Benefits of working while in college:
- Gain new skills you can put on your resume
- Make extra money to pay for books and food
- Network and meet new people
I was a Rover dog walker, Care.com babysitter, freelance writer, virtual assistant, blogger, and even managed to volunteer in my free time. It is so worth the experience.
Below are ways you can make some extra income as a college student.
#1 Sell printables
Selling printables on Etsy is one of best side hustles out there because of how easy it is to get started.
People are earning between $100-$1000+ a month selling printables online (see their success stories here).
Benefits of selling printables:
- Don’t need previous experience
- Can turn into passive income
- Work from home + work as little or as many hours as you want
In this free training you’ll learn:
- Ideas for printables to make
- What you need to start an Etsy shop
- How to make sure you get sales on Etsy
As you can see below, making printables is a profitable side hustle! Julie earned over $20,000 in her spare time.
#2 Start a blog
I created this blog and made over $80,000 in my senior year of college (that’s me in my first major feature by Forbes!).
If you’re wondering how I make money on this blog, it comes from:
- Affiliate marketing (someone clicks on my affiliate link and I get a commission)
- Sponsored posts
- Advertising
- Selling my own products (like my online course)
If you want to start a website but have questions like:
- What should my blog be about?
- How do I know what to write about?
- How soon can I start making money?
Take a free training on building a new PROFITABLE blog.
This free training teaches you how to create an income-producing website. You also learn the key mistakes to avoid if you’re a beginner.
#3 Pinterest Virtual Assistant
A Pinterest Virtual Assistant is someone who manages a business’s profile on Pinterest.
Pinterest VA’s are in charge of tasks like creating new pins, scheduling pins, creating descriptions for pins, etc.
Benefits of being a Pinterest VA:
- Work from anywhere
- Set your own schedule
- Can make $500-$5,000+ a month
- Ability to quit your day job and do this full-time
Check out this free training here on how to become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant.
In the free training, you’ll learn:
- How to get started as a Pinterest VA right away
- Steps to take to start this business
- How to create a business plan based on how much you want to make
#4 Proofreader
Proofreaders work online and have the ability to work from anywhere in the world.
The average hourly rate is between $14-$31 an hour depending on your experience, which clients you’re working for, and the type of project.
To become a proofreader it’s important that you:
- Own a computer
- Reliable internet access
This job is done on your own schedule because you need to have the work done BY a certain time, not at a certain time.
In this free training you’ll learn:
- 5 signs proofreading is right for you
- How to attract proofreading clients
#5 Make and sell dog treats
You can earn $1,000-$5,000 a month with a dog treat business.
This fun and flexible side hustle can not only replace your day job, but bring you tons of joy by getting to bake and work with dogs on a regular basis.
My friend Kristin runs a successful dog treat business from home. She even teaches others how to replicate her success.
Check out this free training and learn:
- Most popular dog treats to sell
- Where to sell dog treats
- How much to charge
- What you need to start a dog treat business
#6 Freelance writing
If you enjoy writing or it sounds like something you want to get into, consider freelance writing as a side gig.
This is something I’ve been doing for over 10 years now and I really like it. I get paid around $250/article and it’s relatively easy work.
Benefits of freelance writing:
- Work from home
- Take on as little or as many articles as you want
- As you gain experience, you can charge more
- Set your own hours and be your own boss
#7 Find a remote job on FlexJobs search engine
If you want a remote part-time or full-time job, FlexJobs is the best online job marketplace.
FlexJobs saves you time, energy, and stress because their expert team personally vet the jobs and companies for you. This means you will never see a scam, ad, or any type of junk on FlexJobs.
FlexJobs lists jobs such as:
- Marketing assistant
- Virtual assistant
- Customer support specialist
- Graphic design
- Freelance writing
#8 Open an Etsy store
A great way to make extra money is opening up an online store. Etsy makes it SUPER easy to do this.
Your Etsy store can sell handmade:
- Crochet goods
- Woodworking crafts
- Pottery
- Handmade clothes
- Stickers
- Dog treats
- Baked goods
- Custom art work
- Party decor and games
Small businesses thrive on Etsy. With hard work and the right skill set, your online store can take off.
Recommended reading: 13 Best Things To Sell On Etsy
#9 Cash back with Ibotta
Ibotta is a free app that gives you cash back for making purchases on things like groceries, clothes, toiletries, and much more.
It’s silly not to use Ibotta if you’re a grocery shopper and also have to buy things like clothes, toiletries, household items, etc. Pretty much any kind of item is available for cash back on Ibotta.
Ibotta works at almost every grocery store, Best Buy, Etsy, Forever 21, Hotels.com, Sephora, Instacart, Kohls, Nike, PetCo, Amazon, Target, and hundreds of other stores.
If you sign up now, you can get $10 in your account by using my link here.
If you’re downloading Ibotta on your phone, the app will ask if you have a referral code. Use my referral code: lwyxxrb and you’ll get $10 for signing up.
Below is a look at the Ibotta app and how much you can earn in cash back.
#10 Surveys
Filling out surveys to make money is an easy way to make money by simply providing your opinion to questions.
Here are a few of my favorite surveys:
- Swagbucks ($5 bonus for signing up)
- Branded Surveys
#11 Task Rabbit
Task Rabbit lets you find jobs you love at rates you choose on a schedule that fits your life.
When you sign up for Task Rabbit, you’ll get notified of potential jobs nearby; you select the jobs you want to complete, confirm details with the client, and complete the work and submit your invoice.
Popular tasks include handyman work, cleaning, delivery, moving, furniture assembly, personal assistant, to name a few.
Sign up to become a Task Rabbit here.
Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.
With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.
Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.
If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.