How To Make Money In College: 8 Real Ways That Work

College costs keep rising, but your wallet can't stay empty. It's a challenge that many college students face.

But here's a piece of good news: college schedules leave bits of free time. Combine those spare hours with quick digital gigs, and you have more ways to earn money than ever before.

We no longer want to gatekeep this. There are side gigs that help students make money without a degree. 

These campus jobs and online freelance opportunities are realistic methods that actually work for busy students. Read more below to find out.

Let's say you're pursuing a degree in Multimedia Arts in college. As early as your second year, you can already edit basic or even advanced graphics and videos.

You already have skills that people will pay for. You just need to find online platforms that allow you to make money freelancing.

We curated a list of platforms where you can find freelance jobs online. Take a look:

Now, finding the right freelance work isn't straightforward. For one, clients want to know that you have the skills to excel in the job. 

The key is to build your first portfolio. Years of experience have taught us that a well-organized portfolio can attract attention on its own. Here are tips that we can give you:

Do you remember how nervous you were during your campus tour as a freshman? Then, a student ambassador patiently answered your questions and calmed down your nerves.

You can be that calming presence to prospective students and get paid for it. This is a big opportunity for college students who enjoy speaking and meeting new people.

Multiple roles on campus offer a paid position, either through allowances or tuition fee discounts. Here are examples:

You could find these opportunities on campus job boards, which are usually posted outside the Admission Office or the Student Life Office. 

Your opinions are worth a price, literally.

Local businesses and even some colleges pay students to share opinions about a product or service. These are mostly called "market research studies" or "focus groups".

Also, you could do these gigs on your own schedule. That's the most important thing, right?

Retail e-commerce sales are projected to exceed $4.3 trillion in 2025. Almost all brands have an online presence.

Businesses need help with their digital branding. If you can design these graphics, there are endless opportunities for you:

It does take a few hours to master the basics, though. You can take online courses on using Canva, Adobe Express, or Figma. These three apps offer free features for editing different varieties of photos and reels.

Did you know that there are 77 million dogs in the United States alone? But even the best pet owners get busy or do errands on certain days.

That's why pet sitting has become a real job for many. It's not a full-time job, but you earn a few bucks for taking care of someone's pet.

It fits your class schedule, too. Typically, pet owners just need someone to watch over their pets for a couple of hours. Some might even just want you to walk their dogs around the neighborhood.

Here's how you can get started:

Oh, and be a friendly neighbor. If you're a good friend, student, or neighbor, people will trust you with their pets.

If you have a bike, scooter, or car (and of course a driver's license), you can work with delivery or rideshare apps.

Flexible hours. Instant payouts when you suddenly need funds for your projects. These are some of the reasons why college students are drawn to delivery gigs.

If you're interested, you can sign up for these apps and get paid to shop or deliver (if you pass their requirements):

Stick to busy zones to make the most out of your time. Moreover, choose peak hours like lunch (for food delivery) and late afternoon (for ridesharing), if your schedule allows it.

Do you know how to make money as a college student while also growing in your program of study? Consider tutoring other students.

If you're in a college town, there are students off and on campus who need assistance. You can help them prep for the STA or review course lessons.

How do you find tutoring gigs like these? Here are several places you could look at:

Start with a small number of clients or even some of your friends. Word-of-mouth is still the best marketing. Establish rapport, and the rest will follow.

Passive income apps run in the background even if you're not using them. You study, attend classes, and sleep while these apps earn money for you.

At first, it's not a way on how to make a lot of money in college. We want to temper your expectations. But these apps can fund some of your needs, and you don't need to exert a lot of effort for it.

For example, Honeygain is an app where you earn extra cash by sharing your unused internet bandwidth. It doesn't affect your internet performance, and you profit as it runs in the background. You just download Honeygain on your devices, and you're good to go.

Remember, passive income apps are not considered a full income stream. We still recommend focusing on your studies while using these apps for extra funds.

Here's one important tip for finding ways to make money in college: don't overwhelm yourself. College responsibilities are already difficult. An overwhelming side hustle could result in burnout.

Start small and grow from there as your schedule shifts. Alternatively, try a mix of active, passive, and flexible jobs and see what works. 

Learning how to make money in college without a job might be difficult at first. But once you expand your network and build trust, the gigs (as long as they fit your schedule) will follow you.

The top ways to make money on college campuses include tutoring, online freelancing, delivering food, or working campus jobs in the library or dining services. These are jobs that you can fit around college classes, helping you achieve academic success while earning money.

Yes, side hustle gigs like content creation, photography, dog walking, and peer tutoring don't require you to have a degree. Many college campuses also provide opportunities for paid internships, whether on the campus itself or with a business relevant to your course.

Yes, side hustles that are related to your program can train you in essential skills for the workplace. For example, you can become a teaching assistant in a particular subject area related to your course. Becoming a virtual assistant can also expose you to the environment of your future job.

Online freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide secure payment systems and dispute resolutions. These are platforms that offer a fair and safe working environment for students and freelancers. One tip is to always keep communications with clients within the platform, so you can file disputes easily.

Along with freelancing platforms, there are surveys, cashback, delivery, rideshare, and reward apps that pay students money. For instance, Honeygain is a passive income app that rewards you with cash in exchange for unused bandwidth data. These apps are ways on how to make money while in college.

You can make money as a student, but typically not as much as a full-time job income. There are work opportunities that offer free room or free housing, along with monetary earnings. Alternatively, you can apply for financial aid or federal student aid if there are no relevant job postings.