College can be expensive. Even with scholarships, grants, and loans, you might still need money for other college related expenses. There are always opportunities on campus or through apps that offer ways to make money in college. Whether you want a steady schedule, flexibility, or a place to study, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Here are the best ways to make money in college:
On-Campus Jobs for College Students
1. Get a work-study job.
When you submit your FAFSA, you may qualify for a work-study position on campus. The part-time job is funded through the government and is designed to give you time to work and get schoolwork done at the same time. Common gigs include working at the front desk of a dorm or administrative work in the student union building.
2. Tutor other students
Do you excel at a particular subject? Consider tutoring another student or one of your peers to make some extra money as a college student. Check with the employment office or a department head at your university, or even other local schools for opportunities. You can also sign up to become a tutor through sites where you can set your own tutoring rate and terms.
Tip: Happy clients are the best sources of new business. After making successful connections, let them know you’re available for more work if they know anyone looking for a tutor.
3. Edit and proofread your peer’s papers.
Editing and proofreading your peers’ papers is a good way to make some money in college. For many students, writing essays is one of the toughest things they do in college, particularly if English isn’t their first language. If you have strong writing skills, offer your services as an editor or proofreader to other students.
4. Apply to be a residence advisor (RA).
As a residence advisor, or an “RA”, you’ll provide emotional support and leadership to peers in your dorm. Your job is to create a positive living environment by promoting community involvement, educating fellow students about dorm policies, and ensuring maintenance issues are addressed promptly. In this role, you’ll also gain important leadership skills that will serve you well in your future career. In most cases, your room and board will be free!
5. Become a campus tour guide.
If you’re outgoing, love to meet new people, and are passionate about your school, then consider becoming a campus tour guide. You’ll get to show prospective students around campus and tell them what you love about the school.
Admissions officers also often need extra help with fielding queries from students and their families. This is a great way to share your experience with other students looking to follow in your footsteps.
6. Apply to be a teaching assistant (TA).
Although some schools reserve teaching assistant (TA) jobs for graduate students, some universities offer select teaching assistant positions to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year. Teaching assistants work with students, grade papers, monitor exams, and tests, and sometimes teach classes.
7. Become a research assistant.
If you’ve already earned your undergraduate degree, you may want to think about research assistant positions. This typically involves collecting data in a lab for a professor, which is a great way to make more money and potentially receive additional college credits. Talk to your professor and advisor to learn about opportunities.
8. Work in a campus recreation center, gym, or pool.
Most universities have a recreation center where they hire students to be part of their staff. If you love fitness, this is a great place to work and earn money in college. At campus rec centers you can: teach fitness classes, clean the gym equipment and studios, work the gym front desk, be a lifeguard at the pool, and more!
9. Work in campus dining.
If you have a passion for food, this is the place to work (and make money!) on-campus. Campus dining jobs may range from restocking food prep stations to putting together a sandwich. Training for this position includes proper food handling and understanding local health codes.
Off-Campus Jobs for College Students
10. Work in a cafe or restaurant.
There might be a lot of cafes or restaurants near campus that hire part-time employees for positions like chefs or servers. These jobs can hourly wages, tip-based, or a combination of both.
11. Become a driver for a rideshare company.
If you have a reliable car, it’s easy to pick up driving jobs through sites like Uber and Lyft to make extra money in college. Typically, you’ll work as an independent contractor and have the freedom to set your schedule. Plus, you can pick up extra hours on evenings and weekends when you’re not in class.
Tip: You will likely need proof of car insurance to get started. You’ll also need to report your earnings during annual tax time.
12. Deliver food and groceries.
Food delivery is another job that’s gained popularity with the appearance of apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and grocery delivery services with Instacart and Amazon. You can easily sign up to work for these services online and choose your schedule as you go.
13. Work as a store associate.
Stores selling goods and clothing usually will hire part-time store associates to keep the store clean, stocked, and cashiers readily available. If you have a brand that you are passionate about, consider applying for positions there.
14. Tutor in your native language.
Ever thought about tutoring in your native language? You can easily turn this talent into a part-time job. Many language learners are looking for native speakers who can tutor the language and the culture. Don’t speak another language other than English? You can tutor English, too.
15. Get an internship.
Consider doing an internship while you are still in school. Depending on the company that you work for, you can get paid for during internship. An internship is also a great way for you to build up your resume and gain work experience, which will enable you to have a competitive advantage when graduating from college and entering the workforce. Internships sometimes can also lead to permanent positions post-graduation.
16. Get a temp job.
Check with local employment agencies for temp jobs. Agencies will help you find temporary part-time jobs like administrative work (such as answering phones or data entry) or customer service tasks. You can also pick up freelance work as a writer to make extra cash while in college.
Tip: Ask if the staffing agency takes out taxes from your check or if that’s something you need to pay to the state and federal government yourself during tax season. Some agencies also offer benefits if you work over a certain number of hours per week.
Entrepreneurial Ways to Make Money in College
17. Start a blog or website.
Have something that you are passionate about and want to share with others? You can easily get a website domain for cheap and start your blogging journey. Bloggers get paid by promoting other brands and products, embedding advertisements onto their website, and producing sponsored content.
18. Try your hand at video blogging.
Similar to creating a blog website, YouTube is another great way to share your stories and profit from it. YouTubers, or vloggers, make money by creating sponsored videos and allowing ads to be shown before or during their videos. It does take time to build up an audience and following to monetize your YouTube channel, but with effort and time, it could become a great side hustle to make extra money in college.
19. Be a freelance writer for blogs and businesses.
Don’t like the uncertainty behind starting your own blogging business? Consider becoming a freelance writer for other blogs and businesses. You will make money for the work that you produce. You also can set your schedule, which is essential for college students who also have classes to attend and school assignments to do.
20. Do online design work.
Are you a creative design student? Consider becoming a freelance designer. You can express your creativity and make money at the same time doing online design work.
21. Sell crafts on Etsy.
If you are a crafty person, consider selling your crafts on Etsy. You’ll incur a small listing fee of 20 cents for each item, but you can make back that money with each sale.
Odd-End Jobs to Make Extra Money in College
22. Become a mover.
Many moving companies hire college students to help their regular staff on busy weekends. This will also give you a more flexible schedule than many part-time jobs. Look for local companies that hire college students for additional help. You can also post on social media to let people know you’re available for weekend work.
23. Run errands and perform tasks.
You’ll likely find plenty of people willing to pay for your help. Through services like TaskRabbit, you can sign up to perform all sorts of tasks for people in your area. Some of the most popular assignments include assembling furniture, mounting TVs, or running to the store.
24. Try pet sitting or dog walking.
If you’re an animal lover, you may find a few good gigs dog walking or pet sitting. You’ll find many websites like Wag and Rover that connect homeowners with potential sitters online. You can do this one time for some extra money for college, or you can do it on an on-going basis.
25. Try house-sitting for a local family.
Many people will pay a responsible person to stay at their home and keep an eye on things while they’re out of town. This may involve light tasks like taking in the mail or more responsibilities such as caring for pets.
26. Become a babysitter or nanny.
Similar to pet sitting and house sitting, many families near your school may need extra help with their small children. You can list your services on Care.com or similar websites to connect you with a family nearby. Babysitting and nannying may involve a few hours on the weekend or tending to children before or after school.
27. Become a brand ambassador.
Major corporations hire people to promote their brand on college campuses. It’s a fun way for students to earn extra money in college and if you’re passionate about that particular brand, that’s a great plus too! Sites like WhurkWhurk and Reppr make it easy to earn rewards while helping some of the world’s biggest brands.
Tip: Being a brand ambassador is an easy way to get experience with big-name brands, which also looks great on your resume. Seek out brands whose services and products are relevant to your major and future career.
28. Sell gently used clothes you don’t wear anymore.
Do you have a pile of clothes sitting in your closet or drawers that you never wear anymore? Try selling your gently used clothes to a consignment shop like Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange. They will give you money for items that are still on-trend and are still in decent condition. You can also try selling your clothes online through Poshmark or Mercari, but keep in mind shipping costs when you price your items.
29. Recycle cans and bottles.
Did you know that cans and bottles can be recycled for cash? This is a great opportunity to clean up the environment and make some extra money while in college. Many states offer programs that will pay you for used cans and bottles, usually about 5 cents per item. Check the bottle and can deposit rates in your local area to find out how much you could make recycling cans and bottles.
30. Do yard work in nearby neighborhoods.
Yardwork can be time-consuming, and many people are willing to pay for help. You may be able to earn extra money by providing services like shoveling snow, mowing lawns, raking leaves, gardening, or even painting houses.
Need more ideas for making money in college?
These 30 ideas are just to get you started. No matter your schedule or interests, there are lots of options to make extra money in college. Ask upperclassmen or college graduates how they made ends meet to get inspired for your next job.
If you still need help paying for your remaining college expenses, College Ave Student Loans can help. We provide private student loans that are customized to meet your financial situation. Learn more about College Ave’s private student loan options and start an application today.