With the average cost of college exceeding $38,000 per year in the United States, college students are constantly seeking ways to earn extra cash to cover their expenses. Balancing a busy class schedule with a full-time job can be challenging, but the gig economy offers a variety of side hustles that can help supplement your income. Here are some of the best side hustles for college students and tips for balancing your workload.
### Best Side Hustles for College Students
#### Food Delivery
Delivering food through services like Grubhub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats is a popular side hustle that allows you to set your own hours. All you need is a reliable car or bike and a phone to start earning money. Additionally, services focused on grocery delivery, like Instacart and FreshDirect, provide additional opportunities for earning extra cash.
#### Virtual Assistant Services
Virtual assistants provide administrative support to professionals by organizing emails, scheduling meetings, and performing data entry work. College students can apply for virtual assistant positions on freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Fancy Hands. This side hustle can earn you an average of $25 an hour and provide valuable skills that can translate to traditional jobs after graduation.
#### Reselling Used Items
If you have a knack for finding valuable used items at thrift stores or garage sales, consider reselling them for a profit. Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and eBay can help you earn extra cash. You could refurbish more expensive items like furniture to increase your profit margins or sell used items you already own but no longer need, like old clothes or textbooks.
#### Tutoring
Tutoring peers in person on college campuses or becoming an online tutor through platforms like Wyzant, Preply, and Chegg can earn you about $24 an hour. You can set your own rates and hours and offer tutoring services in subjects like math, English, coding, video editing, or music production.
#### Selling Stock Photos
If you have a talent for photography, consider monetizing your skills by licensing your work on websites like iStock and Shutterstock. Photographers who sell stock photos can make anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars per month, depending on the quality and marketability of their work.
#### Freelance Writing
Offering writing services to paying clients who need website content, advertisements, or technical manuals can earn you an average of $22 an hour. Freelance writing gigs can be found on websites like FlexJobs, Writers Work, and Upwork, and can help hone your communication skills and bolster your resume.
#### Picking Up Odd Jobs
Explore sites like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack for short-term odd jobs like pet-sitting, house-sitting, house cleaning, furniture assembly, or lawn care. Rates vary by job, but you can choose ones that fit your own schedule and interests.
#### Social Media Management
If you have a talent for building an audience on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, consider part-time work as a social media manager. You can create content and develop strategies for improving your clients’ social media accounts, earning valuable experience in the marketing industry.
#### Ecommerce
Launching a successful ecommerce store can be a lucrative side hustle that continues to generate profit beyond graduation. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to quickly create a professional online store with customizable templates, secure payment gateways, and built-in marketing tools like Shopify Email.
#### Graphic Design
Offer your graphic design services to clients who need design work for websites, publications, advertisements, or packaging. Establish an online presence with a website showcasing your work and connect with potential clients on platforms like 99designs and Dribbble. Graphic designers can make $22 to $23 an hour on average, making this side hustle a potentially lucrative option.
#### Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing allows businesses to pay individual affiliate marketers to promote their products, services, or brand. If you have an audience online through content creation and social media, you can promote a company using a specific affiliate link and earn commissions based on sales.
#### Web Development
Learn website development languages like HTML, JavaScript, or Python, and apply these valuable skills to freelance projects. With time and practice, you can create a lucrative side hustle with flexible hours and rates in the growing software industry.
### How to Balance a Side Hustle in College
#### Set Goals
Before choosing a side hustle, set realistic goals for how much time you want to invest and how much money you want to earn. Choose side hustles that align with your career interests to gain valuable experience.
#### Manage Your Schedule
Write out your full class schedule and existing commitments to allocate specific hours of the week for your side hustle. Ensure that your time commitment won’t interfere with your classwork.
#### Build a Network
Join clubs related to your side hustles on campus, attend networking events, reach out to professors, and apply for internships to build connections in your desired field.
#### Identify and Develop Your Skills
List the skills you need for your side hustle and perform a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Research business strategies and develop your skills to succeed in your new side business.
In conclusion, college students have a variety of side hustles to choose from to supplement their income and gain valuable experience. By setting goals, managing your schedule, building a network, and developing your skills, you can successfully balance a side hustle with your college commitments. Whether you choose to deliver food, offer virtual assistant services, resell used items, or pursue any other side hustle, the gig economy offers endless opportunities for earning extra cash while in college.
