How to Make Money in College — 11 Easy Ideas

9 min read

Paying for college is tough, both while you are in school and after you have graduated. College students, in particular, find it especially challenging to make enough money. The academic demands of a college schedule doesn’t leave much time for other types of work. Being in the process of earning a degree also means that most students aren’t yet qualified for their desired careers.

Fortunately, there are ways for college students to make extra money without adding too much additional stress. For college students, scheduling flexibility is often one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to making money. Traditional jobs have specific work hours which can put an added strain on a student’s schedule.

With that in mind, here are some stress-free and flexible tips for how to make money in college.

How to Make Money While in College

1. Start a blog

College is a great time to be exposed to and explore new ideas and passions. Starting a blog is a great way to document all of these experiences in a fun, but structured, way. It’s also a potentially good way to make some extra cash.

Successful bloggers make money by allowing advertising on their pages or promoting products directly. If you have a subject you are passionate about, creating a blog for that subject is relatively easy and affordable. Even if you don’t make money off of it, you can still enjoy doing it and hone your skills as a writer.

2. Tutoring

Simply by enrolling in college courses, you are receiving an advanced education in your field. If you are serious about your studies, this instantly puts you in a good position to help others. College students can make direct use of their education to make money by offering tutoring sessions, online or in-person. Tutors are always in high demand, especially on college campuses.

On top of that, tutoring can also directly improve your own academic performance. By focusing on helping others, you will passively improve your familiarity with the content you’re teaching and learning about.

3. Social media management (SMM)

An underrated tip for how to make easy money in college is to work as a social media manager.

Having a social media presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. And, for many businesses, college students represent an ideal target demographic. Because of this, college students are ideal candidates for social media management jobs. As a college student, you are more in tune with the trends and preferences of your peers than anyone else. You can put this expertise to work, and earn good money, by providing social media help to online businesses.

4. Freelance work

Social media is not the only form of work you can do as a college student. You can put any marketable skills to use in college by doing freelance work. Many companies are in constant need of freelance writers, editors, graphic designers, coders, and more.

This is a great opportunity for college students to gain valuable work experience and earn extra money while in school.

Freelance work can also help students hone the skills that they are working on in their classes.

5. Work as a mover

If you don’t mind a bit of physical labor, many moving companies like to hire college students part-time on weekends. College students are typically young, healthy, and energetic. If you can spare the time, working as a mover is a relatively easy way to make some extra cash during the semester.

6. Work as a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants provide remote administrative services to clients from the comfort of their own homes (or dorms). A virtual assistant might handle tasks like managing travel schedules, scheduling appointments, or responding to emails.

College students with strong organizational skills can particularly benefit from looking for work as a virtual assistant.

7. On-campus jobs

Students who live on campus likely have several options available to them for part-time work. Campus dining, tutoring centers, or other offices often employ students part-time during the semester.

The appeal of on-campus jobs is that they are catered to students. This means they understand that your education comes first, and offer flexible scheduling to accommodate you.

8. Sell products online

Those wondering how to make extra money in college should seriously consider selling products online. Starting a dropshipping business requires very little financial investment and can add passive income to your wallet.

Of course, selling products online does require some research and knowledge of market trends. But if you have the right idea about what to sell, and where to sell it, it can be highly effective.

9. Sell old textbooks

Speaking of selling products online, most college students end up collecting a surplus of books during their years in school. Rather than keeping them as bulky bookshelf decorations, you can sell them to earn a little extra cash.

Amazon and eBay are both great places to sell books online. Additionally, Facebook Marketplace is also a great place to connect with fellow students enrolled in classes you previously took. Focusing on selling books locally also eliminates the need to pay for shipping.

It’s unlikely that selling your old textbooks will make you enough money to pay the bills. But it’s a frugal tip for how to make money in college without a job, and it can add up.

10. Delivery or rideshare driver

If you own a car and have a clean driving record, you can easily turn that into a side job. Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are always in need of drivers all over the country. Densely-populated areas like college campuses have a particularly high demand for rideshare drivers. The same goes for food delivery services, like DoorDash or UberEats.

The biggest appeal of working as a rideshare driver for college students is the scheduling flexibility. These jobs give you complete control over when you work. This means you can spend as much time as needed focusing on your studies while still earning cash.

11. Pet sitting or dog walking

Want a stress-free way to make money in college? Consider pet sitting. Sites like Rover connect pet owners with freelance pet sitters for any occasion. If you love animals, pet sitting is a win-win opportunity.

On the one hand, it allows you to make money on your own time while working through school. At the same time, it allows you to enjoy the company of cats and dogs for a day. Taking a dog for a walk can be a great way to relieve stress during the semester. And, getting paid to do it is icing on the cake.

Starting an Online Business? Ecwid Can Help

Recent or soon-to-be graduates with an entrepreneurial spirit may be interested in starting their own online business. If you are considering starting your own online store or business, Ecwid has the tools and resources to help you get started. Follow our blog or create your free Ecwid account to learn more.

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Jan 7, 2023

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.