College students are the first to admit that they are always in need of extra cash. Many universities offer on-campus jobs, but with high demand, they may not be easy to get.
Meanwhile, college students are left to wrestle with scheduling work around their class schedule and other commitments.
But the need to make extra money while in college is not insignificant. Students who live off of university property need to pay rent like anyone else. Even those who live in student housing still need to find the funds for food, clothes, and increasingly expensive textbooks.
The age of the internet has brought the possibility of online jobs. Working online means that students can make money by offering their skills without ever leaving their room. All they need is an internet connection — and thankfully, universities supply that everywhere.
The simple fact is that there are a lot of ways to earn money online if you have certain skills. These include writing, editing, design, blogging, and more. But there are also ways to make money simply by “showing up” online. Some companies offer cash or discounts in return for taking surveys or signing up for subscriptions. The internet is an infinite resource. Simply put, there are always new jobs available.
Online jobs also make it possible to choose your own hours, or even work in increments between classes and other commitments. Working online means, more or less, that you make your own schedule. Many online jobs are about producing projects rather than working on the clock, so it is easy to set your schedule around your own needs.
All you need to know to find an online job is where to start looking. Thankfully, there are hundreds of online resources that can help you figure that out.
Let’s take a look at some of the best options for students looking for online jobs…
Start a Blog
If you have a talent for writing and self-drive then creating a blog for yourself could be one of the most lucrative options open to you. You can create a blog about any subject which you are passionate about and there are endless ways you can earn money from a blog these days, such as:
- Affiliate Programs
- Display Advertising
- Sponsorships
- Paid Postings
- Subscriptions
- Selling your own products
If you’d like to get started creating a blog, we have written a huge guide which will walk you through every step of the process, from creating the blog, buying hosting to creating your first blog post and then how to monetize it.
After you have gone though that guide, you should take a look at our other guide which is a list of all the best affiliate programs for bloggers. That post will show you the best options for monetizing a blog on just about any subject.
Take Online Surveys for Money
Taking surveys is one way to make money that you can even do from your phone. Companies are constantly conducting surveys to get a better idea of their customer demographics and find out what products and services people are looking for.
These surveys may be only a few short questions, or they may take up to half an hour or more. Survey takers answer questions about their consumption habits and preferences and earn cash or rewards for their time.
Depending on the survey site you use, you may be enrolled in a point system toward prizes like Amazon gift cards, or you may receive actual cash.
We have put together a big list of the best survey companies here.
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is the most well-known platform which will pay you for taking surveys. They have been around for over 14 years and are the leader in this area. You can take surveys and complete other assignments to earn points which can then be redeemed for real money via PayPal.
Visit Survey Junkie or Read our Full Review here.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks offer online surveys alongside a whole host of other ways to earn money and gift cards such as watching videos, using their search engine, completing daily activities and polls.
Visit Swagbucks or read the review.
InboxDollars
Often appearing in the top three rankings on multiple lists, InboxDollars is a fully legitimate online rewards club that reliably pays consumers in real cash, hence the name. it is easy to earn money on the site and to get paid to complete surveys, shop online, play video games and browse new sites!
Visit InboxDollars or Read our Full Review
Freelance Writing
If you are a good writer, you may assume that everyone else also knows how to write. But this actually is not the case. Freelance writing jobs are always in demand on the internet because businesses have an endless amount of web copy that they need to publish.
Freelance writing can be about any topic imaginable. As a freelance writer, you could be writing a site description for a construction company, helping a local bookstore put together social media posts, or writing informational articles about speciality medical services.
Freelance writers need to be good researchers since the job that they will be doing is all about writing knowledgeably on many topics with tight deadlines. It is also a good idea to have some knowledge of how to optimise articles for search engines since SEO is a skill that is often required for web copy.
If you can write well, do thorough research, and sometimes work under tight deadlines, freelance writing is a great option. Sites like Upwork, BloggingPro, and Freelancer are good places to start. You may even be able to find freelance writing gigs on sites like Craigslist. Freelance writers can usually choose their own work hours and their own rates, so they decide how much they get paid per project.
Another approach for gaining freelance writing gigs is to directly contact blogs and websites in the areas you have expertise in and directly offer your services. This is often a way to get better rates as you will be paid directly, cutting out the middle-man fees that the freelancing sites will take. As a website owner, this is how I hired some of our best writers – people who have contacted me directly. For this approach to work, you will need a good body of work online so make sure you have an online portfolio of your work for the potential employer to view.
We have put together another big guide here, all about how to become a freelance writer and start making money right away.
Useful Links
Online Captioning or Transcription
Online captioning and transcription jobs are similar to freelance writing. Transcription jobs usually consist of watching professional videos or listening to audio files and then transcribing them for use by a business or public service. The rate of pay may be different depending on the project or your level of expertise.
Captioning, meanwhile, is about creating subtitles for videos. These could be anything from advertisements to instructional videos for companies. Captionists need to be able to synchronise subtitles with audio, so that text appears at the same time it is spoken on-screen. Companies like Rev offer lots of captioning jobs, usually paying by the audio minute.
Transcription is detailed, focused work, so it is not something everyone can do. The good news is, that means that there is almost always transcription work to be had. As with freelance writing, all you need is a computer and access to the internet. If you can listen carefully and make notes accurately, then transcribing or captioning may be a great job for you.
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Teaching English Online
There are lots of opportunities to work as a remote teacher. Teachers and students meet in an online “classroom” where they can interact via video chat just as though they were in a physical classroom. Many of these jobs are teaching English online. These jobs connect teachers and students from places all over the world for either classroom or one-on-one sessions.
There are many websites that offer ESL teaching certification. Depending on the website, you may or may not need previous teaching experience. Most teachers are required to undergo a short certification before they can start teaching. After they pass, however, they tend to make very good money.
Online English teachers can make as much as $18 an hour or even more. They also choose their own time slots, making it a great job for college students. Many websites that host online ESL classes also supply their own curriculum to help teachers in the classroom.
Teaching English as a second language can be a great way for college students to earn good money on their own time while helping people who are trying to further their education. It is also a perfect thing to be able to put on a resume after graduation. Sites like HAWO, TeachAway, and VIPKid are great places to get started.
You can read our full review of VIPKid here to find out more.
Useful Links
Online Tutoring
If you are not interested in a job as ambitious as teaching English to someone halfway across the globe, tutoring might be a better option for you. There are dozens of tutoring websites that aim to connect students and tutors in a one-on-one environment.
You can apply to be a tutor in almost any subject. If there is a student looking for tutoring in a particular course that you are familiar with, you can apply for that, too. Most online tutoring websites will have you make a tutor profile detailing your skills, experience, and the areas where you are most knowledgeable. That makes it easy for students to connect with you.
Tutoring jobs can be either long-term or short-term, depending on the student’s needs. You may be working with a student for an entire semester on a particular course, or you may just be helping them prepare for a test for a few hours. There are a lot of options, and online tutors have total freedom to decide what kind of work they take on.
Tutoring is a classic way for college students to make extra money. Now, they can take advantage of an entire internet full of students who need help with their coursework. As with most other online jobs, you can choose your own hours and charge the rates you want to.
Useful Links
Product and App Testing
Believe it or not, there are companies that are looking to pay people to use their products. These are often businesses that are coming out with new items and want to hear what a test group of people think of it before they release it to the general public. There are hundreds of product testing jobs open at any one time.
Usually, product testers apply for the job and supply their address. The company then sends them a product for free. This could be anything from makeup products to electronic gadgets to household items. All product testers have to do is use the product and write a review for the company. Much of the time, they are even permitted to keep the product.
This entire process also goes for phone apps. App developers are always in production, and they want to make sure that their apps work well and are comfortable, functional, and user-friendly. App testers just have to download the app on their phone and use it for a certain amount of time. Often, developers will ask for an online review and for you to let them know about any glitches you encountered. Product and app testing is a simple way to make extra cash without a ton of effort.
Useful Links
Writing Amazon Reviews
Similar to product testing, Amazon actually employs people to write reviews on their website. This job is simple and straightforward if you have basic writing skills and the ability to construct a few cohesive paragraphs. As an Amazon product reviewer, you will receive a product, use it, give it a rating, and write a few sentences on why the product works or does not work, and how it could be improved. You will be paid per review.
Online reviews help other customers know what products they need and which ones are the best for their money. You will need to be able to write clearly and…
Best Online Jobs for College Students: The Ultimate Guide 2021