College students face a lot of challenges and difficulties on their way to getting a degree, and sometimes it is hard to find a job that will fit into their busy schedules. Luckily, we have found the best online jobs for college students that pay! Check out our list below of the best great opportunities where you can work from home-perfect for those just starting out in the workforce (and even with no experience).
Making money in college is not impossible!
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Eating ramen every night can be fun, but it’s not the only option. If you’re overwhelmed with classes and aren’t sure where your next paycheck will come from, consider looking at some popular online jobs for college students.
If you’re in college, chances are good you’re there to learn something. No matter what skill you’re improving, there’s a way to market it online and turn it into a job.
Take a few minutes and think about some skills you might be learning in college.
Best Online Jobs for College Students
Making money in college is doable – truly! If you’re in college, there’s a good chance you’re there to learn something.
No matter what skill you’re improving, there’s a way to market online and turn it into a job.
Complete Surveys for Money
No, it’s not a scam!
Filling out online surveys is one of the most lucrative and flexible jobs a college student can have. It’s easy to get into, doesn’t require a huge time commitment up front, and is a lot more interesting than many of the other jobs available to college students.
Getting started with paid surveys requires signing up with survey sites. While these sites are easy to find, not all of them have a stellar reputation.
You may find some that fill your inbox with spam or try to scam you out of the money you do have. To avoid scams, look for reviews of the sites you’re considering signing up for.
Or take a look at the sites below. They’ve been tested, and you can be sure they’re worth your time:
- Lifepoints– This survey site has over 1 million users and is certified by the Better Business Bureau. Do I need to say more
- Survey Junkie – A GREAT survey site that even makes payments through PayPal! This makes the collection process MUCH easier.
- YouGov – Yet another fantastic online survey website that is very easy to sign up for and completely free of charge.
- Univox Community – A global survey site that even gives you a chance to win cars!
When you get ready to sign up for survey sites, it might be worthwhile to create a separate email address for your surveys. Every time a new survey is available, the sites you sign up for will send you an email.
If you’re a member of many sites, it’s easy for your inbox to get overwhelmed. Creating a separate address will help keep all your invitations in one place.
After signing up with your preferred sites, it’s time to take surveys. The surveys themselves are pretty self-explanatory. Simply read through the questions and provide honest answers.
The tricky part of having a survey-taking job is being consistent enough with it to earn money. There are some strategies you can use to keep the money rolling in.
The best way to make the most of survey taking is to set aside time each night to work on it. You may want to do it while your favorite TV shows are on.
Surveys are easy enough to do while watching TV, and you won’t have to worry about missing the appointed time.
Another way to stay consistent is to keep track of your statistics. Log the time spent doing surveys and how much money you made. Once you start seeing the results, you won’t want to stop!
See Related: Best Online Jobs for 14 Years Old That Pays
Freelance Writer
Almost all degree programs require some writing requirements. If you find you’ve got a knack for it, why not offer your pen up to others?
The internet is full of marketers and website owners who are hungry for content, which is opening the door for freelance writing jobs around the world.
Check out freelance sites to find job offers. Once you fill out a profile and get hired, all you have to do is write and make money.
The more jobs you complete, the more your reputation will grow, giving you access to more lucrative opportunities.
This online job is nice because you have extremely flexible hours. Just don’t miss those precious client deadlines.
See Related: Online Surveys That Pay Cash
Online Tutor
If you’re spending hours every week learning a particular subject, why not get paid to help others learn the same thing? Online tutoring is becoming more and more popular these days as technology gets better and better.
You can help people on your own campus or students around the world.
Even if you’re not sure you’re up to teaching the subject you’re learning, English language learners worldwide will pay to have the opportunity to practice their native language.
See Related: Fun Surveys for People Who Love Taking Them
Build Websites With Web Development
Anyone studying a computer-related topic has a leg up in internet jobs. There is no end to the people who would like to have a website but have no idea how to build one.
These people can be found on the same websites that people looking for writers tend to frequent.
As an added bonus, building websites at this point in your life will help you build a portfolio that will give you tons of help when you venture out to find a ‘real-world’ job.
Web development can be an extremely lucrative career, and there will be no shortage of demand for web developers for the foreseeable future.
See Related: $60,000 a Year is How Much an Hour: A Breakdown
Social Media Marketing
If you have experience working with large social networks such as YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you could provide services that will help your organization manage its social media profiles.
You don’t even need to know all of those platforms to become a social media manager, there are so many social media platforms out there that you need to be an expert in just one platform.
If you and your pals are constantly connected, it may be a wonderful job for you as a student since each day; you might earn a good wage. Stevan K. is a Facebook ad specialist who charges $30 an hour to assist businesses with lead creation efforts.
This service aims to provide results and assist clients in increasing public relations requirements for businesses worldwide.
The great news about starting out as a social media manager is that you can build your book of business and grow your practice into a full-fledged social media marketing business.
There are a ton of social media marketing businesses out there in today’s age, so that means there is plenty of competition.
See Related: How Much is $45,000 a Year Hourly? (An Hourly Wage Analysis)
Transcriptionist / Translator
It’s about the difference between translations and transcriptions, which involve a lot of words.
To produce textual records, transcription converts audio recordings to text. A translation is converting a phrase from one language into another. Professors may engage students to assist with these services in their research.
These two tasks can be completed anywhere in the world, but the plentifulness of these roles within higher education makes them ideal for college students. Interpreters assist language learners of various types in communicating orally; don’t conflate interpreters with translators.
This is an online job that is somewhat rudimentary, but it’s an extremely easy way to make money online, and you’ll likely learn some new things along the way. Also, you can create your own schedule.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are ideal for individuals just starting out who want to get involved with several tasks across a wide range of skills. The ability to multitask, outstanding communication abilities, and attention to detail are all shared features among successful VAs.
In Upwork, some people have worked for over 131 remote jobs and have earned over $100,000 on the platform. These people complete tasks that encompass telephone/e-mail/chat, Customer Service writing invoices, order processing, data, and project management.
It depends on how much work you perform based on the company you are working for—Gina Horkey’s workbook has been teaching millions and hundreds how to become virtual assistants.
As a virtual assistant, you need a strong internet connection to respond to your boss’s requests.
You can find virtual assistant jobs on job sites like FlexJobs or Upwork. You’ll want to build your online presence on one site to start making good money online.
Retail Arbitrage
Buying goods from several merchants and selling them for a profit is known as retail arbitrage. Most people buy bulk online and sell on marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
Some individuals are concerned about whether this practice is ethical, but it is completely legal and extremely lucrative for college students to earn money online.
Dylan took a 90-day challenge to make at least $1000 without money after taking a class on how to flip for profit. He had $2,457.90 cash in his hand and an additional $500 in inventory which he was unable to sell after completing the challenge for 90 days.
Retail arbitrage is more of an entrepreneurial venture and job because you will have to invest your own money to see if it will pay off.
Data Entry
Data entry is an online work where you enter data into online forms. You may be entering online orders, data from online surveys, inventory item information, or any other online form that needs data input.
Data entry is something that you can do in your free time, and it’s often relatively quick – many online forms will allow you to complete them in just a few minutes.
Virtual data entry jobs offer a large starting salary and can pay up to $30 per hour. If you’re looking for a part-time job while in college, this is a great place to start.
Data entry won’t be an extremely exciting job, but it’s a good way to make a few extra bucks while you are taking classes.
You can find an online job doing data entry on FlexJobs or freelance websites like Upwork.
Start a YouTube Channel
I’m sure you’ve heard of people who have made money online with a YouTube channel. You can too! It’s easy and takes very little time. All you need is a camera and computer software, and you’ll be set.
- Make a video: I recommend making a video that covers an aspect of your life that is interesting, informative, funny, or entertaining. Even if the channel’s purpose is to cover a topic in more depth, it’s also great to include topics from other areas on your channel to make it entertaining for viewers.
- Upload the video: Upload the video on YouTube and add keywords to attract more viewers.
- Earn Money: Once your videos get enough views, you can apply to the YouTube monetization program.
Like retail arbitrage, this is an online entrepreneurial job that will take some time. But you can always keep your YouTube channel after college providing a source of passive income into perpetuity.
You will need a reliable internet connection since uploading videos takes a significant amount of time.
Sell Online Courses
Sticking with entrepreneurial jobs to make money online, you can sell online courses about a specific topic that you specialize in.
Are you learning something in particular at school? Why not repackage what you are learning and sell it as an online course?
You can make online courses using online video software like Camtasia and online course creation software like Teachable. You should establish online course goals and sell online courses online through online marketplaces like Udemy or online websites like CreativeLIVE.
It’s possible to make a lot of money selling online courses. However, you’ll need to do some front-end work to develop the content for your online course.
But once you have an inventory of online courses, it’s simply marketing them online.
Like YouTube, this can be a great source of passive income as once you make the course, you can sell it repeatedly. It’s a great way to earn extra money in your spare time.
Search Engine Evaluator / SEO Consultant
The easiest and most effective method to make money online as a college student is to work as an SEO consultant.
Freelancing platforms or contacting businesses straight away are both viable options for beginners. Get paid $20 per hour or more.
You’ll start to get more referrals as you develop a successful client base and demonstrate that you consistently deliver high-quality work.
You’ll need to be confident in explaining your services to a customer since if the client doesn’t understand SEO, he won’t see the benefits immediately. You should create a portfolio of your work, just like most freelance jobs.
There are an abundant amount of search engine evaluator jobs on websites like FlexJobs and Upwork.
App tester
The App Tester role entails performing various activities, including recording screen or voice notes to provide input. ImpactQA charges an average of $25-$49 per hour for this service.
Bug testing is required for technical difficulties in complicated testing projects.
You’ll get points for identifying and reporting faults, but each exam might provide up to $10 in rewards. The task is to use the app as usual, but tests entail recording and providing feedback on your screen, which you will be rewarded for if you discover an issue or a bug within the software.
The pay rate ranges from $50 to $60 per hour.
Web designer
It’s yet another great illustration of something you may do after school. Working full-time is far too time intensive, although salaries over $60,000 a month are not unheard of. The profession of web design has remained unchanged.
You may make a lucrative living as a freelancer by promoting a simple website for an agreed price.
It is critical to be a responsible member of society, and online work that may develop into a full-time profession is one such opportunity.
It’s important to have useful skills to become an effective and responsible social citizen.
Gamer
In the long run, you may make a decent living from YouTube videos and blogging. What will help your career get off to a good start is your phone or laptop with a steady Internet connection and an hour or two each week.
You might even discover a part-time job in the gaming business if you enjoy math and computer science. Some gamers online students can make a living online.
You may set up a blog about gaming, install Google Adsense on your site, and earn money from playing games online.
You can monetize your YouTube videos by setting up an online PayPal account or Google Adsense, but you cannot expect to create online videos that draw in large earnings overnight.
Voiceover Artist
The work is simple as long as you read a few lines with many emotions. These costs are comparable to those paid during session playing, implying it may be, at the very least, a profitable side job.
You require an excellent, aesthetically appealing face with resonant, deep, and strong voices for men and bright and mid-range voices preferred by women. If you have studied Drama or Something like this, you could do very well in this role.
Being a voiceover artist can be a lucrative side job while enrolled in college. The pay is comparable to playing music online for the session, which means that it could, at the very least, be a profitable side job.
A good voiceover artist needs to have excellent, aesthetically appealing faces and resonant, deep voices for men and bright, mid-range voices for women.
Virtual recruiter
As a virtual recruiter, you’ll function as a link between our clients and potential candidates. By posting a job description, conducting an early interview, and discussing salaries with people, you won’t make the job search process easier.
The income of a freelance writer may range from zero to $50,000 per year as a full-time employee, $20-$30 per hour as a contractor or employee, and 20% to 30% in commission, dependent on the commission set by a freelance writer. Hirers for companies earn between $20 and $200 per hour, depending on your experience.
Final Thoughts: Online Jobs for College Students
No matter what kind of online job you choose, working on the internet is a great choice for college students.
The flexibility and variety of options will make sure anyone can make some extra money this way.
If you’re a college student, online jobs can help you earn money while gaining work experience. If this sounds like something that might interest you, be sure to check out our newsletter for more information on how we have helped other students find the best online jobs for them!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can college students make money online?
There are several online jobs for perfect college students, especially when you have busy or strict schedules.
Here are some online jobs for college students that work well with your schedule:
– Reviewing products online
– Blogging about various topics
– Reviewing music, art, games, and other forms of entertainment online
– Doing online surveys to provide feedback on products or events
While online jobs for college students are great, you mustn’t fall into scams or low-paying online jobs meant to trick you. There have been numerous online job scams going around lately, so be careful and use your best judgment when applying for online work. Be wary of online jobs that seem too good to be true!
Can a college student work online?
Yup! There are three big online jobs perfect for the busy student who wants to make some money on the side, which are online tutoring, freelance writing jobs, and taking paid online surveys.
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