While attending college, your main focus is being successful in your academic studies, but you do still have bills to pay. College expenses continue to increase so many students turn to a side job for help!
Since it is difficult having a full-time schedule and working, a side job is the perfect way to help pay your bills without having to take a lot of time away from your classes.
Having a side job is a great way to earn money without having to work forty hours a week. Plus, most side jobs allow you to work when you can and take days off when needed.
Below, you will find a list of options for the best jobs for college students (both on-campus and off campus).
Best Gigs For College Students
On-Campus Side Gigs:
The best place to start looking for a side job to earn extra cash is on-campus! As a student, there are lots of opportunities and jobs that you can apply for that are only given to students.
As an added bonus, these jobs do not always require you to commute, and they should definitely work around your schedule.
1. Tour Guide
Love your campus? A fun side job that you can do while in college is becoming a tour guide to help persuade prospective students to apply.
You will need to be energetic and informative. Show off your knowledge of the school to parents and high schoolers while earning money!
Where to Start – Start at your school! Many colleges and universities have regular openings for tour guides.
2. Office Assistant
Even though you may not be able to score an on-campus job in the field you are interested in, you can still make money by being an Office Assistant.
The best part about this job is you do not have to have a lot of experience. You will be able to have a flexible schedule and complete work that includes filing or answering phones.
Where to Start – You will need to contact the office at your university (or other universities close to your area) to see if they need help and get your resume on file.
3. Study Participant
Many colleges are looking to pay students for participating in studies or surveys. This is a fun way to earn money on the side without having to have a set schedule every week.
Check your school’s job board to find study participant jobs.
Where to Start – There is a list of university research sites here.
4. Teaching Assistant
If you are an upperclassman, you have the opportunity to earn money on the side by becoming a teaching assistant.
Responsibilities can include grading papers and meeting with students during office hours. You can be a great resource for new students while helping out a professor at your school.
You will need to check your school policies for the requirements to become a teaching assistant along with how they normally pay.
Where to Start – Simply get in touch with your teachers to see if they need any help! You could also check bulletin boards around your school to see if any teaching assistant jobs have been posted.
Your chances of getting hired are better if you are doing well academically, are punctual, and show a lot of responsibility in class.
Off-Campus Side Gigs:
If you are not interested in working on-campus, or all of the positions have been filled, take a look at some of the off-campus side job options.
There are always places hiring for part-time work, but be sure to find out how many hours you will need to work each week because you do not want to become overwhelmed and not have enough time to complete your school work.
1. Online Tutoring
If you are very knowledgeable in a specific course subject, you might consider trying some online tutoring jobs.
Most colleges will require you to have completed certain courses prior to starting or take an exam to determine your capabilities. You may be paid by the hour or by the session, but either way you can really earn some extra money while helping out your fellow classmates.
Where to Start – Try Brainfuse, Tutor.com, or do some ESL tutoring with PandaTree.
2. Independent Sales
Selling a product or service that matches your interests is not only one of the best jobs for college students, but it is also a great way to learn valuable skills for your future. There are more than 1,500 direct sales companies that you can choose from to make extra cash.
Where to Start – Stella & Dot is a very well-known direct sales companies with high-quality products. Another option is Avon — a reputable company most people have heard of.
3. Sell Stuff on Craigslist & eBay
People always think that it is really hard to sell their old or used items, but it is really simple! Two of the best jobs for college students with no experience needed is selling on Craigslist or eBay. Craigslist is actually a great option to start with because you do not have to pay for shipping.
With Craigslist, you list your items on the site for free and local buyers can then purchase them from you. The only downfall is you are limited geographically because it for local sales. In that case, you should consider selling eBay. You can have an item listed on eBay in less than five minutes.
The key to selling on either of these sites is having good images and setting a fair asking price. You will be surprised how much people would pay for stuff you no longer use that is laying around the house.
Where to Start – Here is a beginner's guide to selling on eBay that may help you if you're new and unsure what to do.
4. Freelance Writing
Becoming a freelance writer may be an option that you have never considered, but it is one of the best paying part time jobs for college students, especially if you're talented.
It's not unusual for freelance writers to make hundreds per week just working part-time if they find high-paying work.
Where to Start – Textbroker, BuyKeyword Articles, or for higher-paying work, view open jobs at ProBlogger.
5. Virtual Assistant
This is a great side job for college students because the work is normally flexible. All you need to have is a computer and internet service to get started.
Virtual assistant jobs can include tasks like managing emails, making phone calls, social media promotions, etc.
Since it is not a job that needs to fit into regular business hours, you should be able to fit it into your class schedule when you have free time.
Where to Start – Fancy Hands  or Time, Etc.
6. Caregiver
Being a caregiver is an excellent way to make money throughout college because you can work with your schedule. Reach out to local families that need help with their children, or find people in the area that may need help taking care of their pet.
This can be a nice way to work off-campus while still having time to go to your classes.
Where to Start – Rover.com is a popular pet-sitting option.
7. Make Deliveries
And when I say “make deliveries,” this does NOT mean deliver for your local pizza restaurant, necessarily, although it is similar.
There are plenty of companies out that need people to deliver food and groceries to people who order them from a variety of stores/restaurants.
You use your own car and drive when you're able — which makes this ideal for college students who have busy, sometimes irregular schedules with class and study time.
Where to Start – Shipt, Instacart, Postmates, and DoorDash are some great options.
Whether you choose to look for a gig on-campus or off-campus, there are always opportunities that can help you earn extra throughout college.
Figure out what works best for you to help alleviate the debt that arises with getting an education.
About the Author
Addi Ganley is a full-timer blogger and writer at Frugal Fanatic, where she offers a fresh perspective on frugal living and provides various options to earn an income. She focuses on how to make money either full-time or part-time, and teaches people about money management on a tight budget.
Looking For More Work at Home Ideas For Young People?
If you enjoyed this list of jobs for college students and you're in search of more ideas for young people, be sure to check out this list of online jobs for teens to see more ways you can earn money as a young person.
We also have a HUGE list of 80 side gigs that anyone can do in their spare time.