Side hustles for college students are way easier to start than you might think! Throughout college, I noticed almost all of my friends had at least one side hustle — and I met plenty of students who launched small gigs to build more flexible schedules around their classes.
Whether you’re hoping to earn extra income, save money, or explore new opportunities, having a side hustle is a smart way to boost your financial growth without sacrificing your school-life balance.
In this blog post, I’m sharing practical side hustle ideas for college students — options that are realistic, flexible, and can help you create a steady flow of income.
Side Hustles for College Students #1: Reselling Items Online
I knew plenty of college students who made extra money by reselling things like clothes, sneakers, textbooks — and even cars! With platforms like Depop, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay, it’s easier than ever to flip items for a profit.
This side hustle does require a little startup cash to begin purchasing items, so I recommend starting small. You can visit local thrift stores, garage sales, or discount stores to find clothes or items that have resale value.
If you know what to look for, you can turn a $5 thrifted item into $30 — and once you get the hang of it, it’s a fun and flexible way to make money around your school schedule.
Side Hustles for College Students #2: Offering On-Campus Beauty or Grooming Services
This side hustle might require more skill — and possibly more (or less) startup cash depending on what you do — but there are so many services students can charge for.
Back when I was living in the dorms at UCLA, I remember girls doing nails, lash extensions, eyebrow threading, and hair braiding right from their rooms. And guys were offering haircuts too! Even though UCLA is in the middle of Los Angeles, we were still a college town — and honestly, it felt like we lacked access to affordable grooming services nearby. The places in Beverly Hills? Definitely not college-budget friendly.
If you have a skill like this (or are willing to learn), it’s a great way to build a hustle that can grow fast. Yes, you might need basic equipment, some licensing (depending on your state or service), and a little cash to get started, but your first clients can be the people living right on your dorm floor.
Start by charging lower rates to build up your reputation, and before you know it, you’ll be known as the go-to person on campus for that service.
Side Hustles for College Students #3: Babysitting, Housesitting, or Pet sitting
This side hustle doesn’t require any startup cash — just some experience caring for kids, pets, or homes!
Most college towns are near larger cities, and that usually means there’s steady demand for childcare and home help. Back when I was in school, it felt like there were always families in Los Angeles looking for a babysitter, especially in households where both parents worked or just needed an extra hand.
Many students found jobs through local Facebook groups, or apps like Care.com and Rover — but always use caution and verify who you’re working with. Safety first when meeting strangers online!
Babysitting jobs often go to women, but this side hustle isn’t just limited to childcare — many college students also pick up work housesitting or pet sitting, which can be more flexible and lower stress.
Every family or pet owner is different, so it might take some time to find regular gigs, but once you build trust, this can become a reliable and well-paying side hustle that fits around your class schedule.
Side Hustles for College Students #4: Participating in Research Studies
If your college is big on research, you can literally make money just by showing up to participate in studies. A quick Google search like “research trials at [Your College Name]” will usually bring up any available paid opportunities.
At UC schools — especially UCLA — there were always opportunities to join paid research studies, whether through the School of Medicine, Psychology Department, or Business School. Even though I didn’t work on campus until my last quarter, I would check the research and clinical studies board every week or so to see if I qualified for anything.
Some studies are super chill — you might just complete a survey, do a short interview, or let them take your measurements. Others are more involved. Personally, I’ve had my blood drawn and done an MRI scan. That might sound intense, but I’m not claustrophobic or scared of needles, so for me, it was easy money.
The researchers should always explain what you’ll be doing in the study, and you can always opt out at any time if you don’t feel comfortable. In my experience, I never felt unsafe — it was just about knowing what to expect.
I’ve done some studies in person for a quick 2 hours, and others online for just 45 minutes. I found that the more involved the study is, the better the compensation. So if you’re open to more participation, it can really pay off.
This side hustle is a great option if you:
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Want flexible, one-time income opportunities
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Are comfortable in research settings
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Have time between classes
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Want to make up to $25–$100+ per session
Side Hustles for College Students #5: Waitressing, Bartending & Event Work
This side hustle might start off as a regular job — but trust me, the earning potential grows fast once you get some experience under your belt.
Starting at a restaurant is a great way to learn the basics of waitressing or bartending, and once you’ve built up those skills, you can pick up weekend or night shifts for private events or catering gigs. When I used to waitress, my boss often offered us extra opportunities outside of regular restaurant hours to help out at special events or catering jobs.
As a college student, this worked perfectly with my schedule — those gigs usually happened on Friday or Saturday nights, so they never conflicted with classes.
Once you start working events, you’ll naturally meet other servers or bartenders who’ve made connections and get hired to work gigs solo — often for even better pay. You might even get referrals from other staff or clients just by being reliable and professional.
One thing people overlook is the life skills you gain from this kind of work. Waitressing helped me get better at small talk, time management, and working under pressure — skills I now use in professional and academic settings. Some of my friends loved this line of work so much that they kept doing it part-time even while in grad school or working full-time jobs.
Plus, let’s be honest — cash tips add up fast. It’s a fun way to socialize, stay active, and make money doing something that feels different from school.
Side Hustles for College Students #6: Coaching, Training & Refereeing
This one’s for my athletes! If you’re into sports or fitness, you can turn your experience into a side hustle — even without being a certified trainer.
You can start small by offering workout plans, meal prep ideas, or one-on-one coaching to students who want affordable fitness guidance. A lot of students are interested in getting healthier or stronger, but don’t have the budget for expensive personal trainers — so your knowledge can really help them out.
And if coaching or training doesn’t feel like your thing, you can also look into refereeing or coaching for local leagues. I had a friend who used to ref soccer games every Sunday, which worked perfectly with her class schedule since she needed her weekdays free for school. It was consistent, flexible money that fit her lifestyle.
Another option? Seasonal coaching. You could coach a softball, soccer, or basketball team during the spring or fall — or both, depending on your availability. Local youth leagues, parks and rec departments, and community centers are always looking for student coaches or assistant coaches, and the pay can be surprisingly decent.
Whether you’re on the field, in the gym, or helping someone hit their fitness goals, this is a great way to stay active, give back, and earn money doing something you genuinely enjoy.
Side Hustles for College Students #7: Brand Ambassador or Content Creator
If you’re creative and outgoing, becoming a brand ambassador is one of the easiest (and honestly, most fun) ways to make money in college. I knew people who partnered with brands like Bumble, VS Pink, Gymshark, and even TikTok. All they had to do was promote the brand on social media, show up to a few events or post stories, and they’d earn commissions or get paid — no huge following needed.
If you’re someone who loves taking content, posting online, or trying new products, this can be a perfect fit.
Another awesome route? YouTube.
You can start a channel to:
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Vlog your college life
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Share tips for incoming students
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Give insight into what your campus or classes are really like
So many prospective students are searching for this content before applying to schools — and your videos could be the exact thing they’re looking for.
Of course, YouTube isn’t instant income — it takes time, editing, and consistency before it starts making money. But if you’re passionate about sharing your story and building something long-term, it can grow into a real source of income (and memories!).
Like… how lucky are we as a generation to have the internet and literally get paid for being ourselves online?
Side Hustles for College Students #8: Scholarships
This is one of the few times in your life where you can literally get hundreds or even thousands of dollars just for writing about yourself — so take advantage of it!
You don’t have to be the “perfect” student to win scholarships. The truth is, there are opportunities for all types of students — and the best part? You can keep applying all the way until you graduate.
If you want to learn exactly how I secured thousands of dollars in scholarships, be sure to check out my other blog posts where I break down my proven strategies to help you win more free money for school. I share tips on essay writing, finding legitimate scholarships, and how to stay organized through the whole process.
Seriously, the leverage you get from applying to scholarships is huge. You’re getting paid to tell your story — and you can’t really do that after college. I wish I could still apply for scholarships to help cover bills today!
Endless Possibilities
Side hustles are truly limitless — it’s all about finding what you’re good at and figuring out how to monetize your skills or passions.
Some people I know turned their college side hustle into a full-time career, while others still keep theirs going for extra income even after graduation. Whether it’s paying for textbooks, saving up for that spring break trip, or just wanting to grab dinner with your roommates without stressing — a side hustle can give you that extra freedom.
I created this blog post because I get it — I know how hard it is to afford the day-to-day things in college while still wanting to enjoy your time there. Hopefully, you found a few ideas here that inspired you to start your own college side hustle and take control of your finances in a way that works for you.