Being a college student is a big task. Maintaining a job at the same time can be stressful. Some people might find that side hustles for college students are a better way to go than applying for a more traditional job because there is more flexibility and the opportunity to scale up and down hours based on workload and breaks.
Learn more about how to balance the busy and rigorous academics that students face alongside a successful side hustle for college students that helps bring in some spending money and maybe even pay for tuition.
Top 15 Side Hustles for College Students
Each student has a unique skill set they’ve developed over the years. Even if you aren’t so sure you have job-related skills yet, you at least have interests, hobbies and passions to draw from to help start your side hustles in college. Here’s a look at the top options ideal for busy college students.
1. Tutoring
You don’t have to work for your school to become a tutor. Instead, you can offer your services on the side on subjects you’re especially good at. Working through the school might make your services a bit easier to market, but you’ll also be tied to their rates and processes.
The job is flexible and you’re in control of how many students to take on as a tutor or whether you want to take a semester off during busy seasons like writing a thesis.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can create online courses over the summer that you sell on a website all year for passive income.
Pros
- You already have the skillset from the classes you’ve taken.
- It’s flexible and can scale up or down based on how many students you take on.
- It offers the chance for passive income with prerecorded online courses.
Cons
- You might feel like you’re doing schoolwork every time you’re working.
- Finding students in need of assistance can be challenging.
- You’ll have to market your services to find new students in need of assistance.
2. Babysitting
One of the best side hustles for college students is babysitting because it can provide consistent income. Working parents need help with after-school care for their children or childcare before afternoon preschool or kindergarten programs. Those random hours would make daycare fairly expensive, making them turn to alternative care options.
If you can set aside the time consistently, you’ll find excellent babysitting jobs that work around your school schedule. But if you don’t want the set hours, some parents just need some time away and you can find gigs in the evenings for a few hours here or there.
Pros
- It can offer consistent, steady hours and income.
- Babysitting provides simple communication platforms like texting or third-party apps for communicating with parents.
- You can scale up and down by taking on additional families, children or hours.
- You pick your hourly rate.
Cons
- Hourly rates might be below that of other side hustle options.
- Finding a good fit based on the hours available might be challenging.
3. Photography
If you have an eye for framing the perfect photo, you can make money from photography. One way to do that is to sell stock images online. This can serve as passive income once you get everything listed and set up the way you want it.
Or you can sell your services for events, such as weddings, engagements, senior photos, new babies and more. Spread the word that your skills are available for hire and regularly share your skills on your social media accounts to showcase what you can do.
The hardest part about starting a photography side hustle is that you have to get the word out there. But once more people know you offer the service, your business will start steadily growing, especially when you go above and beyond for your customers and capture timeless memories.
Pros
- Photography can offer passive income when you have great shots you can sell as stock images.
- It’s flexible to work around your schedule.
- It’s often busier during summer months when you’re not in school because of better weather and more events taking place.
- You’re in charge of when you set up a shoot.
Cons
- It can take some time to get started.
- It requires that you have the necessary equipment, which is pricey upfront.
- Getting started requires setting up a portfolio and possibly a social media presence, which can be time-consuming.
4. Rideshare
Working as a rideshare driver is great because you can choose when and how often you want to make your services available. All you’ll need is a good working car and adequate insurance coverage to begin the job.
Busier times for rideshare are often during evenings and weekends when college students tend to have free time anyway. You’ll get to enjoy meeting new people and exploring areas of your college town you might not know yet.
Pros
- It’s flexible for college students with any schedule.
- It’s great in college towns where students without cars need reliable transportation.
- Third-party apps make it easy to get started, and you won’t need to market your services.
Cons
- You’ll need to have a clean driving record.
- It requires that you put many miles on your car, which will depreciate its value and require more frequent maintenance.
- You can’t select your rates like you can with many other side hustles.
5. Food or Grocery Delivery
Much like ridesharing, if you have a reliable vehicle, you can start hustling with food or grocery delivery. You likely know all the best restaurants and takeout locations near your campus. Now you can use that knowledge to help deliver food to your hungry classmates or others living near your town.
You can choose how often you work or when you want to be on the clock. This includes deciding that you want to be done for the day early or not work at all during sessions when you normally work.
Pros
- It’s flexible to meet your needs, including taking off for breaks or during midterms or finals.
- It works through third-party apps so you can get started immediately.
- It can be a fun way to meet people and serve their needs.
Cons
- You can’t set your rates.
- You’ll be using your vehicle for commercial use and need to evaluate your insurance coverage.
- Added maintenance on your vehicle could make it less lucrative.
6. Sell Crafts or Baked Goods
Crafty people who know how to make desirable items like jewelry or home goods can sell their wares online and make a nice side income. Etsy makes it easy to list and market your goods online. But you can also sell through local channels, such as Facebook Marketplace to reach a local audience.
People who are skilled bakers can make baked goods for parties or provide a subscription service for sourdough bread. Those with cake decorating skills can make a nice income by offering custom cakes for a variety of celebrations.
Pros
- You can take advantage of a hobby you already enjoy.
- You can use third-party services like Etsy to help you get started.
- It might feel more like play than work.
Cons
- It’s hard to price based on the cost of goods and your time investment.
- The marketplace is flooded with many crafty creators.
- Getting started with a baking business is expensive.
7. Freelance
Those in college for computer science, writing, graphic design or accounting will find there are many available gigs online to freelance those services. Once you reach a certain point in your education and complete an internship or some form of experience you can showcase, your freelance career can take off.
Platforms like Upwork make it easy to find businesses or individuals hiring for people with your skillset. Getting established on the site might take some time, but once you do, the opportunities are seemingly endless.
You’ll be in charge of choosing which projects or jobs you take on and can decline work when school gets busy or take some much-needed time off during breaks. Plus, you’ll set your own rates to decide how much your time is worth and you’ll collaborate with the employer to decide realistic timelines for the projects based on your availability.
Pros
- It can offer long-term side hustles even after college.
- It puts you in control of your rates and availability.
- It offers flexibility to choose what projects you want to work on.
Cons
- With many freelancers worldwide, it’s somewhat challenging to get started.
- Those with no prior work experience might struggle to get decent rates.
- It can be challenging to price and estimate timelines because employers aren’t always super descriptive on job posts.
8. Resume and Cover Letter Writing
College students need resumes and cover letters to get started with their careers. But most people dread creating one. If you have writing and basic design skills, you can help other students write their resumes and cover letters for a fee.
You’ll need to have the time to meet with students to learn more about their experience so you can capture it accurately on a resume and write an enticing cover letter. With time, you’ll get efficient at this process and know what questions to ask to ensure you have everything you need to draft great materials that help students get hired.
Pros
- Work is flexible based on your school schedule.
- It takes advantage of a need that’s right around you.
- It can be a nice way to meet other students and help them succeed.
- You can specialize in certain majors or career fields to offer students resumes you know you’re good at writing.
Cons
- It requires some basic understanding of what employers look for in candidates.
- You will have slow times and busy times, such as the spring semester when seniors begin looking for their first full-time positions.
- It could take some time to get established as you work to build awareness for your services.
9. Pet Walking/Sitting
With many third-party apps that help connect pet owners to dog walkers or sitters, it’s easy to get established in this side hustle. Plus, many college students can’t have pets because they live in campus housing where they are prohibited. So you can get your fill of dog snuggles or cat therapy when pet-sitting or walking.
This job often requires reliable transportation as you’ll be going to the pet owner’s home to care for their animal. You might be able to find people close to campus that you can walk to or take public transportation. This will elongate how long the job takes, which could make it less lucrative.
Pros
- It’s a way to spend time with pets even when you can’t own one.
- It can be a fun job if you enjoy pets.
- It often takes place in your neighborhood or surrounding community.
- You can take advantage of third-party apps to get started quickly.
Cons
- Work might be inconsistent based on the pet owner’s needs.
- It could require that you have housing where you can take the pet for extended periods.
- You’ll need to be good at setting your rates and hours.
10. Provide Lawn and Home Maintenance Services
One obvious challenge with lawn and gardening services as a college student is that most of the time the person offering the services brings their own equipment. Most college students don’t have this equipment or a place to store it. So you’ll need some unique arrangements where you use what the homeowner already has to complete the service.
But if you can find homeowners willing to let you use their lawn mower and weed whacker, this is a great gig and is most active during summertime when you’ll be out of school. You can even do this side gig while holding down an internship or completing some summer coursework to graduate early or doing some catchup.
In the winter, contact your customers for snow removal work to keep your side hustle going year-round.
Pros
- You’ll collaborate with the homeowner to find times to mow and maintain the property that works with your schedule.
- You can keep customers year after year for consistent income.
- It’s a great way to meet neighbors and become a part of your community.
- It can provide winter customers when snowstorms hit.
Cons
- It often requires you to bring your own equipment.
- Weather changes can require more frequent maintenance and adjustments to schedules.
- It’s hard to get established and find customers.
11. Help People Move
College towns have lots of turnover in renters. You can help with the heavy lifting when people move by providing your services. Ideally, you’d offer these services with a few able-bodied friends because few people want to hire just one person to help them move. And when there is a group of you, marketing your services to those you know is a bit easier.
Pros
- Moving generally takes place on weekends when college students have time.
- It doesn’t require special skill sets, other than care and attention to other people’s belongings.
- It’s an opportunity to collaborate with Realtors or landlords to market services and get referrals.
Cons
- This could mean you have few free weekends to relax.
- Income won’t be consistent.
- It requires that you market your services.
12. Clean Homes
Between work and extracurricular activities, caring for a home is a large task. You can offer home cleaning services to help people balance it all. Many people can’t do household chores either because they’re aging or recovering from injuries.
If you have an eye for detail and a passion for cleanliness, this is a great side hustle for you. It’s flexible, and you can work with the homeowner to find a time that works well for them and you to complete the work regularly. You can create a steady, consistent income stream when you get long-term clients and do a good job.
Pros
- It can provide consistent, ongoing work and income.
- It fits around a college student’s changing schedule from semester to semester.
- It helps those in need in your community.
- You could work with friends to speed up the work or to provide coverage when you get busy with school.
Cons
- It can be challenging to get started.
- It requires an understanding of how long various tasks take to create accurate pricing.
- You’ll need reliable transportation.
13. Manage Social Media
College students are known for being hip and knowledgeable about popular trends. That means you can make money managing social media for local businesses. You can apply for part-time jobs as a social media manager or freelance your services. It’s a fun way to take advantage of your social media skills and know-how.
Pros
- It’s ideal remote work for busy college students.
- Ample opportunities exist.
- You can schedule content in advance to take advantage of blocks of time.
Cons
- You’ll need attention to detail and grammar skills in addition to knowing your way around social media platforms and trends.
- It’s hard to get established when you don’t have prior experience.
- Pricing is challenging because social media can be more time-consuming than you realize.
14. Web Development
Students with website skills can build sites for others and make money doing so. Website developers can make up to $35 per hour even when just starting out, which is solid money for college students. And the work is entirely remote, meaning you won’t need to spend time commuting or getting to a work site. Just sit down at a computer and start making money.
You’ll need some basic coding skills and a portfolio showcasing other sites you’ve completed. It can take some time to get established but can be a great way to start making money right after graduation and a solid side hustle once you land your first job.
Pros
- Remote work cuts down on commuting or travel.
- Rates are generally pretty good — even when starting out.
- Ample opportunities are out there.
Cons
- It requires technical skills.
- You’ll need a portfolio to get started.
- Setting rates can be challenging at first, especially for flat-rate projects instead of hourly.
15. Translator
International students or those studying foreign languages will find they can use those skills as a translator. When you know more than one language and are fluent, you can find plenty of work translating. The setback to it is that you might need to be available during certain times so it isn’t quite as flexible as other side hustles but there are plenty of opportunities to use these skills.
Pros
- You can use skills you already have.
- You will stay connected to your native language even when studying abroad.
- You will keep your language skills sharp by using them regularly.
Cons
- It might not be as flexible as other side hustles.
- It requires deep linguistic skills not for those who have just taken a foreign language course or two.
How to Find the Perfect Side Hustle for You
Your best friend might tout that they have good side hustles for college students and try to bring you in only for you to find it doesn’t work well for you. Before jumping in, consider these factors that create an ideal scenario and earning potential:
- Spend time evaluating your interests and skill sets to ensure you’re right for the job and will enjoy the work.
- Review your available resources and where you have time to fit in a side hustle to avoid getting overworked.
- Set realistic goals and expectations for how long it might take to build up a side hustle to become your primary income.
- Research what’s involved in side hustles that interest you to make sure you’re up for the task.
- Learn basic accounting and money management because you won’t be receiving a traditional paycheck and you won’t have employer withholding taxes.
- Prepare for the new time commitment by setting aside those hours for starting your side hustle with marketing and spreading the word to get used to using that time toward earning income.
- Practice time management skills and prioritization to ensure your new work doesn’t hold back your schooling.
- Consider work-life balance and avoid taking on too much too fast to where you get burnt out.
- Remember that your primary role is as a college student and prioritize your education.
You might need to test a few side hustles for students to find the one that is the best fit for you. Don’t feel discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t take off right away. Be patient and know that the right side hustle can feel like a hobby and be enjoyable. You just have to find it.
Earning Side Income with Incredible Flexibility
Side hustles are great because they are on your time and fit into your odd and ever-changing college student schedule. It’s an ideal way to make money while in school if you can find the right hustle and get started with it. Explore the opportunities listed above to see what might be a good fit based on your interests and skill sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are easy side hustles to earn extra income?
Some excellent side hustles to earn extra income include freelancing, delivery driving, dog walking or pet sitting, tutoring and babysitting. Dozens of options are out there, and you just have to find the one that works best for you.
Which side hustle is best for students?
Some of the best side hustles for students include tutoring, babysitting, freelancing, serving as a rideshare driver, delivering food and groceries, selling crafts, writing resumes and cover letters for fellow students and dog walking.
How can I make a lot of money as a college student?
The best way to make money as a college student is to maximize your skill set. The more skilled you are at something, the higher the rates you can charge for those services.
About Rebekah Brately
Rebekah Brately is an investment writer passionate about helping people learn more about how to grow their wealth. She has more than 12 years of writing experience, focused on technology, travel, family and finance. Her work has been published in Benzinga, Hearst Bay Area, FreightWaves and Dallas Observer publications.