Side hustle made easy – Print, sell, profit.
College is way too expensive. Between tuition, books, and late-night Taco Bell runs, the costs can stack up fast. There are plenty of side hustles for college students that can help you out – quick, flexible ways to earn money without locking yourself into a rigid part-time job.
We’ll cover how to manage your time and make money productively (without tanking your GPA), and show you exactly how to start your own hustle – even with zero experience or budget.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
20 Best side hustles for college students
Print on Demand
Print on Demand (POD) is one of the best side hustles for college students – simple, flexible, and cheap to start. Go to a POD platform like Printify, select and design products like t-shirts, mugs, or stickers, and when someone places an order, it’s produced and shipped automatically.
You don’t touch any inventory. Just create, post, and get paid.
How to start:
- Pick custom products from our Catalog, like hoodies, tote bags, or phone cases.
- Upload your designs using our Product Creator or create new ones from scratch.
- Link your store so that when someone buys your product, the order goes straight to the Print Provider.
- The printer makes and ships to your customer. You earn the profit without ever leaving your dorm.
Need ideas? Check out trending print-on-demand niches. You don’t have to be a pro designer – tools like Canva or the Printify AI Image Generator can help, or you can outsource to someone on Fiverr for just a few bucks.
It’s an easy way to earn extra cash while learning valuable skills like setting up a store, marketing, and social media management. You control the schedule, which makes POD perfect for balancing college commitments or building something big – maybe even a passion project.
Tutoring
If you’re strong in a particular subject, tutoring others in your course or setting up a small online class is an easy way to help fellow students and earn extra cash on your own time. It’s flexible, low-stress, and pays surprisingly well.
How to start: Create a profile on Wyzant or Superprof to provide tutoring services. Or, if you’re not into online platforms, you can also post in study group chats or bulletin boards on your college campus.
Virtual assistant
As a virtual assistant, you’ll help people with tasks like answering emails, scheduling, and basic research. It’s a great side gig that can work around your college commitments, plus it’ll give you some good work experience to put on your resume.
How to start: Check platforms like Fiverr or Belay for flexible, remote gigs.
Complete surveys
This is one of the easiest side hustles for college students. Just answer questions and get paid. It won’t make you rich, but it’s solid for a few dollars during study breaks.
How to start: Sign up for legit online survey sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, or Pinecone Research.
Freelancing
If you’ve got the skills, freelance writing, graphic design, coding, or video editing can turn your talent into a steady income. It’s one of the more profitable side hustles if you specialize in a high-demand area.
How to start: Offer your services on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer, depending on what you do best.
Blogging
Blogging is a long-game side hustle, but it can pay off over time if you enjoy writing or want to create content around your interests. Topics like college life, study tips, or personal finance can attract an audience, and eventually, advertisers.
How to start: Try beginner-friendly platforms like Medium or Ghost. Once you’re confident, you can move to your own site with WordPress or Wix and try to find potential affiliate sponsors.
Babysitter
Babysitting is one of the most classic side jobs for college students. If you’re responsible and good with kids, it’s a great way to earn extra money during evenings or weekends.
How to start: Set up a profile on platforms like Care.com or ask people at local businesses, professors, or other students if they need childcare.
Social media management
Got a knack for TikTok, Instagram, or making social media posts go viral? Plenty of small brands and local businesses need help staying active online. This fun side hustle pays well if you’re creative and consistent.
How to start: Offer your services on PeoplePerHour, or DM small brands and creators to pitch your skills.
Dog walker
If you love dogs and want a hustle that gets you outside, dog walking is a no-brainer. You get exercise, hang with cute pups, and earn cash while working on your own schedule.
How to start: Use apps like Rover or Wag for pet-sitting gigs, or offer dog-walking services in student housing or nearby neighborhoods.
Food delivery
Delivering food is one of the most popular hustles for college students, especially if you already have a bike or car. It’s flexible, solo-friendly, and you can earn tips on top of delivery costs.
How to start: Sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub. Set your hours and start delivering food in your area.
Selling stock photos
If you’re into photography – or just know how to work your phone camera – you can earn money by selling stock photos online. It’s a chill passive income stream that runs in the background while you focus on classes.
How to start: Upload your pics to online platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or EyeEm. Quality and consistency help you stand out.
Graphic design
If you’ve got an eye for layout and style, graphic design is a great side hustle. Many college students use it to earn money, especially when paired with web development.
How to start: Platforms like 99designs or DesignCrowd let you pitch your work to real clients. You’ll gain real-world experience and build a portfolio.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is when you promote a business’s product and earning a cut when someone buys through your special link. It’s one of the most popular online side hustles for college students, freelance writers, and content creators because it scales easily.
You can share your links through blog posts, YouTube videos, TikToks, or even a newsletter. The key is recommending products you actually like, so people trust you enough to click and buy.
How to start: Join programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Printify’s Affiliate Program to start earning from your content.
Transcription jobs
Transcription jobs involve turning audio into text – think lectures, interviews, or podcasts. They’re ideal for those with a sharp focus and good typing speed, and work well with student schedules.
How to start: Platforms like Rev, Scribie, or GoTranscript offer entry-level work with flexible hours.
User testing
Companies pay you to test websites or apps and give a few tips based on your experience through focus groups or feedback surveys. It’s an easy way for college students to gain insights into how products work – and get paid for their opinions.
How to start: Sign up with sites like UserTesting, TryMyUI, or Userlytics. Tests usually take 10 to 20 minutes and pay a few bucks each.
Selling notes or study guides
If your class notes are detailed and well-organized, why not sell them? This is one of the easiest online side hustles for college students – helping others while making passive income.
How to start: Use platforms like StudySoup or Stuvia, or let your classmates know you’re willing to sell them your materials to help them prep for that next big exam. Digitize your guides and earn when fellow college students download them.
Renting out your stuff
Have a bike, graphing calculator, or camera collecting dust? Renting out your gear is a smart side hustle for college students to earn supplemental income without much effort.
How to start: Use platforms like Fat Llama to rent out your tech through listings, or post in garage sales groups and campus forums for quick finds.
House sitting
House sitting is a very chill side gig. You get paid to stay in someone else’s home, water plants, and keep things safe while they’re away. It’s perfect for flexible, low-stress income.
How to start: Create a profile on TrustedHousesitters or Care.com and look for gigs near your college or back home during breaks.
Mystery shopping
Mystery shopping lets you get paid to visit stores, buy stuff, and rate your experience. It’s a fun side gig and a legit way for college students to earn a discount here and there through purchases.
How to start: Sign up at Market Force, BestMark, or Secret Shopper and get matched with jobs nearby.
Selling digital downloads
If you’re creative with a few advanced skills in a popular digital niche, making and selling digital downloads – like artwork, planners, resumes, or templates – is a smart side hustle. It runs on autopilot and can help cover living expenses.
How to start: Use platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or Creative Market to sell digital products online and build your own shop.
How to balance a side hustle in college
Juggling school and finding the time to come up with and plan college business ideas isn’t just about time management – it’s about systems. If you’re trying to cover living expenses or pad your bank account, you need tools that help you work smarter, not harder.
Take Print on Demand (POD), for example. Once you’ve set up your store with automated print-on-demand sites and helpful AI tools for eCommerce, your products sell while you focus on school. There’s no inventory, packaging, or customer service, balancing academic responsibilities with making money – the perfect system for success all around.
Here’s how to actually make both school and your side hustle work together.
1. Prioritize your academics first
Before adding anything to your plate, map out all your deadlines, exams, and key assignments in an online calendar and set reminders so nothing gets forgotten. That way, your hustle fits around your course load – not the other way around.
Treat your classes like non-negotiable work hours. Everything else revolves around them.
2. Choose a low-maintenance hustle
Not every gig fits a student lifestyle. Avoid ones that rely on strict schedules or constant communication. Instead, look for remote side hustles for college students that let you pause without penalty – Print on Demand, user testing, digital downloads, or affiliate marketing are great picks.
3. Use productivity tools and planning apps
Managing your week is way easier with the right tools.
Here are a few worth checking out:
- Google Calendar – Schedule classes, deadlines, and work blocks in one clean view.
- MyHomework App – Made for students. Keep tabs on classes, homework, and due dates in one spot.
- Todoist – A simple to-do list app that helps you break down tasks into small, trackable steps.
- Trello – Visual boards to manage projects like launching a store, writing a paper, or tracking side hustle progress.
- ClickUp – Combines tasks, docs, and calendars – ideal if you’re juggling multiple classes and clients.
- Forest – A focus timer where trees grow as you stay off your phone. Great for short, focused work sprints.
- TickTick – Combines to-do lists, calendar view, and a Pomodoro timer in one lightweight app. Ideal for planning and focus.
Pick just one or two tools that click with you. Overloading on apps that force notifications, constant check-ins, and micro-tasks won’t help – but a simple system you actually use will.
4. Communicate your availability clearly
If you’re working through apps, set status limits (like weekends only or not available during finals week). If you’re freelancing, add an availability blurb to your bio so expectations are set upfront.
This also builds communication skills you’ll use long after college – setting boundaries, following up, and keeping people in the loop is real-world gold.
5. Automate and outsource when possible
You’re not a machine – your hustle shouldn’t depend on you doing everything manually. If you’re doing content creation, translation services, or web development, find ways to delegate.
Here are a few easy tools to take pressure off:
- Later – Schedule TikToks, Instagram posts, and Pinterest Pins ahead of time.
- Canva – Use features to quickly build multiple versions of your designs or social posts.
- Google Workspace – Use Docs, Sheets, and Forms to organize and build tasks.
- Fiverr – Outsource small tasks to save time and support other freelancers.
Use your time for the stuff only you can do – like writing, designing, or building your brand. The rest? Automate it or hand it off.
How to launch your own print-on-demand store
Ready to start your own print-on-demand side hustle? Printify makes it super easy to launch your first store – even if you’ve never sold anything online before.
Here’s how to get started:
- Sign up for Printify – It’s free, fast, and beginner-friendly.
- Browse the Catalog – Pick from over 1,300 customizable items.
- Use the Product Creator – Upload your design, adjust placement, and preview exactly how it’ll look on free mockups.
- Connect your store – Printify integrates with Etsy, Shopify, Wix, and more.
That’s it. You set up a store and design. Our network handles the printing and shipping. You pocket the profits.
FAQ
You’ll likely need to mix a few income streams. Try combining a profitable side hustle like Print on Demand with freelance work (like writing or web development), and toss in flexible gigs such as dog walking or food delivery on weekends.
Balance is key – set goals, track your time, and focus on the work that pays best.
Start with fast-turnaround side hustle options like online surveys, odd jobs on campus, or signing up for delivery driver apps.
You could also sell unused items, flip finds from thrift stores, or take part in paid research studies. These won’t make you rich overnight, but they can cover essentials while you plan longer-term options.
Jobs that require advanced skills – like freelance writing, content creation, tutoring in difficult subjects, or creating study guides for online courses – tend to pay best. On-campus jobs like resident advisor roles often come with free housing, which can be just as valuable. The real win is combining flexible work with long-term career value, so college students earn more than just a quick paycheck.
Final thoughts
You don’t need a full-time job to build financial freedom in college. You just need the right hustle ideas and a strategy that fits your energy and your own schedule. Whether it’s Print on Demand or dog walking, the goal isn’t to do everything – it’s to use your spare time effectively.
Most students underestimate what they can pull off in a semester. But with a little focus and consistency, you can build a side income that actually lasts – and maybe even something bigger than you planned.
