Between tuition, room and board, books, technology and living expenses, college expenses can quickly add up. Making money while you’re in school is often helpful and — for many — it's a necessity. But how can you make money as a college student without letting your academics slip? Try these practical ideas and tips for earning an income during your college years.
Get a Part-time Job While You’re in College
1. Look for on-campus work. Check with your college or university for work-study or other on-campus positions offered to students. Students can often work in dining halls or university offices; within campus security, IT or transportation; or in academic positions such as research or as a teaching assistant. The position of resident advisor (RA) is one many students seek, as it sometimes earns them free room and board.
2.Seek off-campus opportunities. When you're willing to go off-campus, of course, the sky’s the limit on the type of jobs you may apply for. Whether you land a part-time job with a temp agency, restaurant, retail store, moving company or some other organization, you will earn as you potentially learn new skills and gain valuable experience.
3. Apply for the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. The FWS program is a type of financial aid you receive from the government. However, rather than a loan or grant, it's an opportunity to obtain a job to help pay for college costs. FWS is designed specifically for college students, which means it's often more flexible than other types of part-time jobs when it comes to working around class schedules. To qualify, begin by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). If you're eligible, you’ll receive a financial aid award letter from your college, which may include FWS if your school determines you qualify.
You may find both on-campus and off-campus opportunities, but positions are competitive. So, apply early and look for opportunities that align with your career goals.
Make Money on Freelance Gigs
What are you really good at — writing? Babysitting? Landscaping? Knitting? Go all-out entrepreneurial by researching the market for your services and then building your business through social media, word-of-mouth and other means of communication. You may also find sites and apps that help connect freelancers with opportunities.
4. Tutor other students. If you excel in a particular subject area, share your knowledge with other students to help them excel as well. Many students are willing to pay for weekly tutoring sessions, which can make this a steady source of income throughout the term and possibly over academic breaks.
5. Walk dogs. For animal lovers, making money while pet sitting or dog walking can be a dream come true. Seriously? You’ll pay me for playing with your dog?
6. Babysit. Likewise, if you grew up with younger siblings or have a history of taking care of children, babysitting can prove a lucrative endeavor. As with any job where you may be going into someone’s home, make sure you know the family or work through a service that screens customers for your security.
7. House sit. People who travel for business or take vacations will often pay someone to stay at their home or to check in on it while they’re gone. Sometimes they’ll ask you to do some easy maintenance tasks while you’re there — feeding the fish, watering the plants, or fetching the mail, for example.
8. Do yardwork. If you like working outdoors, you can offer homeowners services such as mowing, raking leaves, doing yard cleanup, shoveling snow and weeding their gardens.
10. Drive for a delivery service. Delivery services have really taken off as people embrace the convenience of having their groceries and meals brought to their doors.
Work a Remote Job
11. Write, edit and proofread. If you’re a good writer, you can support others who need help writing resumes or ensuring their essays and other papers are letter-perfect. Of course, never cross the line into doing their work for them. Instead, just help them present their own work in the best possible light. You might also want to check out websites that offer freelance writing gigs with businesses that need someone to write blogs or other online content for them.
While AI writing tools are becoming increasingly popular, nothing beats the personalized touch and understanding that a human writer brings, especially when it comes to crafting essays or other personal content. If you're a student offering writing services, highlight your ability to understand specific prompts and add a personal voice, which AI tools can't replicate.
12. Transcribe. Have some spare time to listen and type? Some businesses, podcasters and others will pay for the convenience of having their meetings, episodes, seminars, etc. transcribed. It’s work you can do remotely on your own schedule.
13. Start an online crafts business. If you have an artistic flair, consider setting up a site or a page within an established marketplace to sell your creations.
14. Work as a virtual assistant. Many businesses are looking for remote help with administration, scheduling, email management, and customer support. Students can use their organizational skills to manage tasks from anywhere.
15. Manage social media. Handling social media accounts for small businesses or bloggers often pays well and can be fun. This role often involves creating content, scheduling posts, and engaging with followers. AI tools now make it easier to create great images and posts, even if you're not a pro at design. This opens up more chances for students to get into social media work. But remember, it's the personal touch that will set your work apart.
Consider Other Creative Ways to Make Money
There are also opportunities to make money in college that don’t involve holding down a job or freelancing. For example:
16. Participate in market research studies. A quick online search should uncover focus group and online survey opportunities that pay. Take care to check out the company to make sure it’s legitimate before you participate or provide any personal information.
17. Sell some of your stuff. If you really think about it, you probably have something to sell — textbooks you no longer use; gently worn, stylish clothes you no longer wear; items that could be useful to someone else but just aren’t valuable to you anymore. Check out the variety of sites for selling your things online, or go retro and hold a garage sale with a few of your friends or family members.
18. Take advantage of rebate apps. Looking for deals before you shop online or in person can save you money; using rebate apps after you shop can help you get back some of the money you spent. Check out available rebate apps to see if they might benefit you.
19. Apply for scholarships. Applying for scholarships is a smart way to cover college costs without accumulating debt. Scholarships can cover anything from a small portion of your costs to your entire tuition. Best of all, scholarships don't need to be repaid. Whether they're based on merit, need, or unique criteria such as your hobbies or field of study, there's likely a scholarship out there for you. To maximize your chances, start early, seek out less competitive options, and be sure to follow directions carefully.
Manage Your College Earnings with a PNC Student Account
Earning money in college is an important step toward adulthood, but it's also critical to manage it responsibly. PNC Bank offers Virtual Wallet Student®, which includes both Checking and Savings, that are custom-tailored to meet the needs of college students. PNC offers several tools and features that can help you make the most of every dollar you earn.