Last updated on April 12th, 2023 at 08:31 am
“Money earned is proof of value provided. Money earned is proof of worth recognized.”
– Hendrith Smith
It's no secret that college can be expensive. In the United States alone, the average college student racks up over $34,000 USD in student loan debt. Tuition, room and board, textbooks - the list goes on and on. And let's not forget about student loans! It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the cost of higher education.
Think outside the box
In order to make money in college, you need to think outside the box. There are many ways to make an income while attending school, some of which are well-known, while others may be new to you. But they all work!
I have told you many times that college is a great place to make money. It's just something internal that keeps people from doing this. They are making excuses: I have nothing to offer. But that is furthest from the truth. YOU have so much to offer, whether you are a college student or not.
Make extra cash easily
Okay, today it's my turn to stop a few things that have been excused. Here is my list of ways to generate money for college. Seriously, I brain-dumped everything I thought of on this list for my own profit. These you know from time to time. Others may come from a previous generation. This list lists categories assigned for each of our task categories. So read on and start making some extra cash today!
Here are the 15 best ways to make money as a college student.
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Jobs if You Have Access to a Vehicle
College students have an array of resources available to them. If you want to make money in college, then you have to use what you have to get what you want. If you have access to a vehicle, you can make money using your car to your advantage.
1. Delivery Driver
One of the most popular ways that college students can make extra money in college is by becoming a delivery driver. You can sign up with companies like GrubHub, DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, or Uber Eats and start delivering food to people in your local area.
Set your own work hours
This is a great way to make some extra money, and it's also a lot of fun! Plus, you can set your own hours and work as little or as much as you want. You might also meet some fellow students in the process.
Depending on the amount of hours you put in and where you live geographically, you could be on your way to earning way above minimum wage with one of these jobs. Not bad if you want to deliver food, and you'll be surprised of how many other students are doing it.
To get started, you need to meet some basic requirements including being at least 18 years old, having a valid driver's license, and passing a background check. But most college students meet these creditials, so no sweat!
If you meet these requirements, then you're on your way to becoming a delivery driver. Just remember that each company will have different requirements, so be sure to check with each one individually.
2. Rideshare Driver
Another way to make extra money with your car is by becoming a rideshare driver. Companies like Lyft and Uber are always looking for new drivers.
To become a rideshare driver, you need to meet the age requirement, have driving experience, and have a valid driver's license. You'll also need to pass a background check and include proof of residency and insurance. Once you've met all the requirements, you can sign up with Lyft or Uber and start giving people rides!
Combine delivery and rideshare jobs
Driving for a rideshare company is a great way to make money, and you can even combine it with delivering food for maximum opportunities!
The apps for these companies also let you know when there are peak hours to make extra money with every ride. And the best part is that you can make your own schedule and work part time job that is just as flexible as you need it to be during the semester.
3. Babysit, Dog Sit, House Sit
If you love spending time with kids, animals, or plants, then consider becoming a babysitter, dog sitter, or house sitter. This is a great way to make money while also getting some experience in the childcare or pet care industry.
To get started, you can sign up with companies like Care.com and Sittercity for babysitting jobs. Once you've created a profile, parents and families will be able to search for sitters in their area and contact you if they're interested in hiring you.
For dog walking, pet sitting, and overnight animal care, you can sign up with Fetch Pet Care or Rover. These companies will connect you with pet owners in your area who are looking for someone to care for their animals. While it can occasionally be hard work, you essentially get paid to pet a dog! This is a true pet-lovers dream!
House sitting can range from collecting mail and watering plants to taking care of pets and can be a great way for many college students to make money in college. Companies like HouseSitter.com and House Sitters America allow you to comb through hundreds of house sitting opportunities.
Advertise your services
You can also put up flyers around your neighborhood or campus advertising your services. Be sure to include your contact information and rates so that potential clients know what to expect.
4. On-Demand Jobs and Tasks
If you're looking for ways to make money throughout the week on your schedule, check out platforms like TaskRabbit and UpShift.
With TaskRabbit, you can choose different projects and tasks to help out within your community. Tasks can range from helping people move boxes, assembling a table, mounting a TV, planting flowers, and cleaning kitchens. The opportunities are endless and many people are ready to hire college students!
With UpShift, pick up "second shifts" in various industries including hotels/food service, catering/events, and warehouse/manufacturing. This flexibility allows you to explore different industries and find one that you're passionate about.
ONLINE JOBS
Don't have access to a vehicle? No problem! You can still make bank with online opportunities.
5. Freelance Gigs
If you have a skill or talent that you can offer others, then freelancing is a great option for you! There are many different platforms where you can sign up and start offering your services. You might even find that this little side hustle could turn into a full-blown business down the line.
Anything is possible through an entrepreneurial lens and there are plenty of different platforms to help you get started. Read more about a platform called Side Hustle Stack, which lists all these platforms for earning money online side-by-side.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is highly rewarding and very lucrative for students at university and for recent graduates. The next money making idea is placed under the bucket because you only earn with a limited internal drive.
One popular platform is Fiverr, where you can offer services starting at just $5. Tasks you can sell include things like logo design, social media marketing, copywriting, video editing, and more. Put your writing skills to the test and make some extra spending money in college by posting freelance writing gigs.
You can also create a profile on Upwork to find long-term projects in your field of expertise. Once you build up a strong portfolio and client base, you'll be able to charge higher rates for your services.
Are you an actor, producer, or just have a great voice? Check out ACX, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers to narrators, audio engineers, and producers to make audiobooks.
6. Web Design
Making money can be easy if you are willing to capitalize on your gift and develop it with practice. Do you have a knack for design? You can start offering your services as a web designer!
Businesses of all sizes need an online presence, and many of them are willing to pay top dollar for a well-designed website. Start by creating a portfolio of your previous work (if you’re just starting out, create websites for fake businesses), then reach out to businesses in your area or post an advertisement online.
You can also join platforms like 99designs, where you can enter design competitions and earn money if your designs are chosen.
7. Graphic Design and Crafts
If web design isn't your thing, you can also offer your services as a graphic designer or crafter.
Many businesses need someone to create promotional materials like flyers, business cards, and social media graphics. You can also sell your handmade crafts online through sites like Etsy and MyCrafts.
Self-publishing is becoming more prevalent as technology advances and the ability to publish books becomes more sensible. While self-publishing continues to trend, a great opportunity to jump on is eBook cover designs. You can watch tutorials on how to properly format book cover images on YouTube and make your designs on Canva (which you can use to design just about anything easily with templates).
8. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative, technical, or creative support to clients remotely. This can include anything from managing calendars and emails to social media marketing and customer service.
There are many different platforms where you can find work as a VA, such as Zirtual, Upwork, Belay, and VirtualGurus.
9. Online Tutoring
Want to put your degree-in-process to work? You can start making extra money by becoming an online tutor! As a tutor, you can host English, science, or math lessons online and develop a schedule that works for you!
There are many different platforms that connect tutors with students, such as Tutor.com and Skooli. You can also join forums and Facebook groups related to your field of expertise to offer your services to people who might need help.
10. Sell Old Items.
Have a garage full of old stuff that you never use? Sell it and make some extra cash! From old clothes to furniture to electronics, there's usually someone out there who wants your stuff.
There are many different ways to do this, such as having a yard sale, selling items on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or eBay, or trading them in at a consignment shop.
11. Surveys and Research Studies
Did you know that companies are willing to pay people for their opinions? It's true! You can make extra money by participating in surveys and research studies.
There are many different companies that offer this opportunity, such as Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.
Keep in mind that these are not ideal income supplements, and their pay won't let you reach millionaire status, but it's a great way to make some extra cash quickly!
CAMPUS JOBS
12. Work-study Jobs
When submitting to FAFSA, you have the option to apply for work-study, which is a need-based program that allows you to work and earn money to help pay for your education.
For prospective students to find a work-study job on college campuses, you can check with your financial aid office, campus career center, or department that you’re interested in working for. On a college campus, the options you have for work is abundant.
13. On-campus Jobs
If you don’t qualify for work-study but want to earn more money, there are many on-campus jobs available, such as working in the library, dining hall, or even as a resident assistant (RA). As an RA, you can even get free housing, and if you're extra lucky, you can occupy your own dorm room for FREE!
Qualified college students may even find on-campus job boards that lists things like being a teaching assistant or research assistant. Typically students have to have already taken a certain course to me a teaching assistant, but that isn't always the case. It's always a good idea to ask around and find out.
Best of all, these jobs are typically more flexible than traditional off-campus jobs since they recognize and prioritize school over work.
To find an on-campus job that’s right for you, again check with your financial aid office or campus career center.
14. Scholarships
Scholarships are a great way to get money for college that you don’t have to pay back. There are many different types of scholarships, such as merit-based, need-based, and even contest-based scholarships.
To find scholarships, you can search online, ask your guidance counselor, or look for opportunities in your community.
Some online databases include the U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search tool, scholarships.com, FastWeb, and FinAid.
15. Sell Old Textbooks
If you've been in college for at least one semester, you probably have a textbook you can sell back to the campus bookstore or through online retailers like BookScouter, CampusBooks, and BookFinder.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many ways that you can make money in college. Whether you want to start a pet-sitting business, get a job on campus, or do odd jobs whenever you want, if you're willing to get creative and put in some effort, you can definitely find ways to earn some extra cash.
Do you have any tips on how to make money in college? Share them in the comments below! Thanks for reading!
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