Best side hustles for college students in 2024

College in the United States costs over $38,000 a year. This makes students look for ways to make extra money. The gig economy has grown, giving students many flexible jobs to earn cash while studying.

We will look at 18 top side hustles for college students in 2024. You’ll get tips and advice to balance your studies and make more money.

What are Side Hustles?

Side hustles are jobs you can do part-time. They help college students make extra money. You can do them around your school schedule.

These jobs can be anything like tutoring or writing online. They let you earn money and learn new skills.

Freelancers work for different clients on projects. They need skills like designing or writing. Pet sitting is great for animal lovers and costs little.

Dog walking is another easy job that doesn’t cost much. Tech services and helping seniors are also good for extra money.

Babysitting and helping with kids at home are popular. You can get better at these by taking courses. Being a personal assistant or washing cars is also a good idea.

Online jobs like being a virtual assistant are great too. You need a computer and internet. But they can pay well and are flexible.

Side hustles are a great way for college students to make money. They help you learn new things and earn extra cash.

Flexible Service Jobs

Many college students find success in flexible service-based side hustles. These jobs let them work around their school schedules. Examples include dog walking, house or pet sitting, and more.

• Dog walking: Perfect for animal lovers looking for flexible hours and moderate exercise, with average pay of $15-20 per walk.
• House or pet sitting: A great option for students with a more open schedule who can stay at others’ homes, with average pay of $25-50 per day.
• Rideshare driving: If you own a car, driving for Lyft or Uber can be a lucrative way to make money on your own schedule, with average pay of $15-25 per hour.
• Event photography: Capturing special moments at events is a good fit for those with photography skills, with average pay of $100-200 per event.
• Mobile car wash and detailing: Providing car cleaning services at the client’s location can earn $50-100 per service.
• Personal grocery shopping: Working independently or through a platform like Instacart can net $15-25 per hour.

These jobs are great for students who can manage their time well. They are good with children and earn $15-25 per hour. They help students make money while studying and learn valuable skills.

Side hustles offer the chance to develop skills and demonstrate time management abilities.

Online Opportunities

Online side hustles are great for college students. They offer jobs like freelance writing, social media management, and web development. Students can work from home and earn extra money.

Freelance writing can pay well, from $50 to $200 per article. Students can write for blogs, websites, and magazines. Social media management is also popular, earning $15 to $50 per hour.

Graphic design and web development are in demand too. Designing graphics can earn $25 to $50 per hour. Web development can bring in $500 to $1,000 per project. Video editing can earn $20 to $75 per hour.

Online tutoring is also popular, thanks to remote learning. Students can teach subjects online, earning $20 to $40 per hour. Virtual event planning can earn $20 to $60 per hour.

These jobs let students earn money while studying. They can use their skills to make money and learn valuable career skills.

Best side hustles for college students in 2025

College students have many side hustles to make extra money in 2025. Some options include:

• Helping other students or kids with school subjects for $15-30 an hour.
• Being a dorm leader for free or cheap room and board.
• Selling study notes and summaries to classmates for $10-50 each.
• Showing tours to new students as a campus guide for $10-15 an hour plus tips.
• Working on campus IT for $12-20 an hour.
• Helping in the library for $10-15 an hour.
• Doing research studies for $10-150 each.

These jobs help students earn more money. They also learn new skills, improve their resumes, and get experience. All while keeping up with school.

By trying different side hustles, college students can make more money. They also learn important skills and gain experience. This helps them in their future careers.

On-Campus Roles

College campuses have many part-time jobs for students. You can work in student housing or tech support. Let’s look at some top side hustles for college students in 2024 and beyond.

• Resident Assistant (RA) – Being an RA in your dorm can get you free or cheap room and board. You’ll plan events, solve problems, and keep the dorm happy.
• Selling Course Notes – You can sell your study notes and summaries to classmates for $10-50 each. It’s a smart way to make money from your studies.
• Campus Tour Guide – Giving tours to new students can pay $10-15 an hour plus tips. It’s a chance to show off your school spirit and talk skills.
• Tech Support Assistant – Helping with IT issues on campus can earn you $12-20 an hour.
• Library Assistant – Working in the library, you’ll help with books, check out materials, and find resources for students. It pays $10-15 an hour.

These jobs not only help your wallet but also improve your skills. You’ll learn about leadership, talking, and helping others. By doing these side hustles, you’ll get real-world experience and make your college years better.

“Employers want you to be good at teamwork (86%) and solving problems (91%), a 2020 survey by the National Association of College and Employers found.”

Many of these jobs help you get the skills employers love. This is good for your money and your future career.

Skilled Services

College students with special skills can make extra money. They can do things like:

• Write for blogs, websites, and magazines for $50-200 per article.
• Do graphic design for $25-50 an hour.
• Build websites for small businesses or personal projects for $500-1000.
• Make videos and edit them for $20-75 an hour.
• Teach online for $20-40 an hour.
• Help plan and manage virtual events for $20-60 an hour.
• Fix and maintain bicycles for $15-30 an hour.

These skills can help students earn extra money. They don’t need a lot of education or work experience. Some jobs, like writing and graphic design, can pay more than others. This makes them great for students who want to make money fast.

By trying these skilled services, students can find new ways to make money. These jobs are flexible and can pay well. They help students manage their money and prepare for their future careers.

Seasonal and Outdoor Jobs

For college students who love the outdoors or want seasonal work, here are some great options:

• Working at a local pool or beach: Earn $10-20 per hour as a lifeguard, snack bar manager, or grounds attendant during the summer months.
• Cleaning and yardwork: Offer cleaning services to local residents or businesses and earn $15-25 per hour.
• Community gardening: Lend a hand in local or campus gardens and earn $10-15 per hour.
• Seasonal farm work: Engage in tasks like fruit picking or crop maintenance and earn $12-15 per hour.

The summer months offer many outdoor job chances for college students. Many pool clubs open over Memorial Day weekend. They hire lifeguards, visitor scanners, and grounds attendants.

Platforms like Housesitter.com and Rover.com help find jobs for caretakers during summer trips. A Bankrate poll found 63% of side hustlers make over $100 monthly. 28% make over $500. These jobs let college students earn extra cash and enjoy the outdoors.

Remote Opportunities

The rise of remote work and the gig economy has opened many side hustles. College students can work from their dorms or apartments. Some examples include:

• Writing for blogs, websites, and magazines, which can earn $50-200 per article.
• Managing social media profiles for businesses or individuals, which can pay $15-50 per hour.
• Designing graphics for digital and print media, which can earn $25-50 per hour.
• Developing websites for small businesses or personal projects, which can net $500-1000 per project.
• Offering video production and editing services, which can earn $20-75 per hour.
• Teaching subjects online, which is in high demand due to remote learning trends and can pay an average of $20-40 per hour.
• Assisting in planning and managing virtual events, which can earn $20-60 per hour.

Forbes says up to 32.6 million Americans will work remotely by 2025. Six of the top 10 cities for remote jobs are in the U.S. Also, 35% of customer support specialists use AI to do less manual work. This shows a big demand for remote jobs.

Platforms like The Scholarship System help college students find remote jobs. They offer job listings and alerts every six hours.

Remote work offers college students flexible income and valuable skills. These skills will be in demand in the future job market.

Monetizing Hobbies and Talents

College students can turn their hobbies and talents into money-making side hustles. You can write, design graphics, edit videos, or teach music. These are great ways to make extra cash using your skills and interests. Here are some top ideas for making money from your hobbies and talents:

• Writing for blogs, websites, and magazines can earn you $50 to $200 per article, depending on your experience and the publication.
• Graphic design services, including designing graphics for digital and print media, can earn you $25 to $50 per hour.
• Video editing skills can be in high demand, with opportunities to earn $20 to $75 per hour providing video production and editing services.
• Creating and selling digital products, such as eBooks, online courses, or stock images, can provide you with a steady stream of passive income.
• Sharing your musical talents by providing music lessons can earn you $20 to $40 per hour.

To make money from your hobbies and talents, first find what you’re good at. Then, see if people want what you offer. Make a plan to share your skills or products well. With the right plan, college students can make money from their passions. This way, they can earn more and gain valuable experience.

The most successful side hustle is the one you’re passionate about. When you’re driven by purpose, you’ll work harder and achieve greater rewards.”

Gig Economy and Odd Jobs

The gig economy and odd jobs give college students a chance to earn more. They can do things like:

• Drive for Lyft or Uber and make $15-25 an hour.
• Deliver food with GrubHub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats and earn $15-25 an hour.
• Do short tasks on TaskRabbit and Thumbtack, like pet sitting or cleaning. You can make $15-25 an hour.
• Take part in research studies at universities. You can earn $10-150 per study.

More and more college students are getting into the gig economy and side hustles. 50% of millennials and 70% of Gen Zs have a side hustle. They find the flexible and good-paying jobs in the gig economy and odd jobs very appealing.

By diving into the gig economy and odd jobs, college students can earn more. This helps them during their studies and beyond.

Balancing Side Hustles and Academics

Managing a side hustle and college studies needs careful planning. Here are some tips to balance both:

1. Choose jobs that fit your school and personal life. Look for flexible jobs that match your class and study times.
2. Set limits: Keep a balance between work, study, and rest. Don’t take on too much in your side hustle to avoid burnout.
3. Explore career paths: Use your side hustle to try out different careers. This can give you valuable experience and insights.
4. Stay organized: Create a system to manage your time and tasks. Use calendars, to-do lists, and tools to keep up with deadlines.
5. Talk to your professors: Let them know about your side hustle. They can help find ways to manage any challenges.

To balance side hustles and studies, plan carefully. Choose the right jobs, set limits, and stay organized. This way, you can enjoy your side hustle while keeping your studies first.

“Students should aim to work 12 hours or less each week to prioritize their studies and graduate on time.”
– Joe DePaulo

By following these tips and finding side hustles that match your goals, you can find a good balance. This will help you succeed in the long run.

Building Skills and Experience

Side hustles offer more than just money. They help college students learn valuable skills and gain experience. This is useful after they graduate.

Students can learn skills like digital marketing, social media management, or content creation. These skills are wanted by employers. For example, managing Facebook ads or making online courses can give students real-world experience.

Side hustles also help students build a portfolio of work. This can include freelance writing, graphic design, or video editing. Sites like Freelancer and Upwork are great for building a portfolio and gaining experience.

Side hustles teach important business and entrepreneurial skills. Students learn about budgeting, invoicing, and talking to clients. These skills are useful in the corporate world. Plus, side hustles help students network and find jobs after graduation.