Jul 11, 2024 8 min read

17 TOP Side Hustle for Сollege Students [2024]

Look here for the best side hustle and jobs for college students. Here's 17 easy and exciting side jobs to do in college.

We've all been there trying to pull a balancing act, juggling college and making some extra money on the side. However, for many college students, a side hustle isn't just about making ends meet – it's a long term investment into their social life, funds, and trying out entrepreneurship.

The opportunities here are literally endless; use the skills that you already have OR try out something new. Both ways will be profitable for you in either money or experience. But if you're in this for money, we're sure you will find these 17 top side hustle ideas for college students in 2024.

Everybody needs social media: businesses, online stores, influencers and social organizations. This is where digital social connections happen; this is where people find other people, events and items that they like and want to invest in.

If you are a student savvy on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., this might be the right gig for you. Check platforms like Indeed for job offers, plan posts in advance, and automate with scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Buffer.

Here's some helpful advice from a seasoned SMM professional:

2. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Students can monetize their animal-loving passion by offering pet-sitting or dog-walking services. Apps like Rover will put you in touch with pet owners looking for a sitter or walker.

Put together a professional profile on the app, noting all your relevant previous experience or certifications you have with animals; and of course, the positive reviews from your clients (even if they're friends and neighbors) will speak for themselves.

Get prepared by watching a video on the best dog training exercises:

3. Virtual Assistant

As a virtual assistant, you can help business owners with tasks like email management, scheduling, and data entry. This job can be done in flexible hours and from any place in the world. Use task management tools like Trello or Asana to keep track of your assignments and deadlines. Remember: clear and quick communication with clients is crucial for your success.

Learn how to use Trello here:

4. Delivery Driver

Companies like DoorDash and UberEats are always looking for drivers. This side hustle offers flexible hours and the potential to earn tips. What you can do is maximize your earnings by working during peak hours and in high-demand areas. Most importantly, keep your vehicle clean and well-maintained if you decide to work with food.

Watch this to learn what you need to start a driving career:

TikTok truly can be an amazing and helpful tool sometimes. Read this article if you'd like to see some business advice in your TikTok feed:

5. Fitness Instructor

If you're passionate about fitness, consider becoming a fitness instructor. Starting this path is possible even in college! You can teach classes at local gyms or offer personal training sessions. Certification can be obtained through organizations like ACE. Build a social media presence to show your expertise, create your own brand and attract clients.

Join this business talk about the reality of being a fitness trainer:

6. Blogging

Starting a blog can be a long-term side hustle that pays off – long term. Write about topics you're passionate about as a college student and monetize your blog through ads and affiliate marketing; here, consistency and originality is key. So set a regular posting schedule and stick to it. Enhance your blog with SEO contact to improve your blog’s visibility and attract more readers in you want to have real popularity.

Learn what you need to do in your 1st month of blogging:

7. Photography

If you have a good eye for catching moments with a film, digital, or even your phone's camera, consider offering your services for events like weddings and graduations. Websites like Thumbtack can help you find clients, and Behance will be your platform for creating a portfolio and finding other artists. Overall, you can network with event planners and venues to get referrals for gigs like weddings, graduations, baby showers, bar outings and birthdays, love stories for two and individual photoshoots.

Just in case, let's cover all photography basics with this video so that you don't miss anything out.

8. Tech Support

For tech-savvy students, providing tech support can be a profitable side hustle. Offer your services to individuals and small businesses needing help with their devices and software. Keep up with the latest technology trends and certifications. Offer remote support options to broaden your potential client base.

Here's more similar ideas on how to make money from your IT knowledge:

Driving for companies like Uber or Lyft allows you to work on your own schedule. It’s an easy way to make money if you have a car and enjoy driving. Provide excellent customer service by keeping your car clean, offering your clients water, snacks, or excellent conversation. This will surely earn you higher ratings, more rides and higher earnings!

Listen to what an experiences ride-sharing driver has to say in his podcast, The Rideshare Guy:

10. House Cleaning

This profession is always in high demand. The work may be exhaustive but well paid, plus you can really make a difference in some people's lives. What you need to kick off is good quality cleaning materials, equipment, and specialty services like deep cleanliness that will encourage more customers to turn to you.

Who knows, maybe you'll be the next Professional Cleaner or Aurikatariina.

11. Selling Textbooks

This one's a banger for college students: sell your used textbooks online at the end of each semester. Some classic marketplace websites, like Chegg and Amazon can be your platforms to list and sell your books easily. Pro tip is to post your books early in the semester when people need them the most and attach some clear photos and detailed descriptions to give it a decent look.

See how you can improve your notes so that they look amazing and comprehensive:

12. Language Tutoring

Offer language tutoring services if you're bilingual or know a language besides your mother tongue. You can always be of help to students or even professionals who would like to learn a new language. Tailor the lessons according to your students' needs, and make learning interactive and fun!

In 2024, it's better to know what to expect in the world of freelance. Check out and subscribe to these IG pages if you want to stay afloat and know the best work hacks and recourses:

13. Event Planning

This is a profitable side hustle that you'll enjoy if you're an organizational type. Organizing parties and corporate events for those who could use a little extra help is a good way to gain experience in this high-demand field. Design a portfolio of all the past events with pictures and reviews of clients – this way, you'll create a closer interaction with venues and vendors, and possibly special deals or better service for your clients.

Here's how it can be done at the very beginning if you're a college student:

14. Personal Shopping

Busy families and older people and people with special needs all would be glad is someone assisted them with shopping - and you can be this someone and earn some money in the process. This college side job idea may be applicable to shopping for grocery, clothes, and other personal items - the main thing is to stick to the person's preferences and know how far their budget can go.

Learn more here if you're interested.

15. Podcasting

Start a podcast about your interests, then monetize it with sponsorships and ads. Consistency, passion, and quality of your sound and content are the key factors here, so if you're doing it, do it right! So invest in quality recording equipment and editing software, keep up with a schedule and put out engaging episodes to gain more and more listeners.

Listen to Meet The Podcasters: an ultimate podcast for podcasters.

16. Dropshipping

With a dropshipping business model, you can create an e-commerce website and sell items – but leave the storing, packing and shipping to the supplier. You can open a shopfront on Shopify and find vendors or suppliers by yourself.

In you want to know more about this business model, read this article.

17. Stock Photography

If your photography skills are at least better than average, try to put them up for sale on stock photography sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock. This is another very easy way to earn some passive income with your creative assets. Just know what kinds of pictures are demanded, then go ahead and click the suitable ones. Don't forget to tag them with relevant keywords so that they can be found by other users.

Here's how it can be done:

Starting a side hustle while in college is a really smart way to start laying the groundwork for later life. It's not even about money as much as building confidence and taking on the role of a business owner - even if your business is still small.

Always remember, ways to have a successful side hustle are doing something you are passionate about and managing your time wisely. Then, if you are dedicated, most probably you can turn your side hustle into a really good business that earns respectable profitability. We hope our 17 best side hustle ideas for college students help you with that!

1. Social Media Management