Anyone who has been in college for more than a few semesters knows how expensive it can be. Thankfully, side hustles are a great way students can earn extra cash without taking on additional debt or getting an actual job.
Some of these side gigs will require creativity and ingenuity; others might come naturally from being a student throughout your high school career.
Either way, if you’re looking for ways to make money while in college that don’t involve spending all your free time working, here are five side gigs you should consider as well.
Proofreading and Essay Review
Whether you’re helping someone write and proofread their college application essays or simply reviewing them, this can be a great way to make some extra cash.
You can check out college essay review companies and apply there or offer your services on sites like Fiverr and share your gig page with your friends, family, and social media connections, letting them know you are available.
Before going this route, ensure your writing and editing skills are on point. If that’s not your strong suit, you might want to focus on making money from other talents.
Many college application review websites charge between $10 and $20 per assignment, and some even offer a bonus if you complete it in a certain time.
Once you receive payment, you can either keep the money or donate it to a charity.
As for the work itself, you’ll simply be taking the other person’s essay, analyzing their writing, and offering your feedback.
While the work might not sound very exciting, it’s important to note that this is a legitimate side hustle.
There are a few things you should keep in mind, though. First, decide whether or not this is something you want to do part-time or full-time.
If you only have time for part-time work, you might want to save this for after college. Second, don’t expect to make a lot of money.
Even if your services are in high demand, you’re still taking on other people’s work, which means that you won’t be able to charge too much.
Become a Content Creator
As social media continues to dominate the online world, more and more businesses, personal brands, and solopreneurs are turning to video and multimedia content to attract and keep customers.
Since more people are consuming content online than ever before, there is a growing demand for creators to produce high-quality content.
That’s why many top-earning YouTubers, Instagram influencers, and other online content creators make money via social media.
This can be done by growing a following based on your brand or finding a niche to build on. As your audience grows, you can make money via affiliate links, paid promotions, or subscription-based content.
Content creation can include videos, posts, blogging, and providing UGC (user-generated content) for brands and products.
Keep in mind that being a content creator might not land you the big bucks overnight, but with consistency and an in-demand niche or brand, you could start making some serious cash in the future.
charge a monthly subscription for their content. If you want to make a little money while in college, you can become a content creator and charge a monthly subscription for your work.
By charging online, it’s easier to track your earnings, so you can make sure you’re earning a reasonable amount.
And if you want to earn a little extra cash while you’re in school, this is a great side hustle to try.
Just be aware that you’ll need a great deal of experience before you can charge a decent amount. You might also want to consider charging other types of content, like ebooks or online courses.
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Do Freelance Gigs
There are many different ways to make money on the side while in college, and one of the most popular is freelancing.
This isn’t necessarily a side hustle in the traditional sense but rather a way for students to earn some extra cash without taking on any additional debt.
To become a successful freelancer, you’ll need to find various gigs that pay well but don’t take up too much of your time.
Those gigs can all be in only offering one type of service like graphic design, proofreading, article writing, etc., or you can do multiple types of gigs providing services you’re good at.
There are various sites that companies and individuals frequent when looking for freelancers:
Check these and other freelancer platforms to see which one works best for you.
You can also check out Reddit’s college subreddit to connect with people looking for help with various tasks, like writing papers or doing research.
But when going this route, be sure to be safe by not providing sensitive information and details and vetting the information before getting started.
Most colleges have a large community that can help you with this. For example, some students have used Reddit’s college subreddit to connect with people looking for help with various tasks, like writing papers or doing research.
You can also search Reddit’s college subreddit for different types of gigs, like finding images for a research paper, writing papers, and proofreading papers.
If you want to earn extra cash while in college, finding gigs on Reddit and other college subreddits is a great way to go.
Sell Products or Services Online
One of the best ways to make money while in college is to start selling products and services online.
Many people sell their creative products and goods or sell other items via print on demand (POD) online.
While many people boast that they have done well with things such as dropshipping and selling other people’s products, I wouldn’t personally recommend it, as it can be time-consuming and financially taxing.
Instead, focus on things you create that won’t put you into financial strain should they not sell right away.
And with the POD route, you don’t have any upfront costs to you since you get paid only when the item ships.
This can be a great way to build up your own e-commerce store and increase your consumer base through word-of-mouth.
There are a few things you should keep in mind, though, before selling. First, you’ll need to have some products in your own store that you can resell.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that your products are in demand and that they actually sell well. If they don’t, you won’t earn much in sales, but if they do, you’ll make a nice side income.
Tutor Students in Subjects You Know
Tutoring is an excellent way for students to make some extra cash while in college, especially if you’re studying a subject that you have a lot of knowledge about.
For example, if you’re good at math, science, languages, or other areas, advertise your skills and let students know that you can help them for a fee.
The great thing about the internet is that you don’t have to have to limit yourself to tutoring students at your school.
If there are schools near the one you attend, you can reach out to people there and let them know you offer tutoring services, and you can tutor people virtually online from anywhere in the world.
This can be done through various websites, including Fiverr, and you can set your own price. By charging to help students with their homework, you can earn a nice side income while in college.
Bottom Line
Whether you want to make money from your bed, from your dorm room, from your kitchen table, or from your couch, there are plenty of ways to make some extra cash.
That’s why side hustles are so important! As a student, you can pick up a side hustle, do it for a few weeks, and then drop it when school starts to get too intense.
If you’re interested in more business ideas for students, read this!
Good luck on your journey and grab your copy of Dump Your Degree: How to Repurpose Your Education, Control Your Career, and Gain Financial Freedom now!
