We know you’re a busy college student, but bills and expenses don’t take a break just because you’re studying. Finding a college side hustle can be a great way to earn some extra money while focusing on your studies.

In this article, we’ll explore side hustle ideas great for college students like you. Whether you prefer the flexibility of remote work or the experience of in-person opportunities, let’s dive into some of the best side hustles for college students.

1. Survey Apps

Taking surveys is one of the most well-known, legitimate side hustles any college student can do. You don’t need special skills, a lot of time, or to advertise your services. Instead, you download an app like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, Freecash, or Survey Junkie, complete a profile and then answer surveys.

Market research companies send out surveys about products and brands to get consumers’ opinions. They pay college students to offer these opinions because it helps them create better products and services.

You won’t make a lot of money answering surveys. Still, if you sign up for a few platforms and provide many details about yourself in your profile, you increase your chances of covering your living expenses by answering surveys in your free time.

Most survey sites are first-come-first-serve, so make sure you check back often so you can take advantage of the highest-paying surveys.

2. Dog walking 

If you’re a dog person, get paid to take walks in your spare time. Sign up for services like Rover and Wag to tap into existing pet-owner networks or start your own business.

As with babysitting, pay can vary depending on location, experience and the number of pooches in your care. You get to set your rate, but the average pay for professional dog walkers ranges from about $14 to $19 per hour, according to data from employment marketplace ZipRecruiter. Walking for an hour or two between classes or on weekends can add up

3. Food and Grocery Delivery

If you have a vehicle or other means of transportation, you can deliver food or groceries for money.

You can start these part-time side hustles by signing up with Instacart, Shipt, UberEats, or DoorDash. Before you choose, decide if you like grocery shopping or prefer to deliver food from restaurants.

With grocery shopping, you do the shopping yourself and then deliver it. If you deliver food, you pick up restaurant orders that are already ready and deliver them to the client.

With each of these apps, you set your own hours and pick up deliveries when you want. You can see the size of the order and the amount you’d earn if you accepted the order before taking it.

Like most side hustle apps, you keep 100% of your tips, so the better customer service you offer, the more money you’ll make.

4. Driving for Lyft or Uber

Working around your classes as a rideshare driver might appeal to you. First, check if you meet the age requirement to become an Uber driver or Lyft driver in your city. Then, research the pay potential.

Many factors affect how much drivers make, including ride length, demand, bonuses and tips. The average pay for Uber and Lyft drivers is about $15 to $25 an hour, according to SideHusl.com, a site that reviews side job platforms.

It’s worth mentioning that driving gigs come with their share of expenses too. You’ll need to have a car and pay for your own gas, maintenance and rideshare insurance, for example. Many drivers earn less than the minimum wage in their state when all is said and done. Do some careful calculations before you go this route.

5. Sell Items Online

If you have items you don’t use or love finding great deals, consider flipping them for a profit on flea market sites. You can sell secondhand and brand-new products and make a few dollars.

Depending on what you have to sell, there are several sites you can use to sell your items, including Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Worthy, and Poshmark. Look around on each site to see the items sold to determine where your items would sell best.

Remember, when you sell things online, you must include shipping costs and be responsible for shipping the items promptly.

6. Editing

Editing makes an excellent side hustle for college students who excel at writing. Many companies pay college students to edit their website content, blogs, or other related material. Students on your college campus may also need help proofreading their essays.

You can get work with this profitable side hustle in a few ways. For example, advertise your services around campus and online on local websites to gain a local audience, or use third-party platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to advertise your services.

7. Tutoring

You’re a good student and you’ve earned good grades. Why not make some money off of that? There’s a wide range of subjects and ages you can work with as a tutor.

Helping other students improve their academic performance or prepare for tests like the ACT and SAT is bound to feel rewarding too. Private tutoring gigs pay about $27 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. You can tutor in person or online through websites like Tutor.com and TutorMe, if your application is approved.

8. Working as a resident advisor

A resident advisor, or resident assistant, serves as a peer mentor and problem solver. An RA’s responsibilities typically include planning community activities, enforcing university rules and handling student conflicts.

The perks vary depending on the school, but many RAs get free room and board on campus, priority class registration and a small stipend or hourly wages. The position requires a large time commitment, but it can also help you develop valuable leadership and communication skills.

9. Babysitting

Babysitting is a great side hustle for any college student. If you’re going to school to be a teacher or to work with kids in any other way, babysitting is beneficial in gaining relevant work experience.

You set your availability and rates and advertise your services. Consider putting your information on your social media pages and hanging flyers around the area. Tell everyone you know you’re willing to babysit; word-of-mouth is often the best way to get babysitting jobs.

Depending on where you live, you can charge between $15 – $25 (or more!) an hour for babysitting, which can pay you enough money to cover your living expenses and get ahead on your student loan debt.

10. Cleaning, yardwork and other odd jobs

There’s also a variety of side jobs you can pick up if you’re willing to do more physical work. For example, you can get paid for yardwork, housekeeping, assembling furniture, painting houses and even running errands like dropping off dry cleaning.

You can advertise these and other services on your own or with apps such as TaskRabbit and Care.com. Family, friends and neighbors can make great initial clients. Odd jobs are a good way to earn extra bucks as needed in your out-of-school hours. Payment will vary depending on the task and where you’re located.

11. Data entry clerk

Have an eye for detail? Consider becoming a data entry clerk. This side hustle involves entering data into spreadsheets or databases. This is a good fit for detail-oriented college students comfortable working with computer software.

Majors like business administration, computer science, or any field that enhances attention to detail and computer skills can benefit aspiring data entry clerks. On Upwork, you can find data entry opportunities with hourly rates typically ranging from $10 to $20 per hour.

12. Product photographer

Working as a product photographer can be a creative side hustle for students studying photography (with access to equipment). Businesses often require high-quality product photos for their websites and marketing materials. You can even use your photo skills to sell stock photos on Shutterstock or similar services for passive income.

Hourly rates for product photography on Upwork depend on the scope of the project. The average rate for a product photographer is $20 an hour.

13. House cleaner

Cleaning houses can be a physically demanding but a rewarding side hustle. Many people are willing to pay for cleaning services to save time or maintain a tidy home. You can offer your services independently or join a professional cleaning service.

This is a great way to make extra cash near your college campus. Hourly rates for house cleaning can vary depending on the size of the house, the level of cleaning required, and the location. The average pay is around $13 an hour.

15. Podcaster

Looking for a creative and engaging side hustle? Consider starting your own podcast! Podcasting can be rewarding for those passionate about a particular topic and who love sharing their thoughts and ideas with others.

Whether you want to discuss your favorite hobbies, share industry insights, or interview fascinating guests, podcasting allows you to connect with a global audience and showcase your unique voice. Communications, media studies, journalism, or any field related to your podcast’s niche can help provide a solid base.

Building and growing your audience can take time, and the average hourly pay for podcast hosts is $35 an hour.