Updated on May 20th, 2024
The freelance and remote work economy have opened up a whole new world of online jobs for college students looking to earn money. Gone are the days of competing for the few food service, babysitting, or retail jobs in a small college town.
Now, college students across the nation are making money on their own time, from the comfort of their dorm rooms.
If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.
Why work remotely?
As remote work increases in popularity in multiple industries, college students are finding creative, flexible work opportunities that fit with their busy class schedule.
You might be thinking, “I can’t find any flexible jobs that are related to my passion or my major, so this isn’t for me”
In fact, there are opportunities for online jobs for college students no matter your major, interests or extracurricular involvement. Art students are monetizing their skills by designing logos and branding materials for small businesses. Students studying in the STEM fields are maximizing their time tutoring online. And community service volunteers and leaders are applying their fundraising skills to writing copy and marketing materials for online businesses.
Not only does remote work allow busy students the opportunity to make an income, but it builds valuable skills needed to enter the workforce. Industry leaders predict that remote work will rival location-based offices as early as 2025- which means that current students need to prepare for the reality of remote work.
Remote work teaches transferable skills, like time management and self-discipline, that are essential to most industries. Students are leveraging these remote work positions on their resumes to highlight their ability to self-motivate, manage their time, and communicate asynchronously. Regardless of your major or your dream industry, starting your first remote job as a college student will put you at a great advantage entering the workforce after graduation.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a remote side hustle to earn money as a college student, all you need to get started is a computer, decent wifi, and a comfy place to sit!
7 Remote Side Hustle Jobs for College Students
1. UpWork
Build your UpWork profile to highlight your top-selling skills, like social media management, blog writing, copywriting, or editing. Submit your profile for approval and start taking jobs right away. Upwork places limits on the total number of freelancers for any given category, so if your profile isn’t approved right away, try highlighting a different skill set!
Best Match for students studying: English, Marketing, Journalism, Web Development, Engineering, Computer Science, or Graphic Design
2. Fivver
Fivver is another great site to build your freelance profile based on your skills and passions. Building a profile on both UpWork and Fivver can help maximize your client base and increase your opportunity for earning. The Fivver platform is a go-to for small businesses looking for great designers, so if you have an eye for logo design, check out this platform.
Best Match for students studying: Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or Communications
3. DaDa
Based in China, DaDa is bringing high-quality English lessons to students between the ages of 4 and 15. As a teacher with DaDa, you build your own schedule and work with students 1:1 over video chats as they practice their English speaking skills. You set your own schedule and can work from anywhere in the world, making this a perfect opportunity for students who might be planning to study abroad!
Best Match for students studying: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Anthropology, Psychology, Foreign Languages, Communications, or Art
4. VIP Kids
If you decide to sign up as a remote teacher with DaDa, consider joining VIP Kids, too. Using multiple online teaching platforms will help increase your earning potential and strengthen your online teaching skills. Combining these two platforms will increase your opportunity to work with students and earn more money!
Best Match for students studying: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Anthropology, Psychology, Foreign Languages, Communications, or Art
5. Solid Gigs
Solid Gigs is great for students who are looking to grow their experience as a freelancer. The platform not only posts hundreds of new gigs daily but has courses and training available to improve student’s freelance skills.
Best Match for students studying: Graphic Design, English, Marketing, Design
6. Chegg Tutors
Did you know Chegg is more than just a textbook rental website? Students who excel in their academic field are great candidates for Chegg Tutors. Apply to work with Chegg, and they will match you with students looking for tutors. This is a great opportunity for students who already tutor on their campus to monetize their free time.
Best Match for students studying: Mathematics, STEM, Education, English, Foreign Language, History
7. PalFish
PalFish is another platform for online teaching where education students can gain teaching experience while teaching English online to students around the world! PalFish lets you set your own rates and requires no teaching license to get started.
Best Match for students studying: Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Anthropology, Foreign Languages
Bonus Opportunity: Scholarships as a Side Hustle
Ever considered the money earning potential that can come from scholarship applications? After crunching the numbers, many students report that their hourly rate earned from scholarships exceeds any side hustle or part-time job they’ve held. If you want to learn how you can use scholarship applications as a money-making opportunity, sign up for this free webinar.
These companies and platforms offer creative opportunities for current college students to make money on their own time. Regardless of your major or area of study, you can find a position that fits your schedule and time constraints. If you’re a college student looking for ways to cut your college bill, pay back student loans, or reduce the overall cost of college, a remote side hustle might be just what you need!
Samantha Lee is a remote work advocate, helping aspiring digital nomads find fully remote work opportunities and build flexible, location-independent lifestyles and careers. As an all remote employee herself, Samantha has developed strategies for people looking to leave their location-based offices and pursue remote careers.
If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Take a trip over to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.
Links:
Resource: https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/remote-flexible-working-fixed-offices-future-of-work
Thank you for providing these sites. I believe that being a freelancer while in college is quite possible. I don’t know where to start, who would want to hire me without experience and a sensible resume. But I am in active search and hope that I can use my skills.