A broke college student is checking in. Let me guess, you're tired of living off instant noodles and hoping your debit card doesn't get declined at the campus bookstore? Same. I have been there, done that, and I have the overdraft fees to prove it.
I'm writing this because I'm sick of seeing "student job" articles written by people who obviously never had to choose between buying textbooks or eating actual food. You know the ones: "Just get a campus job!" Yeah, because working at the dining hall for $8/hour while taking organic chemistry sounds like a fantastic life choice.
Look, I've been broke in college. I felt like I was counting quarters for laundry. But I also figured out how to make decent money without completely destroying my GPA or social life. And more importantly, I've helped a ton of other students do the same thing.
My friend Emma makes about $650/month managing Pinterest accounts for small businesses. It takes her about 8 hours a week, and she can complete most of it while binge-watching Netflix. Jake tutors economics majors and pulls in over $1,000 some months just explaining stuff he already knows. Sarah sells study guides she makes for her classes and made $400 during finals week alone.
None of them are special geniuses or trust fund kids. They just found ways to make money that actually work with the insanity of college life.
Are you prepared to surpass the income of a student? Our complete roadmap covers advanced strategies.
Why Regular College Jobs Are Usually Terrible
Before I get into what actually works, can we talk about why most student jobs suck?
First off, the scheduling situation is ridiculous. Your typical retail or food service job wants you available during normal business hours. Cool, except you have classes at random times that change every semester. Please explain to your manager at GameStop that you are unavailable to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays due to your lab commitments.
Then there's the pay. The minimum wage is what, seven bucks? Even if you are fortunate to earn $12-15 per hour, you might expect to make approximately $300-400 per month if you are able to work 20 hours a week. That barely covers your textbooks, let alone rent or food that isn't from a vending machine.
And don't even get me started on how these jobs look on your resume. Two years of folding clothes or flipping burgers doesn't exactly scream "hire me for that marketing internship."
What's the most challenging aspect? Most of these jobs are completely inflexible when you actually need flexibility. Finals week? Too bad, you're still scheduled to work. I have a big project due tomorrow. I hope you can write a 20-page paper during your 15-minute break.
Could we explore a more effective approach? Spoiler alert: there is.
What Makes College Students Actually Good at Side hustles?
Here's something most people don't realize—college students have some serious advantages when it comes to making money on the side.
You're literally surrounded by potential customers. There are thousands of other students on your campus, all dealing with the same problems you are. Need help with calculus? So do 200 other people in that lecture hall. Want someone to walk your dog while you're in class? So do half the professors on campus.
Your schedule is weird, but it's also flexible in ways that regular people's timetables aren't. You have class from 10-11 and 2-4, but what about the three-hour gap? Most adults are stuck in offices during those hours.
You're also excellent at learning new stuff quickly. If you can figure out organic chemistry or master a foreign language in one semester, you can definitely learn how to use social media for business or pick up basic graphic design skills.
Plus, you understand your generation better than any 40-year-old trying to market to college students. You know what apps people actually use, what problems they're dealing with, and what would make their lives easier.
And let's be honest, you have access to resources that cost regular people money. There are student discounts, campus facilities, professors who actually know what they're talking about, and classmates who can help or collaborate with you.
The trick is finding side hustles that use these advantages instead of working against them.
The Side Hustles That Actually Work for Students
Alright, let's get to the good stuff. I'm organizing these based on how flexible they are, how much you can realistically make, and how well they fit with the chaos of student life.
Utilize the knowledge you are currently acquiring in your academic studies.
Tutoring
This one's obvious, but it works so well I have to mention it. If you're decent at any subject, other students will pay you to explain it to them.
I tutor calculus and economics, and honestly, it's kind of ridiculous how much people will pay. I started at $20/hour and now charge $35. I made over $1,200 last month, and that was just by working maybe 15 hours a week.
The best part is you can totally work around your schedule. Most tutoring happens in the evenings or weekends anyway. What happens during finals week when everyone is panicking? That's when you start making money.
Please share in your class Facebook groups, display flyers (with permission), or inform those you tutor. Information circulates quickly when you effectively assist others in comprehending concepts.
Pro tip: Focus on the classes everyone fails. At my school, organic chemistry and statistics are brutal, so those tutors can charge the most.
Making and Selling Study Materials
This is sneaky genius because you're basically getting paid for studying. I make detailed study guides and practice tests for my classes, then sell them to other students.
My friend Sarah does this and made $450 during finals week selling guides for her pre-med classes. She charges $15-25 per guide, and since she's making them for herself anyway, it's basically free money.
You can sell these in class group chats, on Facebook groups, or even just post flyers around campus. The key is making excellent ones that actually help people learn, not just copying the PowerPoint slides.
Writing and Editing assistance
If you're talented at writing, other students will pay you to help fix their papers. I'm not referring to composing papers for individuals (avoid doing so as it can lead to expulsion), but editing and proofreading are completely acceptable.
I help international students with their English and edit application essays for people applying to grad school. Charge about $25/hour and usually have more work than I can handle.
The demand is huge because many students struggle with writing, especially if English isn't their first language. Plus, it's flexible work you can do from anywhere.
Digital Stuff (Perfect for Our Generation)
Social Media for Local Businesses
This option is ideal because local businesses recognize the importance of social media but may not be sure how to effectively implement it. And let's be real, most business owners are not exactly Instagram experts.
My friend Emma manages social media for three local businesses near campus. He makes about $650/month just by posting content and responding to comments. She batches all the work on Sunday afternoons and then just posts throughout the week.
The hardest part is getting your first client, but once you have one success story, word spreads. Start by looking at businesses near campus with terrible social media (shouldn't be hard to find) and offer to help.
Content Creation
If you're already sharing content on TikTok or Instagram, perhaps consider monetizing it. Create content about college life, study tips, or whatever you're interested in.
My roommate Tyler makes TikToks about engineering student life and now makes about $400/month from brand partnerships with study apps and tech companies. His videos started as just fun ones, but companies started reaching out when he got a decent following.
The key is being consistent and actually providing value, not just posting random stuff. But if you're creative and willing to put in the work, the earning potential is pretty crazy.
Basic Graphic Design
You don't need to be an art major to do basic graphic design. With tools like Canva, you can learn enough in a few weeks to help student organizations make flyers or help local businesses with simple marketing materials.
My friend Alex learned basic design during COVID and now makes about $600/month by designing stuff for student events and local businesses. He began with free work for his fraternity, built a portfolio, and now has more work than he can handle.
Service Stuff: (Use Your Time and Energy)
Pet Care
This is probably the most flexible side hustle ever. Pet owners need help, especially during the day when they're at work or in class.
I walk dogs between classes and make about $400/month. It's actually perfect because I get to spend time with dogs instead of stressing about coursework, and the exercise is good for me anyway.
Sign up for Rover or Wag, but also just post in local Facebook groups. Many professors and campus staff need help with their pets during the day.
Delivery Services
Not just DoorDash (though that works too), but think about what students on your campus actually need. During finals week, I made $300 delivering Starbucks and food to people who didn't want to leave the library.
You can deliver groceries, supplies, food from places that don't deliver them, whatever. The key is figuring out what people need and when they need it most.
Moving Help
This is seasonal but pays really well. Beginning and end of each semester, everyone needs help moving in and out of dorms.
My friend Marcus makes $600-800 each semester just helping people move. He works intensively for about two weeks, then focuses on classes the rest of the time.
Team up with friends so you can take bigger jobs. Four people can move a dorm room in 30 minutes and split $100.
Event and Seasonal Stuff
Event Photography
Student organizations always need photographers for formals, events, and activities. And they usually have small budgets, so they'd rather hire students than expensive professionals.
My friend Rachel started shooting sorority events with her phone, built up a portfolio, and now makes about $800/month shooting campus events. She borrowed a better camera from the media department, but honestly, phone cameras are pretty decent now.
Focus on capturing the fun moments rather than trying to be super technical. Students want photos that show how much fun they had.
Test Prep Tutoring
If you scored well on the SAT, ACT, or any graduate school tests, you can help high school students or underclassmen do the same.
This pays way more than regular tutoring, like $30–60/hour. And there's always demand, especially during testing seasons.
I help pre-med students with MCAT prep and make $45/hour. I made $1,800 last month during peak MCAT season.
Campus Services
Consider the services that people on your campus require but aren't receiving well. I provide tour guides for prospective students, help during orientation week, and organize campus events.
During college visit season, my friend Jordan makes about $400/month giving weekend tours to families who want the real student perspective.
Making It Work with Your Actual Life
College students' side jobs must fit their lives, not take over.
Scheduling Smart
Don't try to work a little bit every day. That's a recipe for burnout. Instead, block out specific times for your side hustle. I might use Sunday afternoons for content creation or Tuesday/Thursday evenings for tutoring.
I do all my tutoring on weeknights and weekends, and I do social media work in batches. This approach is far more efficient than trying to squeeze it in randomly.
Seasonal Planning
Your schedule changes every semester, and some weeks are way busier than others. Plan for that. During midterms and finals, please consider reducing your side hustle work. During easier weeks or breaks, ramp it up.
I barely work during finals week, but I made $800 during spring break when I had nothing else to do.
Setting Boundaries
Never skip class for side hustle work. Never. Your education is the whole point of being in college. If a client can't work around your class schedule, they're not the right client.
Also, be upfront with people about being a student. Most people are understanding, and some actually prefer working with students because we're more affordable and flexible.
Common Mistakes I See Students Make
Undercharging Because You're "Just a Student"
Stop doing this. Your time is valuable, and if you do good work, you deserve good pay. Don't charge $10/hour for skilled work just because you're in college.
Overcommitting During Busy Periods
It's tempting to take on extra work when you need money, but don't destroy your GPA for a few hundred bucks. Scale back during busy academic periods.
Not Planning for taxes.
If your side hustles generate over $400 annually, it's important to address the associated tax obligations. Save about 25% of what you make and keep track of your expenses.
Choosing Money Over Experience
Sometimes a lower-paying opportunity that builds relevant skills is better than mindless work that pays more. Think about what will help you after graduation, too.
Building Something Bigger
The coolest thing about starting side hustles in college is that you might accidentally build something that becomes way bigger than just extra spending money.
My friend who started with social media management now runs a small agency. Another friend who tutored chemistry is starting an online course business. Someone I know who did campus photography now has a legit photography business.
You're not just making money; you're learning business skills, building a network, and figuring out what you're good at. That stuff is worth way more than whatever hourly wage you're making.
Getting Started This Week
Alright, enough talking. Here's what to actually do:
Please select one or two items from this list that align with your strengths and fit your schedule. Don't try to do everything.
Research what people in your area charge. Ask around, check online, and see what the market looks like.
Please establish the necessary basics, such as social media profiles and a simple website. Don't overthink this part.
Tell people what you're doing. Post in class group chats, tell your friends, and ask your parents to spread the word.
Reach out to potential customers directly. Don't just post and hope people find you.
The goal for your first week is to get one paying customer, even if it's just $25. Momentum matters more than perfect pricing.
Real Talk About Money and College
Look, side hustles aren't going to make you rich overnight. But they can definitely make your college experience way less stressful financially.
The difference between having an extra $500/month and being broke is huge. That's groceries that aren't ramen. That's not having to call your parents for emergency money. That's being able to go out with friends without checking your bank account first.
But more than that, it's the confidence that comes from knowing you can figure out how to make money when you need to. That skill will serve you way beyond college.
Most of my friends who did side hustles in college are doing way better now than the ones who just focused on grades. Not because grades don't matter, but because they learned how to solve problems, work with people, and create value in the real world.
Your homework:
- Pick one side hustle from this list.
- Figure out what you can realistically charge.
- Tell 10 people what you're doing.
- Find your first customer.
Don't overthink it. Just start.
You've got advantages you don't even realize yet. Use them.
Need more ideas for making money? Check out our complete side hustle guide or no-money side hustles if you're really broke right now.
