The Easiest Ways to Make Money in College

The Easiest Ways to Make Money in College

I remember being a student who was broke and searching for ways to make my college money.

Part-time work included the student calling center and the indoor bowling alley. I tutored middle school students and dog-sat when I wasn’t working at one of these jobs. Needless to mention, college was very busy.

Although I didn’t have a lot of money, it was enough to pay rent and for the occasional brunch or night out with my friends. It also helped me save a little. There are many ways to make money in between classes these days, some of them without leaving your home.

The Best Ways to Make Money at College

Start here to learn how you can make more spending money with little effort.

1. Uber is the best way to drive and ditch your job.

Many jobs on college campuses aren’t fun. Low pay and less time studying are the norm for jobs in the library, dining hall, or library. It’s worth considering Uber driving while you are enrolled at college. The app has many benefits, even though the pay is variable depending on where you are and when you drive.

Many college students love Uber’s flexibility. Uber gives you complete control of when and where you drive. This means that if you have a major exam, you don’t need to worry about driving the next day. You can drive whenever you feel the need to make extra money.

Start the Uber app.

2. Get paid for your data

Not your personal information — your location data.

Your location data is free if you have the Facebook or Snapchat apps, Instagram, Instagram, and TikTok apps. It’s now time to earn money for it.

The easiest way to make money in college is to simply install the Tapestri app, and then forget about it.

This is it. This app uses anonymous location data to assist big brands such as Walmart and Target in making informed decisions about consumer behaviour.

How it works

You can tell where you shop, what time you shop and how often you shop. Tapestri pays big money for this data.

They will then pass up to your device for the simple reason of keeping it installed. Simple.

3. You can get rewarded for what you buy.

This is not a side hustle. It’s a way to make sure you don’t miss out on the low-hanging fruits. CapitalOne Shopping is a great way to save money if you shop online a lot.

CapitalOne Shopping customers can earn as much as 40% with retailers such as Amazon, American Eagle and Sephora. Register for a free CapitalOne Shopping account to receive the extension for your browser. A pop-up will appear on your screen whenever you visit a website offering rewards or specials with CapitalOne Shopping. Click the button to apply your credit or discount at checkout.

You can redeem your credits to purchase gift cards for places like Sephora and American Eagle.

Please note: Capital One Shopping pays us a commission when you sign up using the links provided.

4. Take surveys and watch videos to earn cash back.

swagbucks homepage gift card offer

When I was in school, many of my classmates watched ESPN and read the news. They also used their time to shop online while they were lecturing. It won’t improve your grades and I don’t recommend it. You can make extra money in class by watching ads with Swagbucks.

Swagbucks Watch lets you choose from any category of videos you like, such as news and sports updates. You can also choose “discover mode” to let Swagbucks select the content for your. You will be redirected to the site in a new window. It will open popups, but you can keep the sound muted.

Swagbucks will guide you through a series videos. Each video only needs to be viewed for 30-45 seconds before you can move on to the next.

After you complete a series of videos, you will earn Swagbucks points that can be used to redeem for gift cards or cash. Although it is not the most lucrative way of earning money in college, it is one of the easiest. Swagbucks offers other ways to earn, such as shopping online and taking surveys.

As a sign-up bonus, you’ll receive 10$ and $5 per friend that you refer to Swagbucks.

5. Deliver groceries.

You can make a side income by delivering groceries using Instacart. You can open the app anytime you need to work or earn extra money. Simply choose an order and get shopping.

The amount you earn as a full-service shopper depends on how many items you order, how far it takes to deliver them, and how much effort they take. Instacart can give you an estimate of how much you will earn before you shop. You also get 100% of your tips.

Referring friends to Instacart can earn you bonuses.

6. You can rent your car.

Turo is an app that lets you rent your car to students who don’t drive their car very often.

Turo is a peer to-peer car-sharing service. Its website states that users who have at least average quality metrics make around $706 per monthly.

To list your car on Turo you will need to choose your rates and set the vehicle’s availability. Turo has an auto-price feature that adjusts the price of your vehicle based on its type, location, and demand.

You can also set your preferences for things such as how far ahead people must make bookings, whether they can book immediately or have to wait for you approval, and what level of damage insurance you want Turo help with.

Once you are ready to hand over your keys, the verification process can be completed either online or in person. After the trip is over, you will receive your payment via direct deposit within 72 hours. All future payments will arrive within 3 hours.

7. Sell used books.

There are not many options to get rid of a college textbook once you have purchased it. You can’t give it away or sell it. Even if the book was brand new, it might have been out of date and your school may be looking for a newer version.

You may not be able to sell the item, but you will often pay a fraction of what you paid.

BookScouter allows you to search for selling prices. Simply enter your book’s ISBN. It will scan over 30 vendors to find the best price for your title. You can choose a vendor and ship your book free of charge. The vendor will then pay you via PayPal in three days, depending on which vendor.

Once you have sold your books, start looking for books that are on sale in your local area. You can buy them and sell them on BookScouter if they are affordable enough.

Related to Making Money from Your Used Books on BookScouter (a review)

8. Take care of other dogs.

It is difficult and expensive to have a dog at college. My dog Benny was adopted by me while I was at school. There were many missed classes, broken boots, and tears over the amount of money that had to be spent on people’s reimbursements for the things he had ruined. A retainer was one of the most difficult — and also the most disgusting — costs.

Although you might not be able have your own dog while in college, it is possible to make some extra money by caring for other canines. Rover is safer and more reliable than other dog sitting jobs.

Register to become a Rover dog sitter and you will be connected to dog owners in your local area. Overnight dog boarding is the most lucrative. However, you have the option to choose which services you offer, such as walking, boarding, house-sitting, and drop-ins.

Rover will require you to complete a background check and apply. After you have been approved, you will be able to set your rates and begin booking clients.

Related to How To Make Money Sitting With Rover

The Best Ways to Make Money at College

These are the most lucrative college jobs. Although they require more work and an upfront investment, you can still earn more than any part time job, and likely in less time.

9. Advertise on Facebook for other businesses

We have all been there.

This is clearly not an accident. Facebook offers a very sophisticated advertising platform. While many online business owners know how to take advantage of Facebook ads and are familiar with them, most local businesses don’t. This is what makes this side hustle so profitable.

You can help local businesses reach new audiences by becoming a Facebook advertising specialist. You must first learn how to create Facebook ads. Facebook’s business centre offers a free tutorial on how to create and manage ads. If you are looking for a deeper dive on how to make money with this skill, then the Facebook Side Hustle course is a good choice.

This course covers everything you need to know about building a funnel using Facebook ads and landing your first paying client. The course page states that students who have completed the program charge between $1,000 and $2,000 per client. You’ll receive one month free coaching from course creators in a private Facebook group.

10. Provide your services to business owners

It’s not easy to run a business. There are many tasks involved, including creating graphics, managing a staff, dealing with customer complaints and questions, and many other duties. This could be a great opportunity to get experience in your chosen field, such as marketing or graphic design.

Virtual assistants are people who do freelance work online for businesses. Any task that a business owner requires assistance with, and in which you are competent or have the necessary knowledge, is possible.

You only need a few clients to get you started. You don’t have to be ready to pitch your services yet or you need more guidance. To get started, take this free workshop 5 Steps to Become A Virtual Assistant. This mini-training is free and includes step-by-step instructions for landing your first VA client.

11. Start a blog.

To start and monetize your blog, you don’t need to be an English major or even a skilled writer. You only need an interesting topic, or preferably a solution for others, and a strategy to market your blog.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways for bloggers to make money. Find products or services that are relevant to your topic and write about them. Include your affiliate links. You get a small commission if people sign up using those links. Affiliate links will be found in almost all articles that you find online when you search for “how to create a blog”.

Affiliate marketing is a popular way to make money on many sites that you already frequent. You only need content and something to sell. The Start Your Blog course covers all three. It also shows you how to create a website, find affiliate products and get traffic. Although it can be difficult to make money from a blog, it is possible with the help of a plan.

12. You can try your hand at freelance writing.

A side hustle in freelance writing is a great option for English and Journalism majors. Having your writing published online can help build authority, regardless of your field.

If you are a major in food and exercise science, you could write for a website about health and fitness. This would demonstrate to future employers that your passion for your work is evident and that you can explain complex concepts to lay people.

This is true for all majors in finance, law or medicine. Freelance writing is a great way to build your authority and reputation. You may also find niches that pay well, such as personal finance.

Holly Johnson, a six-figure freelancer, offers tips in this workshop. Johnson discusses the six key factors to success as a freelancer writer, how to increase your income and how to get in touch with high-paying clients.

13. Social media management for businesses

As part of your virtual assistant package, you may offer social media management. If you are interested in building a social media following or working in the field after graduation, you can offer social media management services .

You will be responsible for creating and managing a company’s social media strategy. You have two options: you can manage all social media accounts, or you can focus on one platform such as Instagram or Facebook.

Whatever your choice, your job is to build the brand of the company and to figure out how social media can be used to reach new customers or sell more products and services. Track before and after metrics such as followers, engagement, sales, etc. so that you can add them on your resume.

Related to Facebook Money Making Tips: 5 Simple Strategies

14. Tutor your favorite subjects.

There’s a good chance that you are able to excel in at least one subject. Teaching your fellow students is one of the best ways to make money at college.

Many colleges offer tutoring opportunities through their college learning centers. To find out if the center is hiring, you can speak with a professor. My school allowed me to apply online via the campus jobs portal.

You can also sign up for an online tutoring platform like Chegg. Chegg tutors work with students at middle school or high school as well as college and working professionals. There are many subjects to choose from, including math and electrical engineering as well as French and LSAT prep.

You can send students to the site, so you don’t need to advertise your services. According to Chegg, tutors are paid each week and rates start at $20 an hour.

Innovative Ways to Make Money at College

These ideas won’t net you a lot of money, but they can help you make extra income while you exercise your creative muscles.

15. You can flip items to make a profit.

Flipping is a great way to make extra money while in college if you are passionate about finding great deals on clothes, accessories, and electronics. A friend of mine started a side business selling furniture flipping in college. He still enjoys it as an income stream.

You can find items that you can sell for profit at garage sales and discount stores in your locality. You need to practice to identify which items are undervalued. You may need to acquire a new skill depending on the items you are flipping to make a profit.

You can often find furniture for sale on websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You can transform an old wooden table with a bit of sanding and some paint.

This side hustle is ideal for interior designers and anyone who enjoys being creative or learning new skills.

16. You can design and sell T-shirts, leggings, phone cases and backpacks.

In the past, to sell T-shirts you had to design the shirt, get it printed by a printer and then advertise the product. Then you had to deal with fulfilling orders. Teespring, a website that does all the back-end work for us, allows you to create your design and set your selling price.

Teespring allows you to design your own designs using its software. Teespring will give you the cost base for your product once you are done. The selling price is determined by how much profit you wish to make on each item.

Teespring provides marketing tools that will help you sell, but there are also ways to increase your earnings.

  1. Use creativity in your design. Select something that appeals to you. You can create funny T-shirts that only majors would like.
  2. Create your own advertising. Make friends and family connections on social media. If you have an online following (Instagram. YouTube. Facebook. TikTok.com, etc.), then share your designs with them. Share with your audience.

Teespring handles customer service and order fulfillment when someone purchases your design. Within 24 to 48 hours of your order being sent, you can request your payment.

17. Proofread or edit papers.

This college side hustle is a good fit for majors in English, journalism, and communications. You only need to have solid grammar and writing skills.

Start spreading the word about proofreading and editing services if you or your friends are involved in a major that requires a lot writing. Rewriting is not the same as editing. It is important to make it clear that you are only providing feedback and notes. However, you will not be writing papers for other people.

18. Coaching for resumes

While I was at college, I worked in the office of student affairs. My job offered many perks, including free career and resume workshops for students. I went to a couple and learned a lot about creating resumes.

Although I was willing to help my friends with their job applications, I missed a great opportunity to make some money by offering resume coaching to more people. Don’t waste your opportunity to help others if you have done your research and are able to create a resume that impresses potential employers.

Posting in school-related Facebook groups and hanging flyers in dining halls can help you find potential clients. Word of mouth is the best marketing for such a service.

Tell your friends to tell others that you are helping with resumes. Spring is likely to be the busiest season of the year, with everyone applying for summer internships and jobs. This side hustle can bring in steady income all year.

19. You can sell your photos.

Selling photos is not something that you would do if you aren’t a major in photography or cinema. Employers love to see your hobbies and interests, especially for students. This can help you to make a good impression for an interview.

This side-business can be started as long as your smartphone has a good camera. Amazon has lenses available for as low as $100 if you wish. You can practice taking photos of landscapes, people (with their permission), and buildings.

Submit them to one site that pays original photography. You can also make your images into art and then sell them on Etsy. Although this is not the best way to make a lot of money, it can be a great way to make money from an existing hobby.

20. Start a YouTube channel.

Making money with your YouTube channel is not easy, just like blogging. You will need to regularly create and publish videos. If you are a major in video production or cinematography, creating YouTube videos can be a great way for you to practice your craft.

This side hustle can make you money. You’ll need to research hashtags and optimize your videos for search to ensure people find them organically. After you have enough followers and views, you can start to monetize your channel with ads.

Other ways to monetize your content are similar to blogging. You can add affiliate links in your video descriptions or create and sell products. Or you can reach out to companies to find out if they would like to sponsor your content.

Related: 13 Legit Jobs for College Students

Take into account the On-Campus Jobs

You can make a lot of money at college by working on campus. These jobs can usually be found online through the student job portal at your school. Google “[YOUR SCHOOL NAMES] student jobs” if you are unsure where to look.

21. Apply to work study

Federal program called Work-Study provides employment for students who have a financial need.

You will need to complete the FAFSA. Then, select the box that indicates you are interested in a position as a Work-Study employee. Your college will include the position if you are granted one. Your financial need and the availability of positions will all play a role in your eligibility.

22. As a Teaching Assistant (TA)

You’ll do many of the same things as professors as a TA. Students may ask you to help them in the lab, grade papers, do research, or even teach lower-level classes.

The requirements to be a TA will depend on the school you attend and your professors. However, in most cases you will be required to submit copies of transcripts and letters from recommendation.

Some colleges offer TA positions only to graduate students. Others make them available to undergraduates during their junior or senior year.

23. Be a resident assistant

An RA is an upperclassman that serves as a resource for college students who live in residence halls or dorms.

As an RA you will be responsible for following the policies and rules of the resident living department. You’ll also have to conduct regular room checks, hold meetings with residents, and check in visitors. You may be eligible for a discounted or free room and board, stipends, or hourly pay in exchange for your services.

24. Work at a dining hall.

You can find a wide range of jobs in college dining halls. There are many jobs available in college dining halls, including those as cashier, chef, dishwasher or food preparer.

Although it’s not the most glamorous of jobs, it can save you money on food if you get to eat occasional meals and snacks for free. A dining hall job may be a good option if you are looking to cut down on your living costs.

25. Register at the recreation and fitness center.

There may be job openings at your college’s recreation or fitness center. These could include personal trainer or group fitness instructor or recreation assistant. These are the most rewarding jobs on campus, especially if they involve a sport or activity that you enjoy.

There may be other opportunities for you if you aren’t interested in sports, such as marketing or member services.

26. You can work in a bookstore or library on campus.

If you are looking for a job that allows your to study while you work, you might consider working in a shop or library on campus. These positions will pay minimum wage or close to it. However, they are very low-key.

While you may be required to assist other students in finding books, checking out people, or restocking shelves, when the chaos is over, you can still work on assignments and earn money.

27. Be a brand ambassador

Many big brands hire college students to help them promote their products on campus. You could earn extra money as a brand ambassador if you are passionate about a product or brand.

Brands may require ambassadors to do college outreach to get students to buy a product. Some brands ask their ambassadors to give out free merchandise at campus events and football games.

You’ll get valuable experience as a brand ambassador which will be a great asset to your resume, especially if it is a future career in marketing.

28. Take campus tours.

A campus tour guide job is a great option if you are outgoing and enjoy your college.

You will have the primary responsibility of showing prospective students and their families around campus. Your experience will be shared with the freshmen to help them make a decision about whether your school is right for them. This could be a seasonal job that offers more work in the warmer months. You may be able to combine this job with another part-time job if you are looking for a steady income during the semester.

Related to 25 Legitimate, Flexible, and Easy Jobs

Take a look at Off-Campus Jobs

You may be interested in a part-time, regular job if you own a car and want to change the scenery around campus.

29. Be a server

There are likely to be restaurants that will hire college students, no matter how small or large your college is. You can earn good tips as a server in a popular restaurant if you are a person-person and can multitask.

Many places offer hourly rates plus tips. You may also be eligible for discounts on meals. Serving college students is a great way to earn cash while not waiting for their bi-weekly paycheck.

30. As a driver of food delivery, you can work for a restaurant.

You can also check your local restaurants for delivery driver position. These jobs are quite easy. These jobs allow you to drive around listening to music and podcasts while fulfilling people’s orders.

It can also cause significant wear to your car. You might cause more damage to your car if it is older and needs regular maintenance.

31. You can be a barista, or a bartender.

A bartender or barista job is a great opportunity if you enjoy caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. You will learn how to make your favorite drinks, and you’ll meet other people who share your passion for good cocktails.

Both positions have the downside: you might be required to work irregular hours, either in the mornings or at night. If this doesn’t disrupt your sleep or class schedule then you can still make solid tips and leave your shifts with cash in your hand.

32. For professors, babysit.

Ask your professors if they are looking for a babysitter if you are good friends with them. This could be a great way to earn extra money or to build a network with professors (who you might later contact for a letter recommending them).

33. Retail work

Retail jobs are a great option if you’re willing to work nights and weekends. Retail jobs offer many benefits, including employee discounts. If you don’t take care, you might end up making more at work than you earn.

It might be a good idea to avoid jobs in stores that aren’t interesting you. You will be able to save more money if you resist the temptation to spend.

34. You can work in a program that is before or after school.

These positions are often available at elementary schools or daycares.

You will be expected to help children with homework, participate in sports or crafts, and care for them until they go back to school or their parents. This is a smart decision if you are an education major, as it could help you get a teaching job once you graduate.

Related: Seasonal Jobs for Hire that Pay $10+/Hr

Do not be afraid to put yourself out there

There are many ways to make money at college, no matter if you need it for your living expenses or for weekend spending.

Do not be afraid to do things that you didn’t know were possible. You can explore side jobs and different careers in college to find the right job. You can start a blog, or write for websites, if you are going to school for finance. You might discover new skills or interests that can help you in your future career. Or, it could change your career.

Even if you don’t make it a full-time job, the connections made and the lessons learned will be worth it.

About the author

Hi, I'm Lisa. I went from losing everything in my divorce, to beating all odds and becoming a financially free, independent Woman. My blog is about gaining financial freedom. Thanks for supporting my journey!

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