15 Side Gigs to Earn Extra Cash While in College

One of the most common things I hear from college students, teens and young adults is that they are strapped for cash. It’s understandable, given the fact that tuition is so high and job opportunities can be hard to come by during these years. However, college doesn’t have to mean drowning in debt and a dwindling bank account — it can be a time of money-making, too!

Below are 15 side gigs to earn extra cash in college that don’t require a degree. I have taken advantage of many of these opportunities myself and can vouch for them with the bonus of extra dollars in my bank account, minimal time involved and experience on my resume.

Start to put some extra cash in your wallet by checking out of these 15 side gigs to earn money:

1. Pet sit via Rover. Walk some adorable pups, stay in beautiful homes (nice to get away from the dorms) and make sure Fido gets fed with this handy pet sitting app. Download Rover and start your first dog walking gig or save $20 on your first booking!
2. Babysit, nanny or house sit via Care.com. Get a taste of what it’s like to have kids of your own by watching some kiddos.
3. Sign up for research studies at your school (both as a subject and as a research assistant). I earned a few extra dollars in my undergraduate degree while at Minnesota through the Psychology, Nutrition and Marketing departments; I also helped with transcription of interviews in a couple of research studies at my first and current college. These are often fun and interesting studies that can teach you a lot about yourself!
4. Tutor in a subject you’re knowledgeable about — for me, it’s fitness and personal training via Coachup (if you are a coach, use the code: meganf4 to sign up). However, you could tutor on any subject. I’ve certainly taken advantage of this service, too! Sign up for a site like Wyzant to list yourself as a tutor and start booking tutoring sessions today.
5. Get a job at a gym and/or ski resort (and save money on your membership!) — working at a rock gym and the student rec center usually comes with a free membership. Bonus if you work for your school’s outdoor trip program and score a free trip!
6. Deliver food with an app like DoorDash or Postmates and/or deliver groceries via an app like Shipt or Instacart (bonus if you can bike around and get in some exercise while doing it!). Many of these apps also offer tips and/or food discounts, which never hurts for the hungry college student.
7. Become a brand ambassador or brand rep for a company you believe in. These often involve weekend gigs, which are great on a student schedule. Social media is usually a large aspect of the role too, so start posting. Bonus if there is commission involved — and score some free stuff!
8. Write, blog or become a virtual assistant with online side gigs (an e-book, creating online courses). I have gotten gigs through internships.com, written website copy for cash, earned money for referrals through the Amazon Affiliate program through my own blog posts and booked virtual assistants through sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
9. Model for photo shoots — even if they aren’t paid, photographers are often looking for models and who doesn’t want free pics? On the flip side, if you have a nice camera and enjoy taking photos, start your own photography business!
10. Model for sketching classes and human drawing (often through college art department). I remember seeing a flyer for $12/hour job my freshman year for nudist models and considering it for the sheer fact that it was the best paying job I’d seen on campus! Although this was one opportunity I didn’t take advantage of, it sure paid well!
11. Equipment or product testing (if available in your area). In any industry, companies need people to provide feedback on their products and participate in focus groups to share their feedback. Lucky for me, ICON Fitness is close by. This has been quite a perk as I’ve gotten paid to test fitness equipment, take part in video shoots and go for runs while testing out their app. Check with brands in your area to find out about product testing opportunities.
12. Rent out your place (or a room) on Airbnb — bring in the passive income! This is one I haven’t done myself due to apartment restrictions, but I have fully utilized it as an avid traveler. In addition, I am sure to sublease when not around in summer months. Why pay rent when you aren’t there? Airbnb is an easy way to make some of that passive income without too much work — especially if you have an extra bedroom or even an air mattress to offer up as a crash pad.
    Ready to book an Airbnb? Use this link to save $40 off your first trip!
13. Rent your car on a site like Turo– yes, you can rent your car out. A little scary? Maybe. I haven’t been bold enough to try this one, but it’s another passive income opportunity, especially if you don’t drive your car much.
14. Drive for Uber or Lyft. If you like driving around town, working on a flexible schedule and meeting new people, this is a perfect job for you. Looking to use the service? Save $5 on your first Lyft ride with my code, “meganf24.”
15. Snag a seasonal position such as teaching swim lessons, gardening, snow shoveling, outdoor maintenance or working for a travel company (bonus if it pays for housing/meals)! Find some of these travel jobs at CoolWorks.com.

There you have it — 15 side gigs to get you started on earning some extra money while in school! I hope you find one or more of these jobs helpful for making and saving money during your college years. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at meginspire@gmail.com.