Managing one’s time in college is already challenging as it is and trying to look for ways to make money is even more challenging. Much as this might be true, it is also important for anyone in college to understand that a college student does not necessarily have to work all minimum wage jobs. If you are having class schedules, there’s no way you cannot work around them to make some cash smartly. Regardless of which category you belong to, whether you love technology, are a budding entrepreneur, or currently have a side hustle, this article will explain 10 legitimate ways for students to earn more money.
Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let me share how you can get the cash in while studying the books!
1. Freelance Writing and Editing
If for instance you are a writing enthusiast or love proofreading then freelancing could be just perfect for you. Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, are platforms where students are allowed to showcase their talent to the public. Most available platforms allow you to write blog posts, edit academic papers, or even proofread resumes.
How to Start:
- Sign up for freelance platforms: Posted a CV, job applications on Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.
- Showcase your skills: The important thing here is if you begin, you can offer cheap prices for your services in exchange for a portfolio.
- Niche down: As with anything in life, choosing a niche (such as tech blogs, academic editing, etc.) can let you set higher rates.
Potential Earnings:
For each article or project, you can make anything from $20 to $100 depending on its difficulty and length.
2. Become a Virtual Assistant (VA)
With companies moving into the virtual world, virtual assistants are extremely popular nowadays. VAs are assigned to carry out tasks inclusive of social networking, responding to customer E-mails, and sometimes customer service.
How to Start:
- Look for VA gigs: If you are interested in doing virtual assistant work, there are websites that cater to that such as Remote.co or Belay.
- Learn some basic skills: Most VA roles will require tools such as Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Forms, etc.), and communication methodologies like Slack, Trello, Asana, etc.
Potential Earnings:
Depending on these tasks and your experience level you can set anything between $10 to $30 per hour.
3. Start an Online Store
E-shopping is rapidly growing, and the opportunities with etsy, shopify, and other websites enable anyone to open their own online store. Whether you are selling tapes of homemade jewelry, branded second-hand wears or original and creative art prints, this is a rather liberal way of making money.
How to Start:
- Choose your platform: Etsy is perfect for craft and vintage selling while Shopify is perfect for creating a full online store.
- Source your products: Choose whether you want to sell homemade crafts, digital products or want to buy and resell second-hand clothing, vintage clothing items.
- Promote your store: Encouraging engagement to shop on your social media account, such as Instagram or Pinterest.
Potential Earnings:
That depends on a chosen specialty and marketing approach, which allows students to make hundreds to thousands monthly.
4. Tutoring and Teaching Online
If you’re all that inclined toward academia, why not make money tutoring? Chegg, TutorMe, Wyzant – are the virtual platforms where you can meet students who have difficulties with the subjects you succeed at.
How to Start:
- Apply to tutoring platforms: It is crucial to mention that to be accepted you will have to prove that you are a knowledgeable person in some particular subjects.
- Specialize in high-demand subjects: Students in subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM courses sometimes earn more.
Potential Earnings:
It’s important to note that the majority of the specialized tutoring offers between $15 and $50 per hour.
5. Affiliate Marketing
With affiliate marketing you get an unique link of the product you are endorsing and get paid when someone uses this link to make a purchase. If you are a content creator – be it a blogger, YouTuber, or a social media influencer, affiliate marketing is a passive income source on the side.
How to Start:
- Join affiliate programs: You can try signing up for web affiliate programs such as Amazon associates or join web affiliate marketing networks such as ShareASale or Rakuten.
- Promote products: Come up with blogging, videography, or any social media account and write or record using the products and place an affiliate link.
- Choose products wisely: Avoid cluttering your site with things that you think your audience would not find interesting.
Potential Earnings:
Affiliate income fluctuates but may be as little as a few dollars or up to thousands of dollars if traffic is high and the right product selected
6. Drive for Ride-Sharing Apps
You could be a driver using the ride sharing apps such as Uber or Lyft if you own a car and some spare time. It will always be your call and you will be able to schedule your own working time as you wish.
How to Start:
- Sign up on the app: The basic qualifications you will need to fulfill are those that apply to the vehicle itself and to the driver.
- Choose peak times: Be able to make more cash from the trip by choosing to drive in Prohibited times like the weekend and at night.
Potential Earnings:
Nearly all drivers driving for Uber or Lyft make an hourly wage between $15- $25, in addition to their tips.
7. Sell Your Notes and Study Guides
If you have been the kind of person who likes to take class notes to the detail, you can turn around and sell them online. Stuvia and Nexus Notes for instance enable students to upload notes, study material, and even essay plan and sell them.
How to Start:
- Upload your notes: Swiss Up with a platform, and get better well organized, detailed notes uploaded to share.
- Stick to popular subjects: Consequently, concentrate on those program areas of emphasis or subjects with heavy student enrollments.
Potential Earnings:
One can charge anything between $10 to $50 for a set of notes based on the subject choice and the traffic he gets.
8. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Love animals? Pet sitting and dog walking could be a very stress-free way of earning some bucks. Platforms like Rover and Wag help to find the relevant gigs around your geographical location.
How to Start:
- Sign up on Rover or Wag: Develop a profile which would depict your experience with animals.
- Build a local client base: After developing an image which people trust, the opportunities are to grow through recommendations or local advertising.
Potential Earnings:
The rates range from $15- $30 per walk or more for overseeing their pet during the night.
9. Create and Sell Digital Products
It can also give some good side income from printable calibration and digital planners to online courses creating digital products. Created once, such products earn you the cash without being sold because customers buy them each time they are purchased.
How to Start:
- Choose a platform: You are best selling on Etsy or Gumroad if you are selling digital downloads. Teachable is well designed if your aim is to build courses.
- Create products that solve problems: Consider something that can be related to time saving, organization or fun.
Potential Earnings:
This tends to range anywhere from $5 for some goods right up to $100+ for others, depending on what specific product you are offering.
10. Social Media Management
Businesses of all sizes and brands are often in desperate need to have someone take charge and manage their accounts. That is why, if you think you are familiar with the platforms such as Instagram, TikTok or twitter, you can offer social media management services.
How to Start:
- Build your portfolio: It is advisable to offer to manage accounts for friends or accounts of local businesses because it will give experience.
- Create a pricing structure: You may decide to charge per post or even have a specific package for a month.
Potential Earnings:
Social media managers usually charge between $15 and $50 an hour depending on the company or client they are working for.
Conclusion:
There is nothing as exciting as making money especially when you are a college student with so much chance to do so. If you want to work with your laptop, if you want to run a side hustle from your dorm, or if you want to offer your services locally, we’ve got you covered. The trick is to discover what is most effective with available time, abilities and passions.
