How to Make Money As A College Student

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A common stereotype that has been casually incorporated into our culture is “the broke college student” stereotype. Even some students go as far as seeing it as a badge of honor – boasting about how they survived on instant noodles. However, that shouldn’t be the case. Just because you are a college student does not mean that you should be broke. There are tons of ideas on how to make money as a college student. They go very well beyond the stereotypical college student jobs, such as working at fast-food restaurants and pizza delivery.

Here is an article that covers fifty ways you can earn in college. Therefore, feel free to utilize some of these ideas, and you will be surprised by the outcome.

How to Make Money As A College Student

EARN MONEY ONLINE

Become a virtual assistant

Here is one of the best approaches to making money online. Several individuals and businesses want to outsource their assistant-related jobs, such as managing primary organization, research, etc. If you are interested in undertaking those kinds of tasks while earning, opt for becoming a virtual assistant.

Sell Gigs on Fiverr

Fiverr is a website that lets you put out your gigs for at least $5 ($4 net). That might not seem like a way to make a lot of money, but you definitely can. All you need is to be smart while considering this option.

Sign up for Fiverr today!

Render Online Design Services

As an artist or someone who has a knack for designs, you could render design devices for businesses and sites online. The service could involve everything from website redesigns, ads, small graphics, etc.

Become a Video blogger on YouTube

If you are gifted in making videos, then being a YouTube blogger is can be a good way to earn extra bucks. The more viewers you get, the more you attract people for ads, and the more the ads, the more your cash. I want to stress that this can take time. I suggest that you study successful YouTube channels and see what’s working for them. From there, create a plan for content and get to work.

Design T-shirts for Sale

Next on the list of how to make money as a college student is to design T-shirts for online sale. Tshirts are more than just images – get creative with them by using funny sayings and catchy phrases. There are many platforms that you can set up including Redbubble, Merch by Amazon, and Teespring.

Transcription Services

If you type fast and want to earn while typing and listening, transcription is the ideal option. Several businesses and industries are seeking people to convert their audios to texts. If you don’t have the skills, you can always learn online.

Develop an App

If you have some programming skills, you can create IOS or android apps and sell them in the appropriate app store. You can be in for a big payday depending on how good the app is.

Start a Blog

If you enjoy writing you can consider starting a blog. This isn’t the easiest idea on the list, but with focus and dedication, you can make some money off it. Below is a post that I wrote that will help you get started.

How to Start a Blog

Launch an Online Course

If you are an expert on a particular topic, you can create an online course on sites like Udemy related to that topic and sell it. People are selling all kinds of online courses. Yours could be the next one.

Calligraphy

If you know calligraphy, you could sell your handwriting on websites such as Etsy at reasonable prices.

Offer Translation Services

If you are fluent in other languages, you can offer translation services on multiple platforms – for people who want either spoken or written translation service and get paid.

Start a Virtual Call Center

Call centers are the core of several businesses. If you want to become an operator from home, several websites such as LiveOps let you join in and become a call center agent.

Offer Voiceover Services

Voice over is becoming increasingly popular every day, especially with the prevalence of podcasts. With a great voice and setup, you could earn while offering voice over services from home.

Become an SEO Expert

Search Engine Optimization is fast becoming a great freelance gig for analytical individuals. With analytics skills and being a little savvy, you can earn up to $70/hour.

Not exactly sure what SEO is? Check out this post.

EARN BY RENTING

Rent Your Car

If you have a vehicle that you do not really use because you are always on campus studying, then here is an excellent time to use it by renting it out. You can use a company like Turo to get started.

Learn more about Turo here.

Rent Your Stuff

Is there some stuff in your garage that you do not use? Maybe camping gear or something that is collecting dust. Consider renting them out on platforms such as Rentything.

Rent Your Driveway or Garage

Suppose you own an apartment with extra spaces you don’t use in your driveway or garage. You could rent it out to people who need to keep their RV or boats.

Rent Your Clothes

This one is a unique idea. If you have several clothes that you don’t wear (like occasional dresses – bridesmaid attire, or some fancy Jeans), rent them out for people who might need them at reasonable prices.

EARN BY CARRYING OUT SOME TASKS

Search with Swagbucks

If you search the internet often, why not change your default search default to Swagbuck. This search engine allows you to make money from points called SB. There’s all kind of ways to earn Swagbucks. Click on the Swagbucks link below for more info.

Swagbucks

Participate in Online Surveys

Next up on the list of how to make money as a college student is to fill out surveys. You can get gift cards, cash, or prizes just for participating in them. You will find tons of them online. Below are some survey companies to sign up for.

Opinion Outpost

Survey Junkie

Participate in Market Research

Here is another fun way to get paid. You will find several market research advertisements all over several campuses seeking the opinion of students. You give your opinion and get paid in return.

Nielsen

Participate in Online User Testing

When companies develop a new site and initiative, they usually need people to test them before going live. So, you can get paid for every test you do.

Try out TaskRabbit

Here is a website where various people post jobs so that you can apply for several tasks. There are freelance gigs, as well as full-time employment. The little tasks on this platform can eventually add up to a decent side income.

Become a Note Taker

Various people – the disabled, senior citizens, need notes taken for a variety of things. So, if you are willing, you can earn a little cash by taking notes for the needy.

Medical Test Volunteering

Some medical studies need volunteers to try things out. Some may need to test drugs, while others might be to monitor reactions. Regardless, it is an excellent way to earn extra cash even as a college student.

Deliver for Postmates

Postmates is a delivery service, whereby you earn while delivering items to various places in town. Sign up for Postmates below.

Postmates

Apply for Scholarships

Scholarships are an excellent way to get extra bucks while in college. However, most people do not realize that some scholarships get low entries. Try to apply for as many as you can.

Recycle Bottles and Cans

Here is another simple way to get some extra cash. Get paid for turning in cans and bottles for recycling.

Recycle Scrap Metals

Apart from cans and bottles, you can also earn by recycling scrap metal. Although it is harder to find metals, you can make a considerable amount from them.

Answer Trivia Questions

Believe it or not, you can get paid while answering trivia questions. Swagbucks is another excellent platform that allows you to play trivia games and earn while doing so.

Officiate Wedding Ceremonies

If you are an interesting person who can do a cool job, people are always searching for people like you to officiate their weddings, and you will get paid for that. Check online to see how to get started.

Get Rebates for In-Store Shopping

Ibotta is a great platform that offers you cash rebates for shopping. It is a very easy-to-use app. Sign up for Ibotta below.

Ibotta

Get Rebates for Online Shopping

In this world that almost all activities are now online – shopping inclusive, Rakuten is a platform that allows you to get rebates on tons of shopping websites.

Drive for Lyft or Uber

If you have some free time and a car, become a driver-partner for Uber or Lyft. That has proven to be a great way to earn some extra cash. You can check out several resources online to get started. To get more info, click on the links below.

Uber

Lyft

Answer Pressing Questions

If you are an expert on a particular subject matter, you can get paid by answering some questions. A website like JustAnswer lets you connect with experts that will spend some cash for you to answer their questions.

SELL YOUR STUFF

Sell Your Class Notes

The first way to earn in college is to sell those notes that you take in class. There are two ways to do that – you can sell to your colleagues or sell online. Some people make thousands of dollars only by selling notes.

Sell Old College Papers

Apart from selling notes, some college students write papers. Don’t let them go to waste. Check out some services that will buy your old college papers.

Sell on Craigslist

If you have items you don’t use or that are too large for selling online, Craigslist is an option for you. You can sell things like furniture and earn a few dollars with Craigslist.

Sell on eBay

Even as a college student, you can make money by selling on eBay. If you have books you no longer use, consider selling them on eBay.

Check out the webinar, eBay for Starters

Sell on Etsy

If you are into crafts, consider selling your items on Etsy. Designed for handmade items like greeting cards and stationery, Etsy is a proven way to make money by selling various crafts.

Sell Roadside Gifts for Holidays

Do you usually see roadside stands around Mother’s day and Valentine? They are the ones selling treats and flowers. Well, that could be you. Find out what the rules are and you can start selling items today. You can make things or buy low and sell high.

Sell Your Blood Plasma

Here is a unique idea on the list-making money by selling your plasma. It sounds weird, but various treatments require plasma. Therefore, do that to save a life and earn.

Sell Your Eggs or Sperm

Like donating plasma, as a healthy adult, you can donate your sperm or egg to earn extra cash.

Sell Your Hair

Still, on the trend of selling things from your body, consider selling your hair. Some people are ready to pay some cash for your hair. Buyandsellhair.com is the highest online hair sale platform. Check it out!

WORK

Babysitting

If you are a responsible individual, consider babysitting as an option to earn some extra money. A typical babysitter makes approximately $20 USD hourly.

Housesitting

If you know someone that is traveling for vacation, offer to provide housesitting services for them. Nobody wants something terrible to happen to their houses, so help them avoid that by assisting them in housesitting while earning.

Clean Houses

Here is another decent gig to earn as a college student. Although it might take several hours, house cleaning is an effortless task requiring no exceptional experience. You can even team up with house cleaning agencies.

Do Weekend Catering Services

Catering agencies are usually seeking extra human resources on weekends due to their odd and busy schedules. They have little works on weekdays but require a large workforce on weekends; that opens up an opportunity for students looking to earn a few bucks.

Repair Computers

If you are handy with computers. Then repairing computers for people is an excellent approach to making extra cash. The job description typically involves checking for viruses, fixing hardware, setting up operating systems, and more.

Handyman Work

Suppose you are proficient with tools and can fix things. Make some extra cash by offering some handyman services for others. Connect with neighbors or friends or your landlord in college that might require your services.

Paint Houses

We’ve made it to the last item on the how to make money as a college student list. One of the most common college gigs is becoming a painter. Platforms such as College Pro House Painters have been linking college students to several house painting gigs while exposing them to entrepreneurial experiences.

Congrats, you have made it to the end of this list. You now have no excuses to be broke. We hope this article propels you to go out there and start earning big!

What things have you tried on the how to make money as a college student list?

10 Comments

  1. post is giving right information how students can make money . This post will help lot of students and other persons who want to make money .

  2. I think donating plasma is a great option. It literally saves lives as it helps create medicine to treat rare diseases and is relatively easy to do.

  3. All o these are great! I especially like the tutoring because you can make some money and ma someone’s life it better in the process.

  4. Great ideas for making extra money. When I was a student I felt I had a lot of disposable income – worked part-time, received a grant AND was not paying fees.

    Students are now under immense pressure and are leaving university in thousands of pounds/dollars of debt.

  5. Great tips Jason. I like the tutoring one. Everybody is good at something so if you can pass that along to someone who’s struggling with the subject you know, great. This could also work outside of the college setting by tutoring younger students.

  6. I like your post, I had to work my way through college. As for me, I worked in the cafeteria at the school.
    Many of the other student actually would make fun of us who worked there. Unlike them, I was not from a rich family, so working there was not an issue for me. In the end, I am where I am because I worked through college.
    Thanks for sharing this with us.

  7. Great ideas, William. I used to get paid for typing papers–yes, typing on a typewriter. 🙂 I’ll bet there’s still some of that going on, granted using a computer these days. The part-time job was also a must. Besides all that taught me to appreciate my education!

    1. Typing on a typewriter sounds like it could be easy money.

  8. If you’re going to live in a dormitory, see if it offers a desk position for which you sit at a desk at the front of the building and (a) let residents and other people in, (b) answer incoming phone calls, (c) manage a till, etc. I did this as an undergrad, and it was the easiest money I ever made.

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