Every student likes
being able to cover expenses and having extra cash to spend. But learning how
to make money in college—without getting burned out—can be a challenge. After
all, succeeding in school takes time, energy, and focus. And so does earning money.
So it's easy to understand why balancing these two goals is such a common
desire.
The fact is that
students with disposable incomes are often able to get much more out of their
college experiences than those who don't have extra funds. They have found ways
to make money in college that are flexible, reliable, and worth their efforts. And
they've discovered that you don't have to choose between earning money and
getting an education. It's possible to do both—and to do them well.
The key is figuring
out what will work for your particular situation. There are countless ways for
college students to make money, but not all of them will be appropriate for
you. You'll need to think about your current commitments, existing talents, and
what you hope to accomplish. Then you can devise a suitable plan of action.
How to Make Money
While in College: 12 Smart Approaches
- Make your classes the top priority
- Beware of "easy money" promises
- Reduce your expenses
- Sell what you don't need
- Sell what you make
- Pursue summer jobs or paid internships
- Look into work-study programs
- Become a resident assistant (RA)
- Take odd jobs
- Offer your skills on a freelance basis
- Learn new skills through online training
- Get a part-time job
1. Make Your Classes
the Top Priority
Pursue Summer Jobs or
Paid Internships Most college students in America work at least part-time while
going through school. In fact, between 70 and 80 percent of them are employed
during any given school year. That's almost 14 million people.* So wanting to
earn while you learn is perfectly normal.
However, making money
in college becomes too large of a distraction for some students. As a result,
they let their grades slip and eventually get burned out from trying to keep up
with all of the competing demands on their time. And that can lead to not
graduating.
The challenge is to
avoid overextending yourself. Working too much can lead to putting your studies
on the back burner, which can create a downward spiral in your classes that is
hard to climb out of. It's much better to place smart limits on how much you
work. Remember that you need plenty of study time as well as plenty of sleep.
It's all about
choosing your out-of-class activities wisely. Will the monetary rewards truly
be worth the time away from your studies? What you choose should help you attain
your most important goals. And you don't have to keep those goals a secret.
Let people know that
you only have a limited amount of time. And make sure that your employers or
clients understand that you're a student first and foremost. Tell them up front
so that they know what to expect. That way, you can prevent future
misunderstandings.
2. Beware of
"Easy Money" Promises
An important part of
learning how to make money while in college is learning what to avoid.
The Internet is full
of websites promoting so-called easy ways to make money in college.
Unfortunately, the methods they tout often don't pay well or aren't worth the
time that they take to carry out. In fact, a lot of the easiest ways to earn
money online end up paying way below minimum wage. So unless you can carry out
certain tasks at super-human speeds, they might not be the wisest options. Why
offer your time for pennies?
Everyone knows the cliche: If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Stay skeptical and think everything through. The people who supply raving testimonials about
their success are frequently the rare exceptions, not the rule.
For example, remain
cautious about sites that require multi-level marketing or that promise an
easy, passive income. Most likely, you'll need to commit a huge amount of time
(and maybe even money) in order to get set up. And you probably won't be
guaranteed to earn much, if any, income for your efforts.
Of course, if you're
already spending a lot of your free time on Facebook or watching TV, then
getting paid to do something like fill out online surveys might be a more
productive use of that time. It's easy money for sure. But you can probably do
a lot better.
3. Reduce Your
Expenses
Students who know how
to make extra money in college often start here first. After all, the less you
have to pay, the less you have to earn. Plus, you'll only be in school for a
limited amount of time. So do you really need a lot of luxuries? Being frugal
today can lead to enjoying greater prosperity tomorrow.
Some of the most
popular ways to save money in college include:
- Buying used textbooks or sharing them with other students
- Taking public transit instead of owning a car
- Buying clothes from thrift stores instead of brand new
- Sharing an inexpensive place with a few roommates
- Not signing up for big meal plans
- Making your own meals
- Buying non-perishable food in bulk
- Doing your own laundry
- Getting rid of cable TV
- Choosing a bare-bones phone plan and limiting your use of texts and data
- Opting for lower-end computers or tablets
- Not using credit cards
- Avoiding private loans
- Finding free entertainment
- Taking advantage of student discounts
4. Sell What You
Don't Need
When looking into how
to make money at school, many people tend to overlook this option. As a college
student, you might have relatively few possessions. Even so, it can be
surprising to discover how many things you have but don't really need. Why not
take a hard look at everything you own? If you have things that you hardly ever
use or that are merely luxuries and not necessities, then consider selling
them.
For example, students
often get decent money for their old textbooks and electronics. And it's possible
to sell gently used clothes for good prices at consignment shops.
5. Sell What You Make
Are you a creator?
Many college students have hobbies such as making crafts, taking photos, or
baking treats. And markets exist for all of that stuff. For instance, you can
sell your crafts on Etsy. If your photos are good, you can sell them as stock
images. Or you can sell your baked goods to other students around campus,
especially during busy times like finals week.
You can even sell
items that don't require any talent to put together. Something as simple as
selling shoelaces or other items in your school's colors can be an easy way to
earn extra cash, especially during sporting events or campus rallies. Just be
sure you won't be violating any of your school's policies by doing so. The
point is to think creatively.
6. Pursue Summer Jobs
or Paid Internships
It's true that summer
opportunities aren't as abundant as they used to be. However, it's still
possible to find good ones. For example, many tourism-related businesses and
seasonal attractions provide summer jobs to enthusiastic college students. So
if you get summer breaks from school, then a temporary job can help you earn
and save a significant amount of money over those months, especially if it
offers full-time hours.
Paid internships are
another way to earn extra income and gain valuable experience. In fact, they
are often some of the best options for students who are trying to figure out
how to make money in college. (Did you know that about one million college
students in America work as interns?*) Many interns work for a specified period
of time—anything from a few months to over a year. And some internship is
open-ended.
How do you find these
opportunities? Start meeting professionals and asking around. Attend recruiting
events and other professional gatherings both on and off campus. Collect names
and contact information. And follow up with the people you've met from time to
time to ask if they know of any opportunities that might suit your skills,
interests, and personality. It also doesn't hurt to call any businesses that
you'd like to work for directly. Just keep a polished resume on hand and ready
to send.
7. Look into
Work-Study Programs
Go to your school's
financial aid or career services department and ask about this option. Many
colleges and universities provide part-time job opportunities to low-income
students. The jobs are usually on campus and offer very flexible hours.
Examples include positions in dining facilities, computer labs, administrative
offices, campus stores, and student-relations offices.
8. Become a Resident
Assistant (RA)
Most of America's
traditional colleges and universities have on-campus housing. So they need
responsible and outgoing people to help manage their dormitory halls. And that
often means having current college students fill that role. As a resident
assistant, you'll receive your room and board for free or at a big discount. So
it's a great way to save a lot of money while also gaining plenty of leadership
experience. And some schools even provide small stipends to RAs.
9. Take Odd Jobs
Money for college
students can come from a lot of miscellaneous sources. So it pays to stay
observant. Keep your eyes and ears attuned to potential opportunities as you go
about your day-to-day activities. You never know when you might stumble upon a
chance to make some extra cash. For example, many students get to pad their
wallets by doing odd jobs such as:
- House-sitting or pet watching
- Modelling (nude or otherwise) for art classes
- Participating in user testing for new apps or websites
- Being a referee for intramural sports
- Helping out with campus events
- Driving other students to off-campus errands
- Helping people move
- Being an extra for film or TV productions
- Working as a temporary brand ambassador
- Participating in research trials or psychology experiments
10. Offer Your Skills
on a Freelance Basis
Time and flexibility
are always two of the biggest issues related to learning how to make money
while in college. After all, your schedule might vary a lot. And you may not
always be able to predict how much homework or studying you'll need to do.
That's why it's good
to have some skills that you can use as a freelancer. You'll be able to pick
and choose the jobs and clients that you want to take on and match them to the
free spaces in your schedule. It's all about finding ways to offer your
existing talents and abilities to people or organizations that need help.
You can find all
sorts of freelancing opportunities online. And once you've established a few
happy clients, word of mouth will likely start spreading. Just remember to make
your classes a priority, and do your best to avoid clients who will be very
demanding of your time.
Many college students
earn money in freelance jobs such as:
- Online copy writing
- Proofreading essays
- Tutoring other students
- Providing computer- or tech-related services
- Driving passengers as part of online services like Uber or Lyft
- Walking dogs
- Babysitting
- Designing presentations
- Performing various handiwork
- Crafting resumes
- Running other people's social media accounts
- Cleaning
- Doing laundry
- Painting interiors or exteriors
- Gardening or landscaping
11. Learn New Skills through
Online Training
You might already be
in a college program, but that doesn't mean you can't get a little additional
training in your spare time. Some students find it very beneficial to learn new
skills during their breaks from school or during slower periods. It's what
allows them to get better-paying freelance or part-time jobs later on.
Plus, a lot of fast
and affordable online programs are available these days. They allow you to
learn when it's most convenient for you. And they can help you qualify for
opportunities that otherwise might not be open to you.
For example, maybe
you enjoy working with computers or going to the gym. With a small amount of online
training, you may be able to earn certificates that qualify you to take on
paying clients or good jobs that are related to those interests. Computer
technicians and fitness trainers often enjoy flexible hours and high pay.
12. Get a Part-Time
Job
Get a Part-Time Job, Part-time
employment is the most common way that students make money in college—for good
reason. It offers the most stable and reliable source of income while still
allowing you time for your studies. And it provides valuable experience that
you can easily feature on your resume.
College students who
are employed work about 30 hours per week, on average.* But many experts advise
full-time students not to exceed 20 or 25 hours of work per week in order to
avoid harming their studies or burning out altogether.
On-campus jobs tend
to offer the best flexibility and the most convenient work locations. However,
off-campus jobs often provide higher pay and better paths to post-graduation
employment.
About two-thirds of
working college students in the U.S. are between 16 and 29 years old. Almost 35
percent of them work in jobs related to sales or office support. And about 26
percent of them are employed in jobs related to food or personal services.*
When it comes to pay,
most young college students who are employed make between $7,500 and $42,000 a
year. However, 45 percent of them make less than $23,540 per year. And about 40
percent of them work full-time in order to earn higher incomes. In contrast,
over 75 percent of older college students between the ages of 30 and 54 work
full-time.*
So it's possible to
work part-time as a college student and still make a good amount of money. You
just have to be mindful of your limitations and remember that your main goal is
to learn all you can and successfully finish school.
Some of the
best-paying part-time positions for college students include:
- Administrative assistant
- Bank teller
- Personal assistant
- Exam proctor
- Teacher assistant
- Research assistant
- Commissioned salesperson
Other common
part-time jobs that can pay well include:
- Bartender
- Barista
- Food server
- Retail clerk
- Customer service representative
- Delivery driver
- Valet
These are the list of
most appropriate ways to earn money while studding in collage. For more please
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