8 Best Side Hustles for College Students to Earn an Extra Income

Being a college student can be challenging in terms of finances, especially with the pressure of having student loans. 

Finding a reliable side hustle will allow you to focus on your academics while also not worrying about the finances. 

From covering minor expenses like travel and food all the way up to paying for your education, a good side hustle can be hugely beneficial. 

The best part is a number of side hustles pay good money and won’t need specialized skills from you.

To help you start, we review some of the best side hustles for college students. 

8 Best Jobs For College Students Overview 

1. Tutoring: Best for people good in academics and communicating it to fellow students. 
2. Virtual Assistant: Best for those with outstanding organizational and communication skills. 
3. Freelance Writing: Best for people with a good grasp of grammar and writing skills. 
4. Data Entry Jobs: Requires no minimum qualification and basic knowledge of computer software. 
5. Pet Sitting Services: Best for people who have experience dealing with pets and love for animals. 
6. Food Delivery Services: Suitable if you have, at least, a bike and enjoy riding it. 
7. Graphic Design: Best for people with an excellent aesthetic sense and creativity. 
8. Rent Your Belongings: Suitable if you have belongings to rent out. 

Why Should You Consider Side Hustles as a College Student? 

The best thing about side hustles is you can do them in your spare time and earn without much effort. 

Earning money on the side also gives you room to spend more time on your studies. 

Working a full-time job, on the other hand, will be much more hectic and distracting. 

This might affect your grades in the long run, which defeats the entire purpose of going to college. 

Saving up money now will also allow you to cover your student loans later on, as you will have a head start on the expenses. 

8 Best Side Hustle Jobs for College Students 

Based on the kind of skillset you have and the amount of time you can devote, there are multiple side hustles that you can take on. 

Here are some of the best ones that you can consider: 

1. Tutoring  

One of the best ways to stay in touch with academics and also make money on the side is to help fellow students. 

You can teach high school students or fellow college juniors based on your experience and knowledge. 

There isn’t any set requirement to tutor students, but you will need to have a good understanding of the subject to teach it. 

If you’re comfortable teaching over a video call, you can offer online classes as well, which will help save time, energy, and money for you. 

What You’ll Need to Provide Tutoring Services

• Good understanding of the subject you’re planning to teach. 
• Good communication skills and patience to provide lessons. 
• A working internet connection and device such as a laptop or phone in case of online lessons. 

Pros 

• Stay in Touch With Your Subject: You’ll be able to stay in touch with academics, which can help boost your grades. 
• Create Your Own Schedule: Ability to set up your own hours of work, especially if you work as an online tutor. 

Cons 

• Possibility of Commute: You may have to travel in case of in-person lessons, which can be time-consuming and expensive. 
• No Set Hiring Criteria: The likelihood of getting the job depends almost entirely on who’s hiring and whether they see you as a good option or if they get a reference. 

2. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a remote job that requires providing support to individuals or businesses. 

You’ll mostly have to do administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, conducting research, managing emails, and handling communications for the client. 

One of the best parts about virtual assistants is that no specialized qualifications are needed to get a job. 

A business or communications degree can be beneficial, especially if one has to carry out tasks like bookkeeping and project management. 

What You’ll Need to Be a Virtual Assistant 

• Good communication and organizational skills. 
• Ability to manage time and multitask. 
• General knowledge of several tasks based on the client’s requirements. 
• A stable internet connection and a working device such as a phone or laptop. 

Pros 

• Work Remotely: Since your job is online, you’ll be able to work from home or even when you’re traveling. 
• Flexible Schedule: You’ll be able to work at your own hours since most tasks are not time-bound. 

Cons 

• High Competition: You’ll need to develop your skills to get consistent work since the competition for this role is off the chart. 
• Lack of Job Security: Even though the job is not your priority, you may lose it at any time, as most virtual assistants are independent contractors. 

3. Freelance Writing 

If you feel like you have good written communication skills, then a freelance writing side hustle may be for you.

Writers often work on their own time and only need to stick to deadlines as per the project. 

Based on your capabilities, you can write blogs, emails, or even sales content for your clients based on the kind of content they need. 

What You’ll Need to Do Freelance Writing 

• A working internet connection and device to type on, such as a phone, tablet, or computer. 
• The ability to perform your own research and present factually correct information. 
• The skills to adapt to the tone of voice and writing practices as required for the project. 
• Having a good grasp of english language and being thorough with grammar.  

Pros 

• Work From Anywhere: Freelance writers work from anywhere as long as they’re connected to the internet. 
• Freedom to Choose Projects in Your Preferred Areas: If there’s a particular area you’re knowledgeable, you can leverage your strengths and choose projects in that niche. 

Cons  

• High Competition: Although there are several opportunities posted on job boards, one will have to compete with agencies and other writers to get clients. 
• Unpredictable Rates: The amount of money you receive per project varies based on the client as well as the niche you’re writin.for instance, B2B tech writters often receive better compensation. 

4. Data Entry Jobs 

If you’re looking for a side hustle that doesn’t require a lot of brain-racking and critical thinking, data entry jobs might be for you. 

The minimum requirements for the role are being good with computers and able to handle spreadsheets. If you have those, you already have a chance to be hired. 

No specialized qualification is needed for this niche, you only need to enter data to earn extra income. 

What You’ll Need to Do Data Entry Work 

• An eye for detail since you need to be able to enter correct information without errors. 
• Ability to work with computer software. 
• Good time management skills to help you work within deadlines. 
• Organizational skills to work with large data volumes. 

Pros 

• No Minimum Qualifications: As long as you are able to type correctly and work with computers, you can find data entry work. 
• Work On Your Own Time: Since all the work is remote and not necessarily time-dependent, you can work around a busy college schedule in this field. 

Cons 

• A Lot of Scams: A significant number of such jobs posted online are scams, so take care while applying to them. 
• Low ROI: Considering the amount of time you’llspend on the job, the pay doesn’t always justify the effort. 

5. Pet Sitting Services 

If you have experience with pets and can train them to follow basic commands, you can offer dog walking services to pet owners and make some extra money while having fun yourself. 

Oftentimes, reference will be the main way that people find this kind of work. But platforms like Rover can also help you discover pet owners who need someone to take care of their animals while they’re away. 

What You’ll Need to Be a Pet Sitter 

• Be comfortable with managing pets. 
• Have some knowledge of training common domestic animals like dogs. 
• Be able to travel and provide any extra services the client needs. 
• Patience and persistence to handle animals if they aren’t obedient in nature. 

Pros 

• Not a Major Time Commitment: Unlike other jobs, you will only have to spend a couple of hours a day at most per client. 
• Stress Buster Job: Working with pets and activities like dog walking can help college students deal with stress and be a fun outlet to relax while still making money. 

Cons 

• Pay Can be Quite Low: Most pet sitters are not paid a lot of money, which can be difficult to manage if you are in need of a significant amount. 
• Allergies and Dangerous Pets: If you have animal-related allergies (to fur, for example), pet sitting may not be safe for you. There is also the risk of getting injured by a dangerous animal or in case of misbehavior. 

6. Food Delivery Services 

If you have a vehicle such as a bike and are of the legal age to drive in your city, you can consider being a food delivery driver as a side hustle. 

There are almost no minimum educational requirements, provided you can drive and have basic communication skills. 

There are a number of food delivery companies that need people to work shifts to meet the rising demand. 

You usually can also choose your own shifts, which can help you work after college hours. 

What You’ll Need to be a Food Delivery Driver 

• A working vehicle, preferably a motorbike, and a smartphone. 
• A driver’s license and a good knowledge of the roads of the city. 
• Physical endurance to work after spending hours at college. 

Pros 

• Bonuses and Tips: Most delivery drivers are tipped for their services by customers, which can increase their final earnings. 
• No Lack of Opportunities: Due to the rise of online delivery services, you’ll find no shortage of jobs in your local city. 

Cons

• Low Base Pay: The base salary that you receive for food delivery as a side hustle may be quite low. Whether you’re reimbursed for fuel and maintenance also depends completely on the employer. 
• Can be Very Exhausting: After a long day as a college student, it can be very tiring to drive around the city and deliver food. This might affect the time and energy you can devote to your studies. 

7. Graphic Design 

If you’re a design student or are simply good with visual arts, you may want to pursue graphic design as a side hustle. 

Most designers work as freelancers or independent contractors, especially those who are students. This allows them to work on their own schedule and not have a fixed daily schedule. 

Working in this niche allows you to cultivate your skills while also being paid to improve and build your portfolio for better projects in the long run. 

What You’ll Need to Be A Graphic Designer 

• A working internet connection and a powerful tablet or desktop capable of running editing software. 
• A good sense of visual arts and aesthetics. 
• Time management skills to work under tight deadlines. 
• Adaptability to the visual theme of different brands. 

Pros 

• Can be a Good Creative Outlet: Graphic design can be a significant creative outlet, provided you find a client that you resonate with. 
• Abundant Opportunities: Every company needs a strong social media presence. And a decent graphic designer is necessary for this end, which means there are a lot of opportunities for capable designers. 

Cons  

• Multiple Reworks: Design is very subjective, and designers may be asked to perform numerous reworks of the same design until the clients are satisfied. 
• Tight Deadlines: Since companies need a lot of graphic content, you might have to work under tight deadlines even if you have your own schedule. 

8. Rent Your Belongings 

If you have things that you don’t use often, you can profit from renting them out to people. 

One of the best parts about this side hustle is that it requires no effort on your part – a true form of passive income. 

You can also charge your own rates and devote more time to studies since you don’t actually have to work. 

Items that you can rent out include vehicles such as a pickup truck, musical instruments, and electronics that you might not use regularly. 

What You’ll Need to Rent Out Your Items 

• For vehicles, ensure they are in working condition and have their insurance in order. 
• Other items like instruments should be well-maintained so that they can be easily loaned out. 
• Connections on social media, personal contacts, or apps that let you meet potential borrowers. 

Pros 

• No Need to Work: Unlike your peers, you don’t need to take a side job to earn extra cash, which will provide you with spare time and save energy. 
• Charge What You Want: Based on the value of the item you own, you can charge whatever you want as rent. 

Cons 

• Puts Your Belongings at Risk: Unless you’re meeting the borrower through an app that holds them accountable, you’re putting your items at risk since you don’t know how the borrower will use them. 
• You Need to Have Something to Rent: This kind of side hustle only works if you have something that people want. If you don’t have a vehicle, electronics, or instruments, this isn’t a relevant form of work for you. 

Similar Jobs 

These are only some of the side hustles that college students can try out. Here are some other side hustles that you might want to take a look at:  

• How to Start a Dropshipping Business: Learn how to start a remote business that allows you to sell products without an inventory as a side hustle. 
• Best Work From Home Customer Service Jobs: Find out the ins and outs of taking up a customer service job. 
• How to Start an Affiliate Marketing Business: A step-by-step guide to starting an affiliate marketing business from scratch. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

Meeting living expenses, from grocery shopping to travel costs, can be difficult for a college student. Even a few dollars can make a significant difference. 

And with the side hustles for college students we’ve discussed in this article, you can find a steady source of income without having to work full-time. 

If you liked this article, please leave a comment telling us what you found most helpful, and feel free to share it with another fellow student who could benefit from a side hustle.