College can be very costly and so, many people tend to drop out after high school. For some that really want to attend the higher institution, getting money for their education always poses a struggle and that is why students and parents start saving up for it from a very long time.
However, it's the 21st century and gone are the days when students can depend on their parents for everything. Now, most individuals are taking up new skills in order to survive without the assistance of their parents/guardians, especially in tertiary institutions. So if you are looking to become independent, here are 16 ways you can make money as a student that can help with your college tuition and other expenses.
1. Tutor other students
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This is the top way to make money because it's the simplest. All you need to do is discover what you're really good at, find someone who needs help in that area and offer to tutor them at a price. Most students usually need tutoring in science courses like math, physics, and so forth, so if you're especially good in that area, you can offer your services.
It can be quite challenging to find students to teach especially if they are not so sure about your intellectual abilities. In that case, you have to figure out which students seems to be lagging behind academically and you can do this by simply asking but be careful so as not to sound rude then prove to them that you are good at what you do and that might not be a problem if you're already an active student in class. You can also make or print posters and put them around school (if it's permitted), tell some of your course mates and encourage them to spread the word.
Tutoring is a good way to make extra cash as a student and is completely legal so you don't have to worry getting suspended or expelled from school. As long as your client agrees, you're free to collect money in return for impacting knowledge on them. Tutoring other people is also a great way to enhance your intellectual abilities because the more you teach, the more you learn.
2. Start a blog/website
Blogging is getting popular everyday. Researches show that a new blog is set up every five minutes! Creating a blog is handy if you have ideas you want to share with the world or a business you'd like to promote. The great thing about blogging is that you can do what you love and make money at the same time.
Before the modern age of the internet, you had to code an entire website from scratch and it could take days or months depending on what you want. But today, thanks to online web builders like WordPress and Blogger, you can set up a personalized blog in less than 5 minutes for free. Although you will need to buy a domain name in order to finally monetize it, the basic setup can be done with just a few clicks.
Share your links on all your social media platforms, get your close friends and course mates to check out your blog by sharing your link on their direct messages, class groups or websites and encourage them to help you reach even more people in order to expand your audience. Also, be sure to post amazing and interesting content that will get people subscribing and coming back for more.
After a while, when you get a domain name (which you can purchase on WordPress), then you will be able monetize your blog with Google AdSense and start making some cash.
3. Get a part time job
Get a part time job at a store, cafe, restaurant, etc near your school or campus. If you're good with computers, you can get a job at a cyber cafe and work at your most convenient hours. Most part time jobs don't require a CV or formal resume, so the best way to apply is to simply make inquiries of vacancies in the place you want to work. Many employers may put you on probation for days or even weeks before they fully employ you so make sure you do a good job.
4. Do surveys online
Since you probably already use your phone throughout the day, why not make money in the process? There are websites that pay you to take surveys and answer questions. Examples are Swagbucks, Survey Junkie and Slice the Pie.
They literally pay you to do simple things like shopping online, playing games, watching videos and giving feedback on them. Some of the sites even pay you for simply navigating through the web.
After completing their surveys and getting points, you can sell those points for gift cards which you can in turn, exchange for money. This money making process is easy but it is not very fast. If you ask me, it's easy cash and legal, so it's not a bad idea.
5. Start a vlog/YouTube channel
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YouTube is another platform that is getting clustered with new users daily. Millions of people go to the website to watch tons of videos from their favourite Youtubers. Am I telling you to go there just to watch videos?
No! I am telling you to become a creator on the platform. That is, create videos for other people to watch and earn money when people watch your videos and subscribe to your channel.
If you have an interesting life, then vlog about it and share it with the rest of the world. If you're good at something like sewing or programming, make video tutorials and share them with those who are willing to learn. People are always looking to learn new skills online, so most tutorial videos always do well on YouTube.
Being a content creator on YouTube can be challenging. At first your videos may not be getting views and engagements, but that doesn't mean you should quit easily. Keep working hard and stay consistent, and soon your hard work will pay off. YouTube will allow you to monetize your channel once you've reached certain criteria and then you'll start making money.
6. Publish an e-book/ write for your school newspaper
You can apply to be part of your school's news writing or editorial team and publish articles daily on their website. They'll probably pay you if you do a pretty good job though it will require a lot of dedication and effort because you will have to be updated about almost everything going on within the campus to be able to write about it.
If you're also good at creative writing, a novel or an e-book isn't a bad idea. Thanks to online platforms like wattpad, kindle, anybooks, etc, writing and publishing books isn't so hard anymore. You can attach prices to your books so that you earn when people purchase your books to read.
7. Become a dorm Interior decorator.
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If you are good at putting furniture and other decorations together, you can actually make a income out of it. Become an interior designer who arranges dorm rooms and living spaces for other students according to their tastes. Start by offering to redecorate and arrange your friend's dorm room at a price and if you do a really good job, they probably will pay and even share your skills to their other friends.
It's really unusual and I'm not sure I've seen this type of work anywhere, but I'm pretty sure you can make good money out of it if you're good and your services are well known. Best time for business will be around resumption when students are looking to change their "aesthetics" or Freshers just got in and are looking for someone to help organise where they'll spend the rest of their school year.
8. Offer a skill or service
If you're good at baking, hair dressing, make-up, cosmetics production, graphic designing, programming or you know how to play a musical instruments, you can offer your services in different ways.
You can braid other people's hair, do their make-up, nails, clothes, etc and make good money out of it. Business especially blooms in times of occasions like school ceremonies and parties. You can also offer to teach other people these skills in exchanging for cash.
9. Become a trader.
This is a straight up business idea. It's simple! All you need to do is to buy things in bulk (especially clothes, accessories, etc) and sell them at retail prices to people around you.
Example, you can buy so many clothes at a local store or mall, repackage them and sell them to other students who are willing to buy. This type of business works well especially if you're sociable and a good trader.
11. Become a fitness instructor
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If you know a lot about health and fitness, you can get a job at a gym or nearby fitness center and help people to get healthy and fit too. You can even be a personal fitness coach to a student in your campus who is willing to pay. After helping him or her to achieve their fitness goals, they may recommend you to other people who need your services as well.
12. Apply for paid internships
There are some companies that will pay you while you're interning in that company. A very good example is Google. Though their internship spots may be quite difficult to occupy, they without doubt pay their interns and even provide some extra stuff such as flexible working hours, accommodation and even vacations! Paid internships not only help pay for college, they can also open doors to job opportunities after graduation.
13. Become a Campus "chef" or Baker
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If you're blessed with hands that can mix ingredients into a bowl and make it tasty, then try making an income out of it. You can bake a batch of your favourite recipe and sell them to your close friends. If they like it, then expand your territory.
Students love yummy treats because they're very handy and good stress relievers (which college students really need) so your business is sure to bloom if your recipes are really good.
14. Babysitting/House-sitting
This is another good job especially if you're good with children. Many parents are usually busy and need someone to look after their children so babysitting can earn you quite a pocketful of cash if your services are great. You can also housesit when a family is out on a vacation but be sure to leave the house in a good state so that you don't ruin your reputation.
15. Become a social media influencer
It's almost too easy to become one these days. It mostly involves being active online, posting a lot of pictures sharing your ideas, beliefs, etc. The main idea is to engage your audience and followers so as to gain a good following. Once you've established a good amount of followers, you can become an affiliate marketer, start promoting brands and earn commissions from your adverts.
16. Offer online freelance services
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And last but not least is freelancing. Almost everything is done digitally these days including businesses. If you're good at writing, graphic designing, blogging, content creation, web/app development, social media management, etc then apply to be a freelancer. Sites like fiverr, Upwork, freelancer, etc offer many opportunities to freelancers who wish to make a living from the comfort of their living space, just make sure your profile is very attractive and you offer great services in order to receive good ratings and get more jobs.
That's the end of the list, I hope this helped you. If it did, do leave a comment and suggest other ways a student can make money that I missed.
