21 Best Side Hustles for College Students To Make $500+ a Month

Want to learn about the best side hustles for college students?

College is expensive. Between tuition, books, housing, and the cost of living your life, money can feel really tight. I remember being in college and constantly thinking about how I could earn more money without giving up all of my time.

That’s actually how I started side hustling. Over the years, I’ve done more than 20 different side hustles (you can read about them at I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles in My Life: Here’s What I Think of Each). Not all of those were during college, but quite a few were. I sold clothes online, worked a retail job, babysat, and even started this very website while I was in college.

The great thing about side hustles is that many of them are flexible enough to fit around your class schedule, and even just a few hours a week can make a big difference in your budget. Plus, I’ve included a mix of quick and easy ways to earn cash, as well as longer-term ideas that can grow into something much bigger.

Best Side Hustles for College Students

Below are the best ways to make extra money in college.

Recommended reading: 9 Ways To Successfully Balance School And Work

1. Play games on your phone

Did you know you can actually make money by playing games on your phone? I tested the site Freecash out myself and earned $302.80 in one week. You can read the full breakdown here: How I Made $302.80 Playing Games On My Phone In One Week.

I was surprised at how fun and easy this was. Apps like Freecash pay you to try out games, and you earn rewards for hitting certain levels or milestones.

Tips for success:

• Play games with high payouts (I recommend clicking around on the different games you’re interested in and kind of guessing how long it will take you to reach each payment milestone).
• Pay attention to the time requirements – some games are quick, while others take longer to reach the payout point.
• Cash out your rewards quickly to keep track of your earnings.

Click here to sign up for Freecash.

2. Start a blog or YouTube channel

Blogging changed my life. I started Making Sense of Cents when I was in college, and it has grown into a business that’s earned me millions of dollars.

You don’t have to aim that big, though. Blogging or creating a YouTube channel in college can simply be a fun way to share your experiences while making extra money.

Some ideas for what you can talk about include:

• College study tips and hacks
• Day-in-the-life vlogs
• Dorm room organization
• Budget-friendly meal ideas

You could even start a blog where you talk about all of the different jobs for college students that you’ve tried!

If you’re new to blogging, I recommend starting with my free How To Start A Blog course. Over 80,000 people have taken my free course, and I show you how to start a blog, from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.

3. Answer online surveys

Taking surveys online is one of the easiest side hustles for college students. You don’t need any skills, and you can do them whenever you have free time – like waiting for class to start or sitting on your bed in your dorm.

I’ve done a lot of surveys over the years and have earned over 100 free gift cards and cash. While you won’t get rich, it’s nice to have extra gift card money or to pay for small bills.

• User Interviews – These are high-paying focus groups, with the average paying over $50.
• Survey Junkie
• Branded Surveys
• Prime Opinion

Tips for success:

• Sign up for more than one survey site. That way, you always have surveys available.
• Look for sites that pay out quickly.
• Be consistent because a few surveys each day can add up over a month.

Surveys are a low-effort way to bring in small amounts of money, and they can be a great starting point if you’ve never tried a side hustle before.

4. Sell printables

Printables are digital products like planners, invites, study guides, or wall art that people can download and print at home.

The great thing about printables is that once you create them, you can sell them over and over again. This makes it a great passive income idea.

You can learn more at How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop.

I also recommend watching the Earn Money Selling Printables free training. You’ll learn about printable ideas, how to get started on Etsy, and how to actually make sales.

5. Print On Demand

Print-on-demand is when you sell designs on T-shirts, mugs, candles, tote bags, stickers, and more.

Platforms like Printify and Printful handle the printing and shipping for you, too, so it can be a good semi-passive income source where you can still focus on college and not feel like you have to work around the clock.

This is also a great low-cost way to start a business as a student, as you don’t have to buy the inventory yourself.

I recommend watching How to Make Money with Print-On-Demand free workshop. In this workshop, you’ll learn how one person made $500,000 in two years selling gifts, the best types of products to sell to maximize your earnings, and how to start this side hustle on Etsy.

Recommended reading: How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts

6. Proofreading

If you’re someone who notices grammar and spelling errors all the time, proofreading could be a perfect side hustle. Businesses, authors, and bloggers hire proofreaders all the time to check their content.

I have a proofreader for this blog, and I have also had proofreaders who were in college in the past do proofreading work for me as well.

This side hustle is flexible and can easily be done from your dorm room.

If you are interested in finding online proofreading jobs, I recommend signing up for this free workshop all about proofreading. Here, you will learn how to start a freelance proofreading business. You can sign up for free here.

Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year)

7. Babysitting

Babysitting is a classic college side hustle. Parents need sitters for evenings or weekends, which works perfectly around a student’s schedule. Babysitting is flexible, pays well, and it’s a job that almost always has demand.

I have a family member in graduate school who works a part-time babysitting job. She helps a family by getting their kids to school in the morning and then picking them up in the afternoon until their parents get home. This type of schedule works really well with her classes, too.

Tips for success:

• Join Care or Sittercity to find families.
• Take a CPR class to stand out.

8. HopSkipDrive (Age 23+)

HopSkipDrive is a unique side hustle for students who are at least 23 years old and enjoy driving and working with kids.

Unlike regular ridesharing apps, HopSkipDrive partners with schools and families to provide safe, reliable rides for children who can’t use the school bus or need extra help getting to and from school (you drive your own car).

This service has become especially important in areas with school bus driver shortages (many towns are having problems finding enough bus drivers right now!).

The average rate is around $50 per hour, and the company usually has promotions for new drivers. For example, new CareDrivers may be able to earn bonuses such as $500 for completing 10 trips within their first 14 days, especially during high-demand times.*

You can click here to sign up for HopSkipDrive.

*Terms and conditions apply.

9. Rent out a room in your home

If you live off campus and have extra space, you might be able to rent it out.

When I was in college, I had spare rooms in my home and rented them out. This helped me to better afford my monthly home payment, and the rooms were empty anyway, so I figured I might as well get use from them.

Tips for success:

• Check your lease or housing rules first.
• Rent out a furnished room for higher rent.
• Write out rules for the household so that everyone is on the same page (such as rules about parties and noise).

10. Dog treat bakery

If you love baking, starting a dog treat business can be fun and profitable. You can make dog treats that you sell to pet stores, at farmers markets, and online.

You can learn more about this business idea at How I Make Up to $4,000 Per Month Baking Dog Treats (With Zero Baking Experience!). Plus, you can sign up for this free training workshop that will teach you how to start your own side hustle baking and selling dog treats.

11. Freelance online

Freelancing is one of the best side hustles for college students because you can use the skills you already have. Whether it’s writing, graphic design, social media management, coding, or being a virtual assistant, there are people who will pay you for your work.

Plus, you can freelance full-time, or just to earn some extra income.

I’ve hired freelancers many times over the years, and many of them were college students earning money on the side.

How to get started:

• Create a profile on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
• Think about what you’re already good at – editing videos, managing Instagram accounts, etc.
• Start small with low-cost projects, then raise your rates as you get more experience.

Another great positive about freelancing is that it can lead to much more than just extra spending money. Many people turn it into a full-time business after graduation.

12. Get a part-time job

Sometimes the easiest option is the best. When I was in college, I worked at a retail store and worked around 30–40 hours a week. It was tiring at times, but it paid my bills.

The nice thing about part-time jobs is that they’re stable. Many students work evenings or weekends in retail, restaurants, or coffee shops. Plus, you may even get employee discounts, which is a nice bonus.

Tips for success:

• Look for jobs with flexible schedules, especially ones near your college campus.
• Be upfront with your employer about your class schedule.
• Even 10–15 hours a week can make a big difference financially.

Part-time jobs may not be glamorous, but they’re reliable and can help you avoid student loans.

13. Sell textbooks

Textbooks are expensive, but the good news is that you can sell them when you’re done. Sites like Amazon, BookScouter, and Facebook Marketplace make it easy.

I recommend that you sell your books as soon as the semester ends – this way, you can declutter right away, but also because the older the edition of your book, the less you can typically make from it (because they update textbooks all the time!).

This isn’t a year-round side hustle, but it’s a great way to make money at the end of each semester.

I sold all of my textbooks right after each class ended, and because textbooks are so expensive, I typically made over $100 per book.

14. Dog walking and pet sitting

If you love animals, this can be one of the most enjoyable side hustles. Many people are happy to pay students to walk their dogs, especially during the day when they’re at work.

How to start:

• Sign up for apps like Rover or Wag.
• Post in local Facebook groups asking neighbors if they need help with their pets.
• Be reliable – pet owners want to know they can trust you.

Recommended reading: Is Rover Worth It? A Guide to Making Money with Rover

15. House sitting

House sitting is a low-effort way to earn money. Usually, it just means checking on someone’s home while they’re away, bringing in the mail, and watering plants.

Some house sitting jobs also include taking care of a pet, which can increase your pay, too.

16. Food or grocery delivery

Delivery apps are everywhere, and they’re a flexible way to earn money. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart are some of the most popular.

Tips for success:

• Work during peak hours (like lunch and dinner) for higher earnings.
• Use a bike or scooter if you don’t have a car.

For students in bigger cities or near campus, this can be a quick way to make money, as there are usually more people who use food delivery services.

Recommended reading: Instacart Shopper Review: How much do Instacart Shoppers earn?

17. Yard work and odd jobs

Many homeowners need someone to mow their lawn, rake leaves, or shovel snow. This can be a great weekend side hustle, or if you have any days off from school during the week.

You can get started by:

• Posting flyers or advertising in local Facebook groups.
• Selling package deals (like weekly lawn care).
• Remember, you will have to bring your own equipment, like a rake or a lawn mower.

I know many, many people who started yard care businesses while in college. Some did it just as a side hustle, and others have turned it into a successful business that they still run 10+ years later.

18. Mystery shopping

Mystery shopping is when you get paid to shop at a store or eat at a restaurant, then give feedback.

When I was in college, I did a lot of mystery shops, and while it’s not a full-time income, it’s fun and gives you free meals or products (like makeup or clothing).

Tips for success:

• Only sign up with legitimate companies (you should never have to pay a fee to sign up).
• Take your reports seriously to get more assignments.
• Use it as a way to enjoy free things while earning extra money.

Recommended reading: How To Become a Mystery Shopper

19. Sell clothes

I sold clothes online in college, and it was a great way to declutter while making money. I also flipped items for resale. Platforms like Poshmark, Facebook, and eBay make this really easy, too.

Tips for success:

• Take good photos.
• Write detailed descriptions, such as the brand, size, and condition.
• Make sure to answer any questions you get from buyers.

This is a flexible side hustle that I did in my spare time (such as late at night or after classes), which was nice!

Recommended reading: 16 Best Places To Sell Clothes For Cash

20. Campus jobs

Many colleges have on-campus jobs that are specifically designed for students. These jobs are flexible and usually located right where you already spend your time (like your dorm building).

Some examples include library assistant, research assistant, resident advisor, fitness center staff, and bookstore worker.

Tips for success:

• Apply early because the best campus jobs fill quickly.
• Ask professors if they need any research help.

21. Tutoring

Tutoring is a great option if you are knowledgeable about a certain subject. Parents and students (both in high school and in college) look for tutors all the time for help in subjects like math, science, and even writing essays.

Tips for success:

• Advertise in your department or student groups.
• Sell online tutoring via Zoom for students who prefer that over in-person tutoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about how to make extra money as a college student.

What is the best side hustle for college students?

The best side hustle for a college student depends on their schedule and skills. Online surveys and delivery apps are easy to start, while freelancing or blogging can grow into a full-time income. It all depends on what you’re looking for!

How to make $2,000 a month as a college student?

To make $2,000 a month as a college student, you’ll likely need to combine side hustles. Many students earn this through freelancing, tutoring, delivery apps, or starting small online businesses.

What are the best online side hustles for college students from home?

Blogging, selling printables, proofreading, and taking part in online focus groups are all good ways to make extra money from home as a college student.

Do I need a car to start a side hustle in college?

No, you don’t always need a car. There are many online jobs and campus jobs that don’t require a car.

How much time should I spend on a side hustle?

Even 5–10 hours a week can make a difference. And, balance is key because you don’t want to let your side hustle interfere with school.

What side hustles work best with a full class schedule?

Flexible ones, like freelancing, delivery apps, or printables, are nice because you can choose your own hours. For me, back when I was in college, I would carefully choose my classes and make sure everything lined up perfectly so that I didn’t waste a lot of time during the school week or in between classes. I either had a full morning of classes or saved everything for the evening, so that I only had to go up to my college campus once and could still work a full 8-hour day at the retail store where I worked.

How To Make Extra Money in College – Summary

I hope you enjoyed my article on how to make extra money in college.

Side hustles for college students come in all shapes and sizes. Some are easy and can make you quick money, while others can grow into full-time businesses that last long after you graduate from college.

I know from experience that trying different side hustles can be life-changing. I went from selling clothes online and working retail jobs in college to starting this blog, which eventually turned into my full-time career.

Which college side hustle are you going to try?

Recommended reading:

• 16 Best Online Jobs For College Students
• 21 Ways You Can Learn How To Save Money In College
• How To Work And Go To College: 10 Tips That Will Help You Succeed
• 17 Online Jobs For Teens To Make Money
• 23 Business Ideas For Teens
• 19 Best Online Jobs From Home To Make $1,000+ A Month
• 17 Best Seasonal Jobs That Pay Well