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A college student looks to her young student as she tutors him in math.

Best Side Hustles for College Students

6 min read
Last Updated: October 23, 2024
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Key Takeaways

  1. A side hustle (employment outside your full-time work) can help you cover extra costs without taking out more student loans.

  2. A side hustle allows you to make money while juggling your college schedule.

  3. Your side hustle can help you gain skills that can look good on your resume.

College is arguably one of the best times of your life. But with tons of expenses, you may find yourself short on cash. And let’s face it, college is a full-time job. With a jam-packed schedule of classes, study sessions, and extracurricular activities, it may be difficult to fit in earning potential, too.

 

Students need a side hustle to their studies—flexible work that provides extra cash without a full-time commitment.

Benefits of college side hustles

There are many benefits to having a side hustle as a college student. With a part time job, you could make your schedule and reduce the extra student loans you’d need to cover daily spending. This way, you can minimize your student loan debt.

Once you have a steady income, consider applying for a student credit card. The Discover it® Student Credit Card can help you build credit with responsible use1 and even help earn rewards.

Top side hustles for college students

If it's hard to cover your expenses and you want to generate more income, a side gig could be the way to earn extra cash. 

Think about any valuable experience or skills you have so you can find the perfect side hustle for you. The best hustle idea for you would fit your busy schedule, put your skills to use, and help you get some extra cash.

If you have a car, you could use it to earn income. You could drive people locally, rent your car to commuters, or even make deliveries if you’re  uneasy with strangers in your vehicle.

If you’re good at handiwork, you may want to consider doing it for extra money in your spare time. Tasks could include odd jobs like assembling furniture or decluttering a garage. You might be surprised how many potential clients are willing to pay for help around the house.

If you’re organized and like to tidy spaces, starting a cleaning service is one way you can bring in extra cash. You can charge per room cleaned or by the hour.

Babysitting is a great side hustle if you’re good with children. You can advertise your services online or on a social media platform and charge a competitive hourly rate for your area. If you’re good with pets, you could become a pet sitter or dog walker.

House sitting can help you earn extra money without having to do much work. You might even be able to study or work on your online course while house sitting. Housing sitting can be an excellent side hustle or summer job for students since many people go on vacation.

Did you know?

The Discover It® Student Chrome credit card can help you cover personal expenses and build your credit history1 while you’re building your education. Plus, there’s no credit score required to apply.2

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Some gigs may require you to have liability or other insurance coverage. Do a little research into the specific work you want to do to ensure you're covered.

Online side hustles for college students

If you want to make extra money and work online, consider a part time job that matches your skills and allows you to work with a flexible schedule. 

You can make money online by writing blogs and adding affiliate links to your content. Affiliate marketing is a collaboration some companies do with bloggers to promote products. With affiliate marketing, you could earn money when readers click your link to buy a product. 

 

If you don't have your own blog, becoming a freelance writer could help you build writing skills. Some companies need support with content creation, like writing social media posts.

If you're a content creator, try creating videos documenting your college experience or create tutorials. You could make money through affiliate links. You may even learn social media management skills by posting these videos on social media or other online platforms. Plus, younger students may learn something valuable from your videos.

It’s simple to get into website testing as a side gig. Website testing platforms may pay you to review websites and take an online survey. You usually can do this on your smart device in your spare time.

Reselling old items is a great form of passive income. If you have old textbooks, clothes, or video games, consider posting them on an online store or social media platform.

Career-building side hustles for college students

If you're looking for a job that would look great on your resumé (or your advisors gave you career advice to get a job with transferable skills), a career-building side job may be best for you. Try talking to fellow students to practice networking and ask if they know of opportunities to earn good money and build your skills.

While you’re building work skills, you can also build your credit with responsible use1 with a Discover student credit card. This could help set you up for a future with a good credit score, lower interest rates, and higher credit limits.

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When you tutor, it doesn’t have to just be on your college campus. For example, tutoring could be teaching classes at the library or helping high school students with homework at their homes. Better still, consider starting a tutoring service with a fellow student.

If you have a skillset that you’re passionate about, freelancing may be a good side hustle. Being a freelancer helps teach leadership and entrepreneurial skills which look great on your resumé.

Starting a part time job as a data entry clerk for a local business could teach you communication and time management skills that can strengthen your resumé. Data entry jobs can be in an office or a remote side hustle  with a flexible schedule.

Get a head start by becoming a virtual assistant in your desired field. Being a virtual assistant helps you learn project management and organizational skills, and you can do it from your home or dorm room.

If you're looking for a job opportunity with flexible hours, an online customer service job could be a profitable side hustle. Many companies need people to run their virtual help desks and answer customer questions, even remotely.

Does a side hustle affect student financial aid eligibility?

Be mindful that income from your job could affect your financial aid eligibility. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines your financial aid eligibility using the Student Aid Index (previously called the Expected Family Contribution). The Student Aid Index combines many factors, including your family’s taxed and untaxed income. There's a chance that the money from your side hustle can affect these numbers. The SAI for 2024-2025 includes a $9,410 “income protection allowance” for students. That means students can earn $9,410 per year without affecting their eligibility for financial aid.

Most colleges have financial aid advisors; visiting with an advisor before deciding to earn extra income is a good idea.

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  1. Build credit with responsible use (Student): Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact your ability to build credit.

  2. Based on the preceding 12 months of Discover Student credit card application data, applicants without a credit score may qualify. You must meet other applicable underwriting criteria. When we evaluate your creditworthiness, we consider all the information you provide on your application, your credit report, and other information. If you have a credit score, we may use that in our evaluation.

  • Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

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