15 Side Hustle Ideas for College Students To Make Money in 2024

Here's a list of trending side hustles for students to make money in 2022. So, start earning some extra money now.

Are you a student looking for side hustle ideas to earn extra money?

You are not alone.

Almost 75% of college students currently have a part-time job while attending school.

That being said, there are many benefits to having second jobs for college students. A few of them are listed below:

1. Side money jobs for college students enhance their skills and experience.
2. Some high-paying side hustles for college students help them pay off college expenses.
3. Side gigs for college students give them a chance to grow as entrepreneurs at a young age.

In this article, we have shared 15 side hustles for students that can help them earn extra income and improve their financial situation while they are in college.

15 Side Hustle Ideas For College Students To Make Extra Money

1. Sell Digital Products Online
2. Start A Blog
3. Start A Newsletter
4. Become A Freelance Writer
5. Build A Directory Website
6. Become A Virtual Bookkeeper
7. Sell Freelance Photography
8. Become A Virtual Assistant
9. Work Part-Time At a Library
10. Designing For Print-On-Demand Sites
11. Start A Podcast
12. Become A Social Media Influencer
13. Website Testing
14. Become A Delivery Driver
15. Dog Walking

1. Sell Digital Products Online

A good source of passive income is selling digital products. A digital product is an intangible asset or piece of media that can be sold and distributed repeatedly online without replenishing inventory. You can sell an online course, a digital template, and other tools to your fellow college students.

Some of the digital products you can sell are resume templates for job-seekers, different software, different plugins, icons, fonts, or UX Kits for web designers.

cost to start: $0

How to get started

You can sign up on any platform that allows you to sell digital products. You may sell your digital products and generate passive money online using FreshLearn, an all-in-one platform for artists. It also provides a freemium approach to assist you in getting started selling digital things for free.

Difficulty:

It's an easy side hustle with immense benefits.

Skills required

No skills are required. Launching your digital product is an ideal side hustle for you if you're good at something.

Expected pay

You can earn money even when you sleep. Your per-hour income can go above and beyond $500 as well.

Benefits

1. You help fellow students learn the subjects you have already learned by sharing your digital product.
2. Once you create a digital product, you can keep selling it to anyone anywhere online(saving a lot of time and effort).

Drawbacks

1. No drawbacks as you are sharing about things you know/love.

2. Start A Blog

Blogging is one of the most popular side hustle ideas for college students, as you can do it from anywhere. One of the most intriguing aspects of blogging is how it might improve your current job in a roundabout way.

Employers will see how you think about problems and what projects you've worked on if you share your work with them. If you decide to apply for a new full-time job, this can help you be noticed or stand out from a sea of resumes.

Cost to start

Starting a blog requires some early investments costing around $34.50 to $65.40, including domain cost, website hosting platform, etc.

How to get started

Choose your blog name and get your blog hosting. You can choose a template from websites like Blogger, WordPress, or FreshLearn.

Difficulty: Easy

Skills required

No skills are needed.

Expected pay

It's pretty easy to make an extra $500 – $2,000 per month blogging in your first year. Then, in years 2 and beyond, after you've built traffic and subscribers, you can increase revenue to $100,000+.

Benefits

1. This is something you can quickly build on the side with just a few hours of work per week.
2. A blog gives people a reason to visit your website and creates a sense of community with common problems or interests.

Drawbacks

1. A good blog requires regular updates.
2. Technical issues like expired SSL certificates, plugin conflicts, and coding problems will cause issues with the blog.

3. Start A Newsletter

Starting a newsletter is an innovative way to earn money without putting in much effort. If you like writing about any topic, running a blog, or having a website, you can start making money by sending out newsletters.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

1. Choose a newsletter platform like Revue, Substack, Buttondown, etc.
2. Select a topic to write on.
3. Build your email list of all the users who sign up to receive your email newsletter.
4. Start creating your newsletters.

Difficulty:

It's easy to start a newsletter.

Skills required

No skills are required.

Expected pay

The average price of a paid newsletter is $11 a month. Pricing typically doesn't go below $5 a month, like Career Capital.

Benefits

1. It helps you build a digital family and strengthen relationships.
2. Newsletters are a time-saving strategy as you have to select a specific topic and send out emails on a defined schedule. You also can schedule them in advance, so they can go live automatically when the time comes.

Drawbacks

1. No drawbacks as you are sharing knowledge with the world.

4. Become A Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is one of the simplest ways to earn money, especially if you're a quick writer. Many businesses are searching for writers to help with various forms of writing, including blogs, technical writing, email writing, social content, etc.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

There are many sites where you can register to start up freelance writing and get paid instantly, like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.

Difficulty:

It is easy to become a freelance writer, however, it depends on your writing skills and experience.

Skills required

You should know how to write and having a good hold over grammar is essential for this side hustle.

Expected pay

Good writers can make pretty decent money. The average writer takes in a little over $63,000 annually. So making $1,000/month part-time is doable.

Benefits

1. You don't need any formal training to write.
2. You can write on your own time and virtually from anywhere.
3. As a freelance writer, you can learn about new topics.

Drawbacks

1. There can be inconsistent income.
2. Overworking is another problem that freelancers face.

5. Build A Directory Website

A directory website is a website that lists products and services you can browse through. You can monetize this website in many ways, like charging for listing, selling advertising space, etc. This is one of the easiest side hustles for students online that can help them earn passive income without commuting.

Cost to start

Starting a directory website can cost anywhere between $12- $100 including website development and hosting.

How to get started

1. Choose a website platform like WordPress
2. Select a hosting provider and a domain name
3. Install a directory theme to control your site’s looks
4. Decide how to monetize your site

Difficulty:

It's easy to build a directory website.

Skills required

No skills are required.

Expected pay

You can make anywhere from $0-$1000 on average per day for a month.

Benefits

1. You can work from anywhere.
2. Unlimited income potential.

Drawbacks

1. Competition is high when it comes to your directory website-making business.

6. Become A Virtual Bookkeeper

Every small online business requires the services of a bookkeeper. They arrange and track income and spending so that a business owner may focus on what they do best: running the company. As you can practically track all financial information online, competent bookkeepers may handle several clients and earn a solid side income while working from home.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

Sign up for popular freelance marketplace sites. Often, you can find a variety of bookkeeping jobs posted across different platforms like Indeed, and FlexJobs. These can range from temporary gigs to long-term projects.

Difficulty: Medium to Hard

Skills required

It is possible to enter this career with no more than a high school diploma or associate's degree; it is much easier to start as a bookkeeper than in other related careers.

Expected pay

A part-time (10 hours per week) bookkeeper can earn an extra $10,000 per year with only 3-4 clients. An entry-level bookkeeper's hourly rates hover at about $18.50 an hour.

Benefits

1. Great opportunity and excellent employment potential for new bookkeepers and those with experience.
2. They are needed in a variety of businesses.
3. Bookkeepers can advance to accountants and earn a higher salary with the proper knowledge.

Drawbacks

1. Work very long hours during peak seasons.
2. High level of stress.

7. Sell Freelance Photography

Side jobs for college students allow them to follow their passion. For example, if you have a passion for photography, you can earn extra money by photographing portraits, weddings, or selling stock photography. You'll need first to develop your portfolio, but if you have one that you're happy with, you can start applying to freelance photography sites to sell your work.

Cost to start

$0- $200 depending on the equipment you buy.

How to get started

Register on sites like Upwork, and Freelancer, and get started. You can also sell stock photos on online platforms like Shutterstock.

Difficulty:

Medium

Skills required

Photography skills are required.

Expected pay

The average salary can be $37.2 per hour.

Benefits

• There is a lot of freedom and independence in this side hustle.
• You will be shooting pictures all the time. (something you love doing)
• The flexibility of work hours and location.

Drawbacks

• The job can be demanding.
• Equipment breakdowns can be expensive.

8. Become A Virtual Assistant

As the world becomes more connected to the internet, you can complete more tasks without meeting face-to-face.

This has resulted in a surge in demand for "virtual assistants." Some of the work that virtual assistants do includes data input, social media administration, formatting, editing, etc. These side hustles for students online help them earn passive income without commuting.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

The internet is a great place to start searching for a virtual assistant job. Platforms like Freelancer, Fiverr, Indeed, etc., let you search for virtual assistant jobs in any geographic location, including remote roles.

Difficulty: Easy

Skills required: No degree or educational skills are needed.

Expected pay:

The average salary for virtual assistants is $15.87 per hour, and salaries range from $7.25 to $37.50 per hour.

Benefits

1. You can choose what services to offer.
2. You can earn using your existing skills.

Drawbacks

1. You need to hustle to find clients.
2. Work-life balance might be a problem as you will be working remotely.

9. Work Part-Time At a Library

Working as a library assistant is a great side gig for anyone who enjoys reading. You'll be in charge of shelving books, assisting consumers in finding books and other materials, and giving book suggestions. You'll also be asked to assist the librarians with administrative tasks and plan any library activities during the school year.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

Volunteer at your college, or explore open librarian positions

Difficulty:

It's an easy side hustle.

Skills required

No skills are required.

Expected pay

The average wage of a part-time library assistant is $13.24 per hour.

Benefits

1. You get a lot of quiet time to catch up on your studies or to prepare for an upcoming exam.
2. It is a relaxed workplace.

Drawbacks

1. No drawbacks, except, you may get bored with this side hustle as there is nothing exciting to do.

10. Designing For Print-On-Demand Sites

Consider creating digital designs and sending them to print-on-demand websites. First, you have to make the design and select the things to print it on. Travel mugs, T-shirts, and phone cases are all popular choices. Additionally, you can include the designs in your portfolio to help you land a graphic design internship.

Cost to start

$0-$10/month if you purchase designing tools.

How to get started

Create an account on print-on-demand websites like RedBubble, Society6, and CafePress.

Difficulty: Medium

Skills required

Graphic Designing

Expected pay

You may profit around $5-$8 per day, assuming the customer buys a single t-shirt. This comes out to approximately $150 to $240 per month in mostly passive income.

Benefits

1. It's easy to set up.
2. Allows you to focus on what you're good at

Drawbacks

1. You depend on your printing partner for products and their availability.
2. Order fulfilment takes longer.

11. Start A Podcast

Talking about side hustle ideas for college students online, we can't miss Podcasting. Podcast listenership has been gradually increasing year after year.

Like social networking and blogging, Podcasting has become an essential part of the online content landscape. So, if you're looking for a way to supplement your income, establishing a podcast is a viable option.

Cost to start

While you can start a podcast for free, it will almost probably cost you at least $100 to get started.

This includes the cost of your equipment, a podcast hosting account, and software subscription, as well as extras like theme music, and cover art design.

How to get started

There are many free and paid podcasting software programs like GarageBand, Adobe Audition, Audacity, Skype, Zoom, and Discord.

Difficulty: Hard

Skills required

To get started, you don't need any technical or communication abilities. You can do it if you have the will to learn and the willingness to try new things.

Expected pay

Podcasters' average hourly wages range from $30 to $44 per hour (equivalent to $55 to $80 per year).

Benefits

1. You get to bring your feelings and opinions to the world.
2. High likelihood of customer retention.

Drawbacks

1. It is a long and tedious process to start.
2. Time-consuming and difficult to scale.

12. Become A Social Media Influencer

This is one of the most popular side hustle ideas for college students. If you have a substantial social presence on platforms like Instagram, you can monetize your social media following to become an influencer. Influencers are paid to be the face of a company, advocating specific items or even destinations. It may begin with free items, but it can eventually lead to thousands of dollars for each post on Instagram, YouTube, etc.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

• Find a niche- fashion/ technology/ food etc
• Select social media channels like Instagram/Fb/ Youtube
• Create giveaway-free, engaging content
• Increase reach by connecting with brands

Difficulty: Medium

Skills required

No skills are needed. You just need to create creative content to influence the masses.

Expected pay

An influencer gets $2,970 per month on average. However, income varies significantly between accounts, especially depending on the number of followers. Micro-influencers (followers of 1,000 to 10,000) earn an average of $1,420 a month.

Benefits

1. There is potential to earn a lot of money and become famous.
2. You get a lot of free products.

Drawbacks

1. You might have to deal with hate on social media.
2. It is an unstable source depending on your popularity.

13. Website Testing

One of the lesser-known side hustle ideas for college students is website testing. Website owners want to know what regular visitors think of their websites. They'll pay for that data since it helps them provide a better user experience and attracts more readers. As a result, website testing is a simple option for college students to earn some extra money.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

All you need is a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and microphone. Then, register on websites that pay you to test them—for example, UserTesting, Userfeel, Loop11, etc.

Difficulty: Medium

Skills required

You don't have to be a techie to become a website tester. The only thing you need to be good at is speaking fluent English (to understand the text) and knowing how websites work.

Expected pay

Sites like UserTesting pay $4 for a five-minute test, $10 for a 20-minute test, and between $30 and $120 for a live interview.

Benefits

1. It is a rewarding side hustle as it solves an immediate issue for your customer.
2. There are high-profit margins in this job.

Drawbacks

1. There is a lack of employee benefits.
2. Work can be inconsistent.

14. Become A Delivery Driver

Being a delivery driver can help you make some extra money. Working as a courier, food delivery driver, or grocery delivery is a popular side job for college students.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

You can register at different delivery apps, and after getting your background check, you are all set. A few delivery apps to consider are Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.

Difficulty: Easy

Skills required

No skills are required.

Expected pay

Earning power is typically in the $14-25 per hour range, and you can set your schedule.

Benefits

1. You can work independently.
2. You have a higher level of freedom with a flexible schedule.
3. You can work many extra hours and make significantly more money.

Drawbacks

1. Time-bound as there is a need to deliver the food within the promised time.
2. Dealing with difficult conditions like rain, cold and unpredictable traffic.

15. Dog Walking

When people go out of town, they need someone to care for their dogs, similar to babysitting. If you love animals, pet sitting can be one of the most fun side hustles for university students to make some extra cash.

Cost to start: $0

How to get started

1. Word of mouth.
2. Register on websites like Rover.com, Wagwalking.com, etc.

Difficulty: Easy

Skills required

No skills are needed. You just need to be a pet lover.

Expected pay

According to Indeed.com, the average pay for dog walkers is $14.95 per hour. So as a pet sitter, you can make up $1,250 per month.

Benefits

1. Enjoyable experience along with making new friends.
2. Flexibility and independence.

Drawbacks

1. All-weather walks might be challenging for you.
2. Variable income.

Conclusion

Out of all these side hustles for students, the most lucrative way to make passive income is selling digital products, which require no investment, involve less effort, and give high passive income.

Start selling your digital products with FreshLearn for free. It is a new-age and revolutionary platform that can help you quickly make some extra money.

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