20 Side hustles for college students: Earn on your own time

College students can earn extra income with these top 20 side hustles that are flexible, low-cost, and student-friendly. Popular options include freelancing (writing, design, coding), tutoring, selling print-on-demand products, and social media management. Other ideas: food delivery, pet sitting, reselling thrift finds, or starting a YouTube channel. Remote work like virtual assisting, transcription, and online surveys also offer quick payouts. Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Etsy make it easy to start. Whether on-campus or online, these side gigs help students build skills, earn money, and gain real-world experience—without interfering with class schedules.