equivilent to making $30 an hour – not bad for most college students!
Teachers Assistant
Working as a TA is a great way to make some extra money and get paid to do something that you might be interested in.
As a bonus, if you live on a college campus already, you won't have to spend any time or money commuting to your side hustle.
The amount you can earn will depend, but it's possible to make over $1,000 per month working as a TA.
To get started, you can reach out to your department head and inquire about open positions.
Write Resumes
Every college student needs a resume, and many of them are willing to pay someone else to write it for them.
If you have experience writing resumes, you can start a side hustle writing resumes for other people.
The amount you can charge will vary, but it's possible to charge over $100 per resume you complete.
House Sit
House sitting is essentially the same thing as pet sitting, except without having to look over any pets.
This makes your job even easier!
The amount you can earn will depend on your city, but it's possible to make $50 a day in some locations.
Lifeguard
Looking for a summer side hustle thats perfect for college kids or high school students?
Lifeguarding is a easy way to make some extra money while getting a tan.
Plus, most lifeguarding gigs come with free or discounted access to the pool, so you can save on your summertime fun.
To get started, you'll need to be CPR certified and get certified to be a lifeguard.
The amount you can earn will depend on your location, but you can make over $15 per hour in some areas.
Car Detailing
Car detailing is a great side job for college students who don't mind working outdoors.
With this gig, you'll get paid to clean and polish the inside and outside of people's cars.
To get started, you'll need to invest in some supplies like rags, soaps, and car wax.
The amount you can earn will depend on your location and how fast you work, but you can make over $100 per day in most areas.
Sell Text Books
While this might not be considered a side hustle, it's an easy way for college students to make quick money.
Textbooks can be extremely expensive, so many students are willing to buy them used.
To get started, simply find a few students who need the same textbooks that you have and sell them the books for a discounted price.
You can also sell textbooks online through websites like Amazon and eBay.
The amount you can make will depend on the price of the books and how many you sell, but you can easily make a few hundred dollars by selling textbooks.
Give Tours of Campus
By partnering with your university's admissions office, you can give tours of campus to prospective students and their families.
This is a great way to make some extra money while showing off your school pride.
To get started, reach out to your university's admissions office and inquire about giving tours.
The amount you can earn will depend on your university, but you can make over $12 per hour in many cases.
Sub Lease a Room
If you're living close to campus, you can sublease your room to another student if you go home for the summer.
This is a great way to make some extra money while ensuring that your room is taken care of.
To get started, simply reach out to your landlord and ask if subleasing is an option.
The amount you can earn will depend on your location and the size of your room, but you can make over $200 per month in some cases.
Open an Online Store
Starting an online store is no simple task, but if you can find a niche market and build a loyal customer base, it can be a very profitable side hustle.
With this side hustle, you'll be responsible for all aspects of running an online store, from designing the website to fulfillment.
To get started, you'll need to plan what products you'll sell and create a store for your business. You can use a platform like Shopify to get started.
Some online stores make millions of dollars per year, so the potential for profit is high.
Teach English
Many fellow students are international students who may not be as fluent in English. You can take advantage of this by becoming an English tutor.
To get started, you'll need to be a native English speaker and have a strong understanding of grammar.
The amount you can earn will depend on your location and the number of hours you work, but you can make over $20 per hour in some cases.
Clean Homes
Cleaning homes might not be the most fun side hustle for college students, but it pays well and is relatively easy.
You'll need to purchase some basic supplies like cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaners.
The amount you can earn will depend on your location, but you can make over $150 per house you clean in some areas.
Work as a Voiceover Artist
Voiceover work is an easy job for college students that can be done from the comfort of your own home.
With this gig, you'll be responsible for recording audio for commercials, video games, and other projects.
To get started, you'll need to have a strong voice and some basic recording equipment.
The amount you can earn will depend on the number of projects you work on, but you can make over $100 per hour in some cases.
Build Websites
If you have some web development skills, building websites can be a great side gig for college students looking to grow their income.
To find potential clients, you can search for small local businesses in your area that need a website.
The amount you can earn will depend on the size and complexity of the website, but you can easily make a few thousand dollars per project.
Sell Things Online
If you have some old clothes, textbooks, furniture, or other items lying around, you can sell them online to make some extra money.
There are many different online marketplaces you can use to sell your things, such as eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
The amount you can earn will depend on the items you have and the price you sell them for, but you can make a few hundred dollars in many cases.
Design Graphics
You don't have to be a graphic design major to get start with this gig, but it can certainly help.
By designing graphics for businesses, you can make decent money and enhance your skills – making it one of the best side hustles out there.
The pay will depend on your experience and capabilities, but it's possible to make over $200 per graphic you create.
Become an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is one of the best side hustles for many people, including college students.
What is it?
Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where you promote other people's products and services in exchange for a commission.
It's a great way to make money online, and you can do it in your spare time.
There's one thing to consider – you'll need to have an audience of some sort if you want to make serious money.
For example, if you have a blog, social media account, or email list – these can all be great platforms to promote your affiliate offers to start making money.
Affiliate marketing is one of the top side hustles you should consider as a college student. You can make a lot of money if you do it right, and it's a great way to start your own online business.
Start a Small Business
Starting your own business can be a great side hustle that can turn into a full time job after graduation.
There are many small businesses you can start with little to no money, such as a painting service, pressure washing business, or pet sitting service.
The key is to find a business that you're passionate about and start marketing it to potential customers.
If you start a small business while you're in college, you'll have a head start on your competition after you graduate.
While there's no guarantee you'll make money when starting a business, it can be a great way to grow your income and gain some valuable experience.
Other Side Hustles
- Get paid to find scholarships
- Get a part time job
- Shovel snow in the winter
- Sell an online course
- Sell digital products
- Work as a referee
- Teach music lessons
- Sell school notes
- Help people move
Final Thoughts on Side Hustles for College Students
College is expensive and time-consuming, but these side hustles are a great way to make some money on the side without committing to a full-time or, in a lot of cases, a part-time job.
There are many ways to make a decent amount of money on the side from offering landscape services to hanging Christmas lights.
So, if you are looking for a side hustle that you can do on your own time, then there are plenty to choose from that will give you the flexibility you need as a full-time college student.
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