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College can be expensive, and you may find yourself mid-semester needing extra cash. If you don’t want to take out an additional student loan, a side hustle can help you make ends meet.
And if you do take on a side hustle, you won’t be alone. A 2020 survey found that 40% of full-time and 74% of part-time undergraduate students were employed while they attended college 1.
But where to start? How can you make money in college without sacrificing your studies? Or your sanity?
Good side hustles for college students do exist—you just need to find the right fit. We’ll help by first identifying what makes a good side hustle and giving you 10 popular options to consider. We’ll also show you how to align the gig with your interests, skills, and schedule. Who knows, you may even find a side hustle that looks good on your resume or helps kickstart your career.
What makes a good side hustle for college students?
Start by understanding the elements of a good side hustle and learn why each matters.
|
What makes a good side hustle |
Why |
| Flexible schedule | Flexibility allows you to put college first, so you can do things like cut back during finals week or change your hours when your class schedule changes. |
| Easy to start | Your time at college is limited, so find something that you can jump into quickly and easily. |
| Uses skills you already have | Do what you already know so you can begin earning money sooner. |
| Builds skills you can use later | If you decide to jump into something new, look for a hustle that allows you to build skills you can use again someday. |
| Comes with little to no upfront cost | You’re not at a point in life where you have extra money to invest. Beware of scams that require you to ‘buy in’ just so you can do the work. |
| Solid earnings potential with a clear revenue stream | Find a hustle where you know exactly how you will make money and how you will get paid. |
| Expandable | If you find something you’re good at, consider growing it into something you can keep doing after graduation or even sell as a business someday. |
What is a good side hustle for college students?
If you ask ChatGPT this question, you’ll get dozens of answers, ranging from online to in-person gigs. Here are 10 that fit many of the criteria listed above in terms of what makes a good side hustle for a college student:
1. Tutoring
Specific skills are key to success here. If you understand a complex topic like calculus or speak a foreign language, turn that knowledge into income. You can tutor through online sites like Tutor.com and Wyzant, or you can provide in-person tutoring for fellow college students or area high schoolers. A tutoring gig allows you to set your own schedule, making this a great option for a college side hustle.
- PRO TIP: Try to arrange group sessions, which allow you to make more money within the same amount of time.
2. Teach Private Lessons
Here’s another place where skills come in handy. If you have a special talent such as music, photography, or something else, consider offering private lessons. Find a niche—offer dance classes to people planning their wedding, photography classes to birding clubs, or computer skills classes to seniors—and then market yourself. The process will also help you build skills that you can use later, including how to find clients, manage invoicing and receivables, negotiate pricing, and more.
- PRO TIP: Consider creating an online course that also allows you to make passive income.
3. Dog walking or pet sitting
This is a great gig for people who like animals, and the flexibility it offers is another bonus. You can sign up to work through an online site like Rover, or you can develop your own client list. Once you’ve got one good client, leverage the relationship to get referrals among their friends and neighbors.
- PRO TIP: Differentiate yourself by providing photos or daily videos to your pet’s owner.
4. Odd jobs
If you are handy, consider doing odd jobs like pressure washing, gardening, auto or boat detailing, or organizing. Local movers often look for extra muscle; you can even provide assembly services for people who buy furniture from IKEA. If you want to do this on your own, you must advertise, have access to your own tools, and you may even need liability insurance coverage. Or you can sign up to work through companies like TaskRabbit.
- PRO TIP: Decide how much you want to make per hour and establish firm pricing that covers your travel time and other incidentals.
5. House cleaning
This is another flexible side hustle for college students. You can offer your services independently or sign on with a professional cleaning company like Merry Maids. If you do clean independently, you’ll need to advertise your services; Next Door and Facebook community groups may work for this.
- PRO TIP: If you go out on your own, make sure you have liability insurance and keep your own personal safety in mind.
6. Sports referee or coaching
Do you like sports? Coaching or refereeing can be a good way to earn money while you’re in college. This can range from Pee Wee and Little League to high school sports or college rec leagues; you can even extend the work to include personal coaching, seasonal clinics, and camps. YMCA/YWCA and community centers may offer opportunities, as well as local sports leagues and school districts.
- PRO TIP: Consider travel time to practices and games to make sure you’re making a fair hourly wage.
7. Rideshare driver
If you have a reliable vehicle, this is a side hustle that offers a lot of flexibility. Driving for companies like Uber or Lyft allows you to set your own schedule and work as little or as much as you like. Demand can be extra high during special events, and companies like Uber now offer options like rides by women for women.
- PRO TIP: Check with your auto insurer to see if you need additional coverage.
8. Food or grocery deliveries
This is a popular side hustle with college students because many of you have used it yourself. A job as a driver for services like DoorDash Grubhub, Instacart, or Uber Eats gives you a lot of flexibility. Just log in when you’re available to work and log out when you’re not. The amount you can earn varies widely and may depend heavily on tips.
- PRO TIP: Track your expenses; they may be tax deductible.
9. Resell used or thrifted items
Buy a product and resell it for more than you paid—if this is something you’re good at, it can be a rewarding side hustle. Find items like clothing, electronics, even textbooks in thrift stores, garage sales, or estate sales, and then resell them online using sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari.
- PRO TIP: Start small and know your market to avoid excess inventory.
10. Manage social media for small businesses
This is a good side hustle for tech-savvy college students. You can create posts, write captions, take videos, and even monitor analytics on sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Find opportunities on sites like Fiverr or on Facebook business groups. You can even ask the manager of your favorite coffee shop if they need help.
- PRO TIP: Know the business laws in your area. For example, the state of Washington now requires that sales tax be charged on some advertising activities.
How can you get started?
They say there’s a good side hustle for every college student. Before you jump in, there are a few things you should do first.
- Promise yourself to prioritize your education: Your side hustle shouldn’t interfere with your ability to attend classes or complete assignments, and it shouldn’t negatively impact your mental health.
- Determine your availability: Be realistic about how much time you can spend.
- Set goals and develop a plan: Identify your skills and know what to expect in terms of how much you can make and how you’ll find work. Learn about local requirements in terms of licensing, taxes, and insurance.
- Set up a reliable payment system: You can use online apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle; be sure to set up a way to track your income and expenses.
- Consider a trial run before you jump in: Start small and pace yourself to make sure the side hustle works for you and fits your schedule.
Do you have the skills to pay the bills?
A side hustle is a great way for college students to help make ends meet; it may even let you have some fun along the way. Don’t forget that you’re paying to be at college though; your most important commitment should remain to your studies. But if you need cash to cover your expenses, and if you can earn money without compromising your education, a side hustle can be a smart choice for college students. Just make sure to choose something that you enjoy. You may even end up building skills you can use after you graduate.
