25+ Best Side Hustles for College Students in 2025

College is expensive. The average cost of tuition, supplies, books, and living expenses is more than $38,000 per year in the United States. To cover these rising costs, college students are exploring more ways to earn extra cash, whether it’s through in-person gigs or remote side hustles you can do in your dorm room. 

Fortunately, the gig economy continues to grow, giving you more flexible options than ever for online side hustles and in-person jobs to supplement your income and fit around your busy class schedule.

Here are more than 25 of the best side hustles for college students, plus practical tips for balancing your workload along the way.

Best online side hustles for college students

• Ecommerce
• Virtual assistant services
• Freelance writing
• Tutoring
• Graphic design
• Social media management
• AI businesses
• Data entry
• Translation services
• Brand ambassador or social media influencer
• Résumé and cover letter editing
• Proofreading and editing

Online side hustles give you the flexibility to work from anywhere—your dorm room, the library, or a coffee shop—while fitting around your class schedule. 

Many require only a laptop and internet connection, so they’re an accessible way to build skills and earn extra income.

Ecommerce

Earn money by launching a successful ecommerce store. While this side hustle requires upfront work, it can grow into a lucrative business that can continue beyond graduation. 

Take Mad Rabbit, for example. In 2019, two friends started the tattoo aftercare brand as a senior-year project. They began small, selling a single, high-quality balm online. With strong branding, smart influencer marketing, and product expansion, they built a loyal customer base and eventually landed a deal on Shark Tank. Today, Mad Rabbit is valued at $56 million.

If you want to explore launching your online store, identify a need in the marketplace, develop your products or services, and write a business plan. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to create a professional online store with customizable templates, secure payment gateways, and built-in marketing tools like Shopify Email.

Virtual assistant services

Virtual assistants (VAs) provide administrative support to professionals by:

• Organizing emails
• Scheduling meetings
• Booking travel
• Doing data entry work

Most college students can manage VA work in five to 10 hours a week, often splitting tasks into short daily blocks—ideal for fitting tasks around classes and studying.

When looking for clients, choose platforms based on your experience:

• Upwork works well if you have a clear skill set and want to build long-term relationships with repeat clients. You can set your own rates and bid on projects that match your availability.
• Fiverr is better for offering quick, defined services (“gigs”) like scheduling a month of social media posts or cleaning up a spreadsheet, which can help you build a portfolio fast.
• Fancy Hands is ideal for beginners. It assigns small, one-off tasks and handles client communication for you.

Part-time VAs earn an average of $27 an hour. You’ll also gain valuable, marketable skills like organization, communication, and problem-solving—all highly transferable to full-time jobs after graduation.

Freelance writing

Earn money on the side by offering freelance writing services to clients who need website content, ads, blog posts, email campaigns, or press releases. With just five to eight hours a week dedicated to writing, you could complete one or two assignments alongside classes.

When finding work, choose platforms that match your needs and experience:

• Upwork is great for building long-term relationships with clients in niches you enjoy, like tech, lifestyle, or education. You can set your rates and filter projects by budget and timeline.
• FlexJobs offers a curated list of remote, flexible writing jobs, which saves time if you want only legitimate, pre-vetted opportunities.
• Writers Work is beginner-friendly, providing training resources, a built-in portfolio tool, and access to job leads in one place.

Freelance writers earn about $22 an hour on average, with rates increasing as you gain expertise in specific industries or develop a strong portfolio. Freelancing also sharpens communication, research, and time management skills which can bolster your résumé.

Tutoring

Tutoring is a classic side hustle for college students, but now it’s more flexible than ever. You can tutor peers in person or work with students online through dedicated tutoring platforms. With three to six hours a week, during the afternoons, evenings, or on weekends, you can earn extra income around your schedule.

Choose your platform based on your subject area and flexibility:

• Wyzant is ideal if you want control over your hourly rate and subject offerings. You can list multiple specialties—like test prep, academic subjects, or skills like coding—and set your own schedule.
• Preply works well for language tutoring, matching you with students worldwide. You can teach in your native language or one you’ve mastered, and rates increase as you gain good reviews.
• Chegg offers on-demand tutoring, so you can log in when you have free time and get matched with students needing immediate help.

Tutors earn around $26 an hour on average, with higher rates for specialized skills or standardized test preparation. Consider offering tutoring services to students who need help learning a particular subject. For example, you could tutor high school students in math or English to prepare them for standardized tests like the SAT, or you could teach specialized skills like coding or music production.

Graphic design

If you have a talent for graphic design, offer your services to clients who need visuals for websites, publications, advertisements, or product packaging. Many student designers start with five to eight hours a week, taking on small projects to fit around classes while building their portfolios.

Choose platforms that suit your goals and experience:

• 99designs is ideal if you want to compete in design contests or get matched with clients who have clear project briefs. It’s a great way to test your skills against others and gain exposure.
• Dribbble doubles as both a portfolio site and a job board for design professionals. Posting your work consistently can attract inbound clients over time.
• Fiverr works well for selling smaller, clearly defined design services, like creating a single logo or social media banner, especially when you’re building your client base.
  
  

Although it can take time to land your first clients, designers typically earn an average of $23 an hour, with rates increasing as you develop a strong niche.

Social media management

If you know how to build an audience on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, you can earn money managing accounts for brands or local businesses. Many student social media managers can commit five to eight hours a week to tasks like creating content, scheduling posts, and engaging with followers.

Choose platforms that fit your style of work and client search:

• Upwork is ideal for finding long-term social media contracts, where you can manage content calendars and strategies month after month.
• Fiverr works well if you want to offer specific, packaged services like designing a week’s worth of Instagram posts or setting up a TikTok ad campaign.
• LinkedIn is a strong choice for pitching directly to small business owners, especially in your local area, by showcasing your portfolio and results.

You can start by approaching local businesses with underactive accounts, offering to boost their social media engagement and reach with a consistent posting strategy. Social media managers can charge anywhere from $20 to $40 an hour, depending on their track record and services offered.

AI businesses 

With AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Runway, you can start a business with just a laptop and an internet connection. Many students dedicate three to six hours a week to AI-based projects, since many tasks, like generating images or writing short content, can be completed in minutes.

Choose platforms that align with the type of AI services you offer:

• Upwork is ideal for securing ongoing contracts, such as managing AI-driven content creation or chatbot support for a business.
• Fiverr works well for packaged services, like creating 10 product descriptions, generating custom illustrations, or building a simple AI chatbot.
• Direct outreach to small local businesses is effective if you can clearly show how AI will save them time and money.

You can offer services like writing product descriptions, creating social media captions, generating custom images, or building chatbots. With the right workflow, AI-powered projects can be scaled up quickly, letting you take on multiple clients and increase earnings while you study.

Data entry

Data entry involves entering, updating, or organizing information in spreadsheets, databases, or software systems. Most students commit three to six hours a week, fitting short sessions in between classes since many projects can be paused and resumed easily.

Choose platforms that match your needs:

• Clickworker is ideal for quick, small data entry tasks you can complete on demand, perfect for earning in short bursts.
• Fiverr works well if you want to sell defined services like cleaning up a spreadsheet or formatting a database for a set price.
• FlexJobs offers pre-vetted, remote data entry roles, which can help you avoid scams and find consistent part-time work.

Pay varies by project, but many data entry roles start around $15 to $20 an hour. By demonstrating accuracy and reliability, you can secure repeat clients and steadily grow your income.

Translation services

If you’re fluent in more than one language, offer translation services for documents, websites, or video subtitles. You could spend around three to six hours a week on translation work, taking on projects that can be done in short blocks of time.

Choose platforms based on your language skills and the type of work you prefer:

• Gengo is beginner-friendly, offering small translation tasks and a flexible schedule to build your experience.
• TranslatorsCafe connects you with a global network of clients and lets you set your own rates for specialized projects.
• ProZ is popular among professional translators, with higher-paying jobs and opportunities for long-term contracts.

Rates vary depending on the language and complexity of the project, but experienced translators often earn $20 to $30 an hour, with rare languages or technical fields commanding higher rates.

Brand ambassador or social media influencer

If you have a strong presence on social media, you can partner with brands as a paid ambassador or influencer. Creating sponsored posts, filming videos, and engaging with their audience could take anything from two to 10 hours each week. Campaigns can also include attending events or representing a brand in person.

Choose platforms that match your audience size and niche:

• Aspire is great for finding paid collaborations with brands that match your content style, even if you have a smaller following.
• Upfluence works well for influencers ready to scale, offering tools to manage campaigns, track performance, and connect with larger brands.

Earnings vary widely based on your audience size, niche, and engagement rate, but even micro-influencers can earn $100 to $500 per post. Sometimes there’s room to earn more for bundled content packages or ongoing partnerships.

Résumé and cover letter editing

Help job seekers improve their résumés and cover letters to make a strong first impression with employers. You’ll likely complete a client’s project in one or two sessions, each a couple of hours long.

Choose platforms that match your client base:

• LinkedIn is great for connecting with professionals or recent graduates. Posting before-and-after examples can attract inbound leads.
• Fiverr works well for offering fixed-price packages, such as a résumé review, a rewrite, or a résumé-plus-cover-letter bundle.
• Campus job boards are ideal for reaching fellow students or alumni applying for internships and entry-level roles.

Rates often start around $50 an hour, with experienced editors charging more for industry-specific expertise or quick turnarounds. This side hustle can be especially rewarding if you enjoy helping others land job opportunities.

Proofreading and editing

If you have a sharp eye for grammar, spelling, and punctuation, offer proofreading and editing services for essays, blog posts, or marketing materials. Students can commit three to six hours a week to proofreading, fitting in short projects between classes or during study breaks.

Choose platforms based on your experience level and client goals:

• Scribendi is a good choice for steady work, offering pre-assigned projects with clear deadlines.
• Freelancer lets you bid on individual jobs, making it easy to pick assignments that fit your schedule and skill set.
• Upwork works well for building long-term relationships with content creators, bloggers, or businesses that need recurring editing support.

Pay varies by project, but starting proofreaders can earn $32 an hour while building a portfolio of polished, published work.

Best in-person side hustles for college students

• Food delivery
• Reselling used items
• Picking up odd jobs
• House cleaning services
• Rideshare driving
• Sports umpiring
• Music lessons

Not every side hustle happens behind a screen. If you prefer face-to-face interaction or want a break from online work, there are plenty of in-person jobs that can fit around your class schedule. 

These opportunities can help you earn extra income, build practical skills, and expand your network while staying active in your local community.

Food delivery

Delivering food is a flexible way to earn money, and students can dedicate two to three hours per shift, choosing the days and times that fit their schedule. All you need is a reliable car or bike and a phone to get started.

Choose platforms based on your location and preferences:

• DoorDash is popular for its flexible scheduling and frequent promotions that boost earnings during peak hours.
• Uber Eats works well if you want to combine food delivery with rideshare driving in the same app.
• Grubhub is a strong option in cities where it has established restaurant partnerships, often leading to steady order volume.
• Instacart and FreshDirect focus on grocery delivery, which can pay more per trip due to larger order sizes.

Earnings vary by location and demand, but with tips and peak-time bonuses, drivers can often make $12 to $30 an hour.

Reselling used items

If you’re skilled at spotting valuable finds at thrift stores, garage sales, or estate sales, you can resell them online for a profit. This side hustle works well for everything from vintage clothing and collectibles to refurbished furniture.

Choose platforms based on what you’re selling:

• Facebook Marketplace is ideal for local sales with no shipping involved, especially for bulky items like furniture.
• Etsy is best for vintage or handmade items, where buyers are willing to pay a premium for unique finds.
• eBay works well for collectibles, electronics, and specialty items, thanks to its global buyer base.

You can also start with items you already own, like clothes you no longer wear or old textbooks to generate quick cash before investing in new inventory.

Picking up odd jobs

Short-term odd jobs are a flexible way to earn extra money without committing to a regular schedule. Tasks can range from pet sitting and dog walking to art mounting, furniture assembly, and lawn care.

Choose platforms that match the type of work you want:

• TaskRabbit is ideal for local, one-off jobs like moving help, assembling furniture, or cleaning.
• Thumbtack works well if you want to offer specific services, like yard work or handyman repairs, and get matched with nearby clients.
• Care.com and Sittercity are best for child care opportunities, letting you find babysitting or nanny jobs that fit your availability.

You can accept only the jobs you have time for, making this an easy side hustle to fit around classes and other commitments.

House cleaning services

Offer house cleaning services to busy professionals, families, or fellow college students who need help keeping their spaces tidy. You can work with regular clients for weekly or biweekly cleanings, or offer one-time deep cleans before move-ins, after events, or at the end of a lease.

Choose platforms that help you find consistent work:

• TaskRabbit is ideal for booking short-term cleaning jobs on demand.
• Handy connects cleaners with recurring clients, often at higher hourly rates.
• Local Facebook groups and campus bulletin boards are great for advertising directly to your community without platform fees.

Pay typically starts around $17 an hour, and you can choose jobs that fit around your class schedule.

Rideshare driving

If you have a car and a valid driver’s license, you can earn money driving for rideshare platforms. You can set your own hours and choose when and where you want to work, making it easy to fit around your class schedule.

Choose platforms based on your driving goals:

• Uber offers flexibility to switch between rideshare and Uber Eats deliveries within the same app, giving you more ways to earn.
• Lyft is popular for its driver bonuses and guaranteed earnings during certain shifts.
• InDrive (available in some cities) lets you negotiate fares directly with passengers, which can lead to higher earnings.

Peak times, like weekends, evenings, and special events often pay more, allowing you to maximize your earnings. Many drivers make about $20 an hour, plus tips.

Sports umpiring

Local schools, recreation leagues, and community centers often need umpires and referees for sports like baseball, basketball, or soccer. These jobs offer flexible, part-time hours and pay $20 to $30 per game, making them a good fit for students who enjoy sports and being a part of a community.

Check these places for opportunities:

• Local parks and recreation departments often run seasonal leagues and provide training or certification.
• National sports organizations like USA Softball or the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) can connect you with sanctioned games.
• Campus intramural programs frequently hire students to officiate matches.

If you enjoy being outdoors and staying active, umpiring can be a fun way to earn money while building leadership and communication skills.

Music lessons

If you’re musically talented—whether you play an instrument or have vocal training—you can offer private music lessons to beginner and intermediate students. Teach in person at students’ homes, in community centers, or on campus, and set your own rates and schedule.

Find students through:

• Local Facebook groups and campus bulletin boards to connect with nearby learners
• Music stores that allow teachers to post flyers or refer clients
• Lesson platforms like Lessonface, which match instructors with students online

Many instructors charge $20 to $40 an hour, with higher rates for advanced skills, specialty instruments, or experience with performance.

Easy side hustles for college students

• Selling stock photos
• Taking online surveys
• Focus groups
• Affiliate marketing
• Selling handmade crafts
• User testing websites and apps

If you’re looking for quick ways to earn money without a big time or skill commitment, easy side hustles are a great place to start. These jobs are flexible, beginner-friendly, and often available on short notice, so they’re perfect for fitting into busy college schedules.

Selling stock photos

If you have a knack for photography, you can license your work online. Businesses, marketers, and designers buy stock photos for ads, brochures, websites, presentations, and more.

Choose platforms based on your style and audience:

• Shutterstock offers a large global marketplace and pays contributors per download, making it ideal for high-volume sales.
• iStock by Getty Images is well known for premium licensing, which can bring in higher earnings per image.
• Adobe Stock integrates directly with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it easy to upload and sell photos if you already edit in Photoshop or Lightroom.

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.

Taking online surveys

Online survey sites pay you to share your opinions on products, services, or market trends. While the pay is often just a few dollars per survey, it’s easy money you can earn during short breaks.

Choose platforms based on rewards and payout options:

• Swagbucks offers points you can redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash, with extra earning opportunities like watching videos and playing games.
• Survey Junkie focuses solely on surveys and pays in cash or gift cards once you hit the minimum payout.
• Pinecone Research is invite-only but offers higher-than-average pay per survey and occasional product testing opportunities.

Since surveys require no long-term commitment, you can pick and choose the ones that interest you and complete them at your own pace.

Focus groups

Companies and research firms run focus groups to get feedback on products, ads, or services before they launch. These sessions usually last one to two hours and can pay $16 to $50 per hour, making them a high-earning option for a short time commitment.

Find opportunities through:

• Respondent for high-paying, often specialized studies in areas like business, health, and tech.
• User Interviews for both consumer and professional research studies, many of which are remote.
• Local market research firms that run in-person sessions, often with extra perks like free product samples.

Many focus groups are now held online, so you can participate from your dorm or apartment without travel.

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 it assigns to you. The more times your followers click on the link and purchase products, the more commissions you’ll earn.

There’s a wide range of affiliate programs available. Choose programs that align with your niche and audience:

• Amazon Associates is beginner-friendly, with millions of products to promote and relatively low payout thresholds.
• ShareASale offers a wide range of merchants, making it easy to find brands that fit your audience’s interests.
• impact.com connects you with well-known brands and provides detailed analytics to track clicks, sales, and commissions.

Affiliate programs vary in commission rates. Some pay a few percentage points per sale, while others offer flat-rate payouts or recurring commissions for subscription products. Choosing the right partner program can make a big difference in your earnings.

Selling handmade crafts

If you enjoy creating jewelry, candles, artwork, or other handmade goods, you can turn your hobby into a source of income. This side hustle combines creativity with the potential for steady sales.

Choose platforms that fit your product and audience:

• Etsy is ideal for reaching a global market of buyers looking for unique, handmade items.
• Facebook Marketplace works well for local sales without shipping, especially for bulky or fragile products.
• Local craft fairs and markets let you connect directly with customers and get instant feedback on your work.

Start by making a small batch to test demand, then reinvest your earnings into materials and production. Building a consistent product line and brand identity can help you grow beyond occasional sales.

User testing websites and apps

Companies pay for feedback on their websites or apps. As a tester, you’ll complete specific tasks on a site or app while sharing your thoughts out loud, then submit your feedback.

Choose platforms that match your availability and preferred payment method:

• UserTesting offers frequent opportunities, with most tests paying $10 $20 for 10 to 20 minutes of work.
• Trymata provides both desktop and mobile tests, with clear task instructions for beginners.
• Userlytics includes tests for websites, apps, and prototypes, often with higher pay for more complex projects.

User testing is flexible and can be done between classes, making it a quick way to earn extra cash without a long-term time commitment.

Passive income ideas for college students

• Blogging
• Creating online courses

Passive income streams let you earn money with minimal ongoing effort after the initial setup. While most require some upfront time or investment, they can keep generating income in the background—freeing you up to focus on classes, work, or other side hustles.

Blogging

Start a blog on a topic you’re passionate about, like travel, fitness, or college life, and build an audience over time. Once you have steady traffic, you can earn passive income through display ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.

Choose platforms that fit your goals and tech comfort level:

• WordPress.com offers full customization and is ideal if you want to scale your blog into a long-term business.
• Squarespace is beginner-friendly, with beautiful templates and built-in hosting so you can launch quickly.
• Wix provides drag-and-drop design tools, making it easy to get started without coding experience.

While it can take months to grow traffic, Blogging can be a long-term source of passive income for college students, especially if you focus on evergreen content that keeps attracting readers.

Creating online courses

If you’re skilled in a subject or hobby, you can create an online course to teach others. Once recorded, your course can generate ongoing income every time someone enrolls.

Choose platforms that match your audience and teaching style:

• Udemy offers a huge built-in audience, making it easier for beginners to reach students without heavy marketing.
• Skillshare pays instructors based on watch time, which works well if you can produce multiple short, engaging lessons.
• Teachable gives you full control over pricing, branding, and student communication, making it ideal if you want to sell courses directly through your own site.

The more evergreen your content, like foundational skills or timeless topics, the longer it can keep earning without regular updates.

How to balance a side hustle in college

• Set goals
• Manage your schedule
• Build a network
• Identify and develop your skills

Here are a few tips for balancing a side hustle with your college commitments:

Set goals

Before choosing your side hustle, set realistic goals for how much time you want to invest in your pursuits and how much money you want to earn. With a clear understanding of your availability and financial needs, you can identify side hustles worth exploring.

Choose side hustle ideas that align with your career interests. For example, tutoring provides experience in education, while social media management and affiliate marketing offer an entry into the marketing industry.

Manage your schedule

Unlike working a traditional job, making money from side hustles allows you to set your own schedule. Write out your full class schedule and other existing commitments like extracurricular activities or hobbies. Allocate specific hours of the week for your side hustle, ensuring that your time commitment won’t interfere with your classwork.

Build a network

Look for clubs on your college campus related to your side hustles. For example, you could attend a writing group to hone your skills and find freelance opportunities.

Research networking events in your area relevant to your side hustle. Reach out to professors with relevant experience and request a meeting to gain insights. Apply for internships to build connections with professionals in your desired field.

Identify and develop your skills

Once you have a clear goal and schedule, list the skills you need for your side hustle. For example, you could improve your communication skills, customer service skills, or technical skills like coding or design.

Perform a SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your new side business. Research business strategies to help reach your goals or explore your college library for resources to help you develop your skills.

How to start your first side hustle as a college student

Starting a side hustle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a clear plan and the right tools, you can turn your skills and free time into extra income—without sacrificing your studies. Here’s how to get started.

Choose based on your skills

Pick a side hustle that plays to your strengths. If you’re a great writer, try freelance writing or résumé editing. If you’re artistic, consider graphic design or selling handmade crafts. Matching your hustle to your skills makes the work easier, more enjoyable, and more likely to succeed.

Calculate time investment

Figure out how many hours you can realistically commit each week without affecting your studies. Some side hustles, like rideshare driving or house cleaning, let you work in short, flexible shifts. Others, like blogging or creating online courses, require more upfront time before you start earning. Choose one that fits your schedule.

Set up payment methods

Before you start working, make sure you have a way to receive payments quickly and securely. Set up accounts with services like PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe, or connect your bank account to the platform you’re using. Having your payment method ready ensures you get paid on time and can track your earnings easily.

Track your earnings

Keep a record of how much you make from your side hustle each week or month. Use a simple spreadsheet or a budgeting app to track income and expenses. Monitoring your earnings helps you see which side hustles are most profitable and ensures you’re prepared for tax season.