30 Best Online Jobs For College Students to Earn Over $25/Hour

The absolute best online jobs for college students for those that are looking to earn extra cash are jobs that have a flexible schedule, can be done part-time, and are accessible from anywhere, including a dorm room, as long as you have an internet connection.

And no, I’m not going to discuss how lucrative completing online surveys in various survey sites like many others who try to pass that off as an online job for college students.

Instead, this post outlines the absolute best online jobs for college students that I could come up with after 12 hours of research.

Not only do I tell you what online jobs are available, but I give an example of someone who’s doing the online jobs and explain how you can get started.

I recommend that you read this post all the way through and let me know of any ideas I missed in the comment section.

What are the Best Online Jobs For College Students?

1. Blogger

First on my list is becoming a blogger. This is one online job of the most accessible and affordable ways to start making extra money and working on your own schedule. All you have to do is create a blog, start publishing content, and then monetize it using several blog monetization techniques such as advertising, affiliate marketing, selling your digital products, search engines optimization, writing sponsored posts, and so on.

How Much Can You Make: 

• Pay varies according to a wide range of factors, including the size of your audience and the types of blog monetization methods you are using. 
• I personally choose to focus on display ads using an alternative to Adsense as they perform better along with affiliate marketing and online courses.
• However, by following the right strategies, you can make upwards of $400 per month within your first six months of blogging. 

Real-World Example: Ron Stefanski (Me)

I was able to leave my 9-to-5 behind just two years after I started blogging and creating my own digital real estate portfolio. Over the past few years, I have made multiple blogs that generate 1000 dollars every month.

How to Get Started:

1. Choose a niche
2. Build a website using a website builder, or on WordPress
3. Create high-quality content
4. Implement traffic generation techniques
5. Monetize your website

Helpful Resource:  IGNITION (FREE Course)

I created this free all-in-one course to help new bloggers understand what it takes to succeed and provide a simple step-by-step process for starting and growing your blog. 

2. Create a Personality-Based YouTube Channel

Personality-driven content has the potential to be wildly successful on YouTube as it tends to have a much more significant impact on your audience. 

Although this won’t net you immediate rewards income-wise, with a bit of effort and determination – and by implementing the proper marketing techniques, you can start earning a healthy income from your YouTube channel in just a few months.

How Much Can You Make:

• Within months, you can make anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. 
• Some YouTubers earn between $1000 and $80,000 per month utilizing various income-generating strategies, such as AdSense, affiliate links, sponsorships from popular brands, and so on.
• Keep in mind that popular Youtube personalities can also start an OnlyFans (not only for adult content) or Patreon for their most engaged followers.

Real-World Example: Ron Stefanski (Me)

In 2020, I relaunched my YouTube channel and had since seen a rise in monthly income (from my videos and affiliate marketing). My channel makes close to $750 a month and has over 14k subscribers, but other YouTubers earn tens and even hundreds of thousands each month. All this is evidence of how lucrative a personality-based YouTube channel can be when marketed the right way.

How to Get Started:

1. Choose a niche
2. Sign up for a free YouTube account
3. Create a channel
4. Start creating and uploading videos
5. Connect with your audience
6. Monetize your channel

Helpful Resource: YOUTUBE SECRETS (FREE Course)

I created a free course for those looking to start on YouTube to help them understand what it takes to succeed with a personal channel. The secrets I give within the course aren’t talked about enough, and the feedback from the course has been overwhelmingly positive.

3. Become a YouTuber (without recording videos)

Most people shy away from starting YouTube channels because they don’t feel the comfort in front of the camera. But, you can become a YouTuber without ever recording a single video by following specific marketing best practices and outsourcing much of the video creation work.

How Much Can You Make:

• You can make anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars every month. For example, I make between $1000 – $2000 a month right now, but others make significantly more without ever recording themselves.

Real-World Example: Matt Par – Super Successful YouTuber

Matt is an example of just what is possible with YouTube. The 19-year-old runs his own company and has nine YouTube channels that generate $30,000+ a month.

How to Get Started:

1. Choose a niche
2. Generate tons of videos quickly
3. Take full advantage of YouTube’s algorithm
4. Scale and grow your business

Helpful Resource: How to Make Money on YouTube Without Recording Videos (FREE Training)

This free training, shared by a successful YouTuber, is excellent for all beginners who need to find a way to start making money on YouTube, even without creating their videos.

4. Virtual Assistant

Website owners need virtual assistants to help them with various tasks.

As a virtual assistant, your work will involve providing remote administrative services, such as handling phone calls and email, writing and editing, creating spreadsheets and documents, invoicing, and paying bills. You can also double up as a remote call center worker or social media management if the online job demands it.

Virtual assistant jobs are great when you’re just getting started and want to work on many online jobs to see what you’re good at.

The exact type of work you will be doing will depend on who you’re working for. Still, some of the traits common to all successful VA’s include excellent communication skills, the ability to multitask, and attention to detail.

How Much Can You Make:

• As with most other types of work, the pay for virtual assisting varies significantly based on the type and complexity of work.
• As a beginner, you can expect to make around $20-$30 an hour.

Real-World Example: Frederike G. – Virtual Assistant on Upwork

Frederike is a multilingual personal assistant from Germany. She performs phone/email/chat customer service tasks, writing invoices, order processing, and data and project management. On Upwork, she charges upwards of $28 per hour for each project. She has worked on over 131 remote jobs and has earned over $100,000 on the platform.

How to Get Started:

1. Take stock of your talents, skills, and interests.
2. Choose which services you‘d like to offer to clients
3. Decide on a pricing structure
4. Create your online presence (Or join a Virtual Assistant Service)
5. Start pitching, networking, and building relationships.

Helpful Resource: 275+ Services You Can Offer as a Virtual Assistant (Free Workbook)

If you want to become a virtual assistant, this workbook from Gina Horkey, who has taught thousands of others how to become a successful Virtual Assistant, will help. Not only does it give you excellent ideas, but it enables you to understand how to make your desire to become a Virtual Assistant a reality.

5. Freelance Writer 

Many companies require content written for their publications and websites. As a college student, your major can play a huge role in helping you earn as one of the freelance writers due to your expertise. 

There are tons of opportunities online for you to write for websites related to your major. You can also write about a wide range of topics if you are skilled in conducting research. Either way, you will be paid for each article you create

How Much Can You Make:

• Compensation for freelance writing jobs varies according to the nature or complexity of the project.
• As a beginner, you can expect to earn between $25 and $50 per 1000 words. However, experienced freelance writers can make a lot more than that, upwards of $200 per 1000 words.
• HELPFUL HINT: If you’re looking to increase your writing speed (for both school and potentially as a freelancer), consider purchasing Dragon Naturally Speaking software. I did this while in my Masters’ program, and it saved me 100’s of hours when writing papers. Just be ready to invest in a Grammarly Premium subscription so this tool can help you quickly fix grammar errors as you edit. You can use this Grammarly discount for students if needed.

Real-World Example: Talik Evans – Freelance Writer

Talik is a B2B writer for brands and SaaS. As a freelance writer for hire, she works closely with small business owners and marketing professionals to help them create compelling content marketing strategies, strengthen their presence online, generate leads, engage with their target audience, and build loyalty and trust.

How to Get Started:

1. Get the necessary education or training
2. Consider beginning with a staff job
3. Showcase your work online
4. Join a freelance marketplace
5. Start pitching clients

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Freelance Writer (Post)

Of all the courses about becoming a freelance writer, I think this is the best one. It’s incredibly detail-oriented, goes beyond theory-based learning, and gives you practical tips to start and grow a career as a writer, one of the best jobs for college students out there.

6. Retail Arbitrage

Retail arbitrage is about buying products from one retailer and then reselling them for profit. Most people buy in bulk from retail stores and then sell on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. 

While many have concerns about whether or not this type of business is legal, the practice is perfectly legal and an extremely lucrative way for college students to make money online.

How Much Can You Make:

• According to reports from experienced sellers online, you could be making at least $1000 a month within the first 90 days using the retail arbitrage business model.

Real-World Example: Dylan – Online Selling Experiment

After taking a course on how to flip for profit, Dylan started a 90-day challenge to make at least $1000, beginning with no money. After 90 days, he had $2457.90, in addition to another $500 or so in inventory that he didn’t manage to sell before the end of the challenge. This goes to show just how effective this business model can be.

How to Get Started:

1. Create an Amazon seller account
2. Get the Amazon Seller App
3. Check out local retail stores
4. Scan clearance products
5. Source products with great potential for profit
6. List those products on Amazon

Helpful Resource: Online Selling Experiment Website

This is a website dedicated fully to the topic of retail arbitrage. It’s incredibly in-depth and will give you the resources you need to learn about the subject in great depth, and definitely, some professional financial advice on the same.

7. Video Editor 

YouTube is getting bigger and bigger. As video consumption continues to rise, there are endless opportunities for college students with video editing skills to earn good money. Although some employers may require a degree in broadcast or film, for the most part, video editors become great through experience.

How Much Can You Make:

• According to PayScale, video editors make between $35,000 and $120,000 a year.

Real-World Example: Maxwell Hunter – Video Editor on Upwork

Maxwell has completed 132 jobs on Upwork, with total earnings of over $100,000. As a professional video editor, he has a steady stream of clients creating promotional, educational, and lifestyle videos. He also does documentary shorts and works with YouTubers and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram influencers (who usually make a ton of money) to edit social media video packages.

How to Get Started:

1. Pick your software of choice
2. Get certified
3. Become an expert on it
4. Join freelance websites
5. Start marketing your services

Helpful Resource: The Complete Video Production Bootcamp (Course)

This course will teach you all aspects of visual editing, including using specialized computer software to join together parts of video or audio footage (graphics, VFX, music and sound effects, etc.) in post-production to create a polished result. 

8. Podcast Editor

Podcast consumption is growing, and there are many people starting podcasts every week. With that, editors are always needed to help with every aspect of the audio production process – from recording raw audio to the final publication.

How Much Can You Make:

• As of December 15, 2020, podcast editors in the United States earn about $55,817 a year.

Real-World Example: Stacy M. – Podcast Editor on Upwork

Stacy offers editing and post-production services to help organizations find their voice in today’s saturated media landscape. She edits podcasts to create engaging and immersive results. At a rate of $50 per hour, you can see how this can be one of the best online jobs for college students with the appropriate skills.

How to Get Started:

1. Understand the rules of podcast editing
2. Learn Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
3. Get the right podcast editing apps and tools
4. Brand yourself and strengthen your presence online
5. Start pitching new clients

Helpful Resource: Podcast Editing: The Ultimate Guide

This is the ultimate guide to podcast editing. It contains information to help you discover everything you need to start working on these kinds of online jobs for students, including the dedicated software, automation production using apps, and the different ways you can handle your podcast editing.

9. Voiceovers

A voiceover artist uses their voice in video and audio presentations for radio, film, television, theater, etc. if this sounds like something you might be able to do successfully, this can be an excellent way to earn money in college.

How Much Can You Make:

• On Upwork, voiceover talent ranges between $20 – $50 per hour. 

Real-World Example: Lauren C. – Voice Over Artist on Upwork

Lauren is a voiceover artist working on indie video games, cartoons, commercials, and audiobooks. She charges $50 an hour and so far has completed over 58 jobs on the platform for total earnings of $4,000.

How to Get Started:

1. Get voiceover training or coaching
2. Look for pro-bono gigs and build your resume
3. Record several voiceover clips to highlight your abilities
4. Update your online profiles
5. Start generating leads from freelance websites and social media

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Voice Actor (Guide)

This resource gives guidance on how to become a successful voice actor. In addition, you will discover essential tips and tricks and the best technology you need to create the best results in it. Side note, if you’re going to be a voice actor, you need a blog. While I always recommend WordPress, there are website builders for actors.

10. Music Production 

If you find the process of developing, creating, and refining recorded music exciting, then music production is the perfect way for you to earn some money. 

This is a broad topic, and it covers everything in the creation phase of a song – from songwriting to the final master. 

So wherever your talents fall within this process (songwriting, composition, production, sound design, sound recording, music mixing, mastering, etc.), you will be able to earn money from your music production skills.

How Much Can You Make:

• The amount of money music producers make can range from free beer to multiple millions of dollars every year, including income from purchaser royalties.
• The median music producer salary is about $50,042 per year.

Real-World Example: Ronald C. – Music Production Freelancer on Upwork

Ronald is a professional musician, composer, and audio engineer. His services include recording, editing, mixing, mastering, cleaning, and repairing audio and dialogue for podcasts, films, and video games, including those on Steam. He charges $50 an hour and has done over 43 jobs on the platform with total earnings of $4000.

How to Get Started:

1. Learn an instrument
2. Familiarize yourself with music production technology
3. Train your ears (relentlessly)
4. Create (fiercely) 

Helpful Resource: 4 Essential Tips to Becoming a Successful Music Producer (Article)

In this article, you will discover what it takes to get started, as well as the four essential steps you need to take to become a successful music producer.

11. Photography

Websites need lots of photos. For instance, Amazon sellers need lifestyle images depicting people using products in action. This means there are plenty of opportunities for anyone, including college students with photography skills and an internet connection, to make money online.

How Much Can You Make:

• Salary.com shows current photography salaries at $46,000-$94,000 per year.

Real-World Example: Margaret G. – Photography Freelancer on Upwork

Margaret has been working on Upwork for quite some time and has made over $20,000 with 31 total jobs.

How to Get Started:

1. Learn the skills required to become a photographer
2. Create a business plan
3. Find your niche in the photography market
4. Invest in the necessary photography equipment, including a photo management software
5. Get the proper software
6. Develop an impressive portfolio
7. Set the price-point to charge
8. Join freelance marketplaces
9. Market your business

Helpful Resource: How to Get Started in Freelance Photography (Guide)

This guide from Cole’s Classroom outlines the steps to take to become a successful freelance photographer – from creating a business plan to developing a portfolio and everything in between. This is one of the best online jobs for college students who love to be creative.

12. Transcription 

Transcribing is important for YouTubers and podcasters. It’s one of the main ways in which they repurpose their content. 

Medical or legal students can get online jobs as transcribers or virtual assistants in the medical and legal fields. The work will involve compiling dictations from professionals into Google Docs or Microsoft Word documents. 

This online job requires that you have fast, accurate typing skills. Typically, you will be required to type between 60 and 70 words per minute and have an accuracy rate of 98%.

How Much Can You Make:

• As a beginner, you can earn between $15 and $20 an hour to transcribe documents.

Real-World Example: Maxwel O. – Transcriber on Upwork

Maxwel offers his services as a transcriptionist and data entry professional for $40 an hour. He has completed a total of 32 jobs and earned over 65000 thanks to his practical organizational and communication skills

How to Get Started:

• Pick a focus (general transcription, legal transcription, medical transcription, podcast transcription, etc.)
• Get the right tools for data entry tasks and more
• Update your online profiles
• Join freelance marketplaces
• Find clients

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Transcriptionist From Home (Free Guide)

This step-by-step guide is for beginner college students who want to get into the transcription business. It contains everything you need to know, from the different types of transcriptions you can do to the best transcription jobs that pay well, and so on.

13. Copywriting Expert

A copywriter is someone who gets paid to write “copy” – that is, words that are designed to encourage some type of action. 

Businesses and organizations will pay you well if you can help them promote or sell their brand, products, or services effectively. As a copywriter, you will be freelance writing, creating, or proofreading copy for a wide range of marketing materials, including blog posts, emails, ads, presentations, video scripts, headlines, lead magnets, white papers, brochures, and much more.

How Much Can You Make:

• How much you make depends on how you work. For instance, copywriters at agencies typically make between $47000 and $88,000 a year.
• In-house copywriters make between $48,080 $4000 a year.
• Salaries for freelance copywriters vary widely, but at least 20% make over $100,000 a year.

Real-World Example: Brian Clark – Copyblogger

Brian is the mastermind behind the popular website Copyblogger. He is a writer and entrepreneur who built his blog into an eight-figure annual revenue-generating machine through compelling content.

How to Get Started:

1. Learn the basics of writing persuasively
2. Practice the core copywriting skills
3. Create a portfolio website for freelance writing
4. Join freelance writing gigs marketplaces
5. Develop and refine the process of freelance writing for pitching clients and digital marketing.
6. Build a flow of recurring leads

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Copywriter (Article)

This article by Jacob McMillen, a successful copywriter, details the step-by-step process of becoming an expert copywriter. It contains all the core copywriting skills you need to learn to land your first high-paying client quickly.

14. Teach a Language as an Online Tutor

If you have a particular language in which you excel, you can earn decent money from your skills by getting involved with online tutoring. These days, plenty of apps like Memrise, LinguaLift, and Duolingo make it easy for people to teach languages. 

With these apps, you can quickly help students from high school and beyond grasp grammatical concepts, memorize vocabulary phrases more effectively, and master various other language study skills. You can often even find opportunities to teach English online, which should come naturally.

For example, you can upload vocabulary phrases which can then be converted into in-app flashcards to teach English to primarily international students.

How Much Can You Make:

• As a language teacher, you can make an average hourly rate of $10 to $35.

Real-World Example: Amandine R. – English/French Tutor on Upwork

Amandine is an example of a successful English tutor who has an hourly job of $35 an hour teaching languages online. She also does general translations as she speaks French fluently. On Upwork, she has done a total of 34 jobs, which has earned her over $8,000, and this is likely all a part-time job for her.

How to Get Started:

• Sign up for an account on a site like Upwork, Wyzant, VIPKid, Preply, Tutor.com, or iTalki
• Check requirements
• Get TEFL-certified
• Start teaching

Helpful Resource: How to Make Money Teaching English Online (Article)

With a massive shift going on right now due to the current global health pandemic, more and more people are finding ways to make money online, and teaching English is an easy way to do that, as this article will show you.

15. Translation

Countless businesses need content translated. If you can write in more than one language fluently, this is an excellent way for you to make money online. As part of your job, you may be required to translate a wide range of documents, ranging from blog posts to scripts, instruction manuals, e-books, white papers, and so on.

How Much Can You Make:

• Translators can make between $11 and $56 per hour, according to PayScale.

Real-World Example: Gabriela A. – Translator on Upwork

Gabriela is a native Spanish speaker who also writes English fluently. She has translated tons of blogs and children’s books on the platform and earned over $100,000 in total. 

How to Get Started:

1. Study your source language extensively
2. Get specialized training
3. Get certified
4. Hone your computer skills
5. Pick a niche
6. Get some experience
7. Update your profile on freelance websites like Upwork and Lionbridge.com
8. Start pitching clients

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Translator (Article)

If you dream of becoming a translator, this article will show you how. It includes information on the seven steps that you can follow to become a successful translator, including the specialized training you need and how to market your skills.

16. Social Media Marketing

Businesses and website owners always need people to help them manage their presence on social media platforms. For example, suppose you have experience working with major social networks, such as TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. In that case, you can offer your services to help companies manage their social media profiles. 

If you are a college student who is constantly connected anyway, then this is an excellent job for you as you will be able to turn most of that time into a steady paycheck.

How Much Can You Make:

• Entry-level social media managers earn about $42,000 per year. 
• Experienced social media managers can earn up to $63,294 annually.
• Top earners receive $97,000 yearly, according to PayScale.

Real-World Example: Stevan K. – Social Media Manager on Upwork

Stevan is a Facebook Ads specialist who charges $30 an hour to help businesses with lead generation efforts. The services he offers are results-driven and help customers make the most of their advertising budgets.

How to Get Started:

1. Your first step is to build a thriving community of your own before you start looking for clients.
2. Brand yourself and build your presence online. Getting together a social media marketing resume will help with this.
3. Next, start looking for clients
4. Learn advanced marketing skills to enhance your career

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Social Media Manager in Six Steps (Guide)

If you thrive on social media, this guide will help you take your skills to the next level so you can get paid for doing what you love to do. You will learn the steps necessary to become a professional social media marketer and find the ideal clients for you. Side note, I HIGHLY recommend that you purchase social media management tools to help manage your clients as it can get a bit cumbersome once you have a few.

17. Data Entry

Businesses need data entry jobs to input content into their systems all the time. This is particularly true for website owners and WordPress. For data entry jobs, you will need to have strong typing skills and written communication knowledge to do this job successfully. 

Just keep in mind that there are a lot of scams around the online data job industry, and you must do your research first to ensure that the company you sign up with is legitimate. For instance, there are such things as search engines evaluators at companies like Appen for big tech companies like Google and Bing that’ll pay you for doing data entry and evaluating their results.

How Much Can You Make:

• According to Salary.com, data entry job clicks earned between $30,000 and $47,000 per year.

Real-World Example: Melissa Glander – Data Entry Clerk

Melissa works full-time as a data entry specialist, providing support for various clients. Her tasks include sales support, admin support, data collection and entry, and CRM support. She charges $30 an hour and has worked a total of 53 jobs on Upwork, with earnings amounting to over $90,000.

How to Get Started:

1. Pursue a data entry clerk certification program
2. Get the necessary computer training
3. Get on-the-job training
4. Structure your resume
5. Apply for positions

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Data Entry Clerk (Guide)

This guide outlines the process for becoming a data entry clerk. It shares tips and tricks on keeping things organized, finding the right businesses to work with, and how to price your services.

18. Graphic Designer

Graphic design is yet another well-paying freelancing service. Whether it’s creating something as simple as a website logo or as complex as an entire e-commerce catalog, or even unique illustrations for blog posts, this is an excellent way for skilled college students to make extra money. 

How Much Can You Make: 

• Most graphic designers make about $26/hour on average. 
• But, you can make significantly more than that by charging by the graphic design project instead.

Real-World Example: Ashley S. – Upwork

Ashley has worked on over 645 jobs Upwork and earned upwards of $100,000. As a freelance graphic designer and logo designer, she has worked on many projects, including social media posts, branding for companies, logos, business cards, and more. 

How to Get Started:

1. Pick a niche
2. Start creating – anything and everything in graphic design.
3. Build a website to showcase your graphic design work on your own site
4. Brand yourself and do intense social media marketing on the same.
5. Update your LinkedIn profile
6. Join freelance marketplaces

Helpful Resource: Visual and Graphic Design (Free Course)

If you don’t already have graphic design skills, you need to acquire the basics. This course is excellent for beginners to learn the ins and outs of graphic design. It outlines everything you need to know about key design elements, design processes, and graphic design skills. 

19. Sell Handmade Products

If you are skilled at creating unique, handmade products, this is a great online job for college students. All you have to do is make some items, list them on Etsy, and then start earning from your online business.

If you have an interest in doing this, but arent’ too great at creating handmade products, you can still start a handmade product business by getting a little creative. There are many manufacturers that will provide design and production assistance to make it so that all you have to do is give ideas and they’ll take it from there. By going this route, you can make things like enamel pins, keychains, coins, patches, etc. For example, GS-JJ handmade pins do a great job of making custom pins that you can resell to whoever will buy them.

There are plenty of online businesses selling handmade goods on Etsy, and many are making a consistent income every month. You, too, can join their ranks by following the steps outlined below to get started right now.

How Much Can You Make:

• On Etsy, how much you make depends on what you’re selling and your own rates. 
• However, there are plenty of Etsy sellers who earn between $1,500 and $3,000 every week.

Real-World Example: Reuben Reuel – Demestik

After being laid off, Ruben decided to start working for himself. That’s when he got the idea for starting his fashion line, Demestik, where he creates African-themed womenswear and sells it on Etsy.

How to Get Started:

1. Register for an account on Etsy
2. Create your shop
3. Choose a name
4. Start listing items
5. Set your prices
6. Promote your store on social media

Helpful Resource: How to Sell on Etsy (Guide)

Setting on Etsy isn’t as complex as most people make it out to be. With the retail arbitrage business model above and a stable internet connection, you can start an online business on Etsy right away with no investment by selling stuff you already have lying around the house.

20. Sell Old Clothes

Poshmark is a popular social marketplace that helps people make money from cleaning out their closets. If you have tons of clothes that you don’t need or use anymore, you can start a successful online business selling them on Poshmark to make money right now. 

You can also buy clothes, fix and alter them, and then resell them for profit. The marketplace makes it easy for you to sell your items by connecting you with tons of buyers interested in your style. You pay nothing to get started, but they charge a small commission on each sale you make.

How Much Can You Make:

• The amount of money people make on Poshmark varies from one end of the spectrum to the other, depending on your own business.
• Some people make a few dollars every month, while others make tens of thousands each month.

Real-World Example: Shameeca Funderburk – Poshmark Seller

Shamika, a mother of two, started buying clothes from thrift shops and placing them for sale in her Poshmark store. She was doing this part-time and managed to make around $300 monthly.

How to Get Started:

1. Download the Poshmark app
2. Set up your online store
3. Take pictures of your stuff
4. Upload images and fill in the descriptions
5. Set your prices
6. After a sale is made, ship the item
7. Get paid when the item is marked as received

Helpful Resource: How to Sell on Poshmark (Guide)

Selling on Poshmark is just as easy as getting started on Etsy. This article outlines many Poshmark success stories that you can model to create your own profitable business. But not everyone wants to be platform-dependent to sell clothes. Another way to sell your curated clothes collection is by setting up your own online store. If this piques your curiosity, I found a nice guide that goes into great detail about starting an online clothing store.

21. Sell Notes With StudySoup

StudySoup is a peer-to-peer learning marketplace that pays you to take notes in your college classes. Every class has dozens of readings and hundreds of hours of lectures, and some students tend to be overwhelmed when the mid-terms come around. 

They have no idea what they should study for, but some of the top students in each class who know how to be successful can help their peers (and make money in the process) by posting study materials on the site. 

This is one of the ideal online jobs for college students to make money because as they take notes, it helps them earn money and helps them improve their grades.

How Much Can You Make: 

• You can make between $300 – $600 per semester by uploading notes on StudySoup.

Real-World Example: Matt Brodley – Senior at Bowling Green State University (BGSU)

Matt is a university student who majors in communications with a specialization in marketing. According to him, StudySoup is an unbelievably cool idea that he’s pleased he found. He uses the site to make passive income and a resource to supplement his notes.

How to Get Started:

1. Create a free account on StudySoup.com
2. Upload your notes
3. Set your price
4. Open your online store and begin selling

Helpful Resource: StudySoup Review: How it Works and What to Expect (Article)

This article from SideHusl.com outlines everything you need to know about the website Study Soup and how you can make money from each of your classes as a student in any US college or university.

22. Create and Sell Online Courses

If you have any skills or knowledge that you can share with other people, then creating and selling online courses is an excellent way to make money in college. 

Plenty of platforms is designed to help you create a course online, such as Udemy, Teachable, and Skillshare. With or without formal teaching qualifications, you get to create the course once and sell it multiple times for a reliable source of passive income.

How Much Can You Make:

• The amount of money you can make as a course creator varies depending on several factors. However, it’s possible to make hundreds and even thousands of dollars from your first launch.

Real-World Example: Len Smith – Copywriter

Len was making a great living as a copywriter and had written a book on copywriting. He later turned that book into a course on Udemy and spent about 10 hours a week marketing his course. In the first two days after launching Copywriting Secrets – How to Write Copy That Sells, he earned $3,000. Today he earns over $6,000 a month from sales of his course.

How to Get Started:

1. Pick an online course topic
2. In just a few minutes, validate your course
3. Create your course content
4. Find an online course platform to build on
5. Price your course
6. Create a sales page
7. Market your course online

Helpful Resource: How to Create and Sell Online Courses (Guide)

Thinkific (You can read my full Thinkific review here that explains why it’s my favorite online course platform) has a super detailed guide on how to create and sell courses online. It contains the step-by-step method for publishing a successful online course, starting with topic ideation to building an audience and marketing your course.

23. Web Developer

This is among the highest paying work-at-home jobs on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Freelancer, Flexjobs, and Upwork. The good news is that spending money or creating a lot of free time learning coding isn’t an absolute necessity anymore due to themes and tools on WordPress that allow you to build web applications without knowing a single line of code. 

As long as you can navigate your way around no-code tools, you can get one of the best online jobs for students as a web developer.

How Much Can You Make:

• On freelance sites such as Upwork, web developers make between $25 and $500 per hour, depending on their skill level. Keep in mind that if you’re still junior level, you can also become a user tester of various platforms.

Real-World Example: Mike Z. – Web Developer on Upwork

Mike is a web developer who’s completed over 141 jobs on Upwork. Some of the work he does includes WordPress customization, building landing pages, creating responsive websites, and converting Figma design into WordPress/WooCommerce. His work He earns $35 per hour, and his total earnings so far have amassed to over $200,000. 

How to Get Started:

1. Find your niche
2. Begin building meaningful projects
3. Set up a portfolio website
4. Build your personal brand
5. Sign up on freelancing sites

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Freelance Web Developer (Article)

This article from Mike Goes Coding has all the information you need to help you get started as a freelance web developer, including a step-by-step guide you can follow to begin earning right now.

24. Become an At-Home Personal Trainer 

If you are a fitness enthusiast, why not share your knowledge with those who are looking to get fit and healthy? 

The personal fitness industry is growing fast, especially now when people are looking for ways to stay healthy with flexible hours while spending more time at home. As a personal trainer, you can coach people one-on-one online or create and monetize videos that give tips on how to get fit and healthy. 

Alternatively, you can use webinar platforms like Demio, GoToWebinar, and WebinarJam to help you connect with clients from the comfort of your own home. 

Although this is a very easy job to do if you already have a passion for physical fitness, you may be required to obtain the necessary certifications before you get started.

How Much Can You Make:

• As a personal trainer, you can charge between $10 and $50 an hour.
• Even with very few clients, you can easily make around $1000 a month. 

Real-World Example: Carla – Core Personal Trainer

Carla dedicates her life to helping people look and feel great. She offers virtual consultations and virtual classes in Pilates which helps her bring in consistent income every month.

How to Get Started:

1. To get started as a personal trainer, you first need to complete a CPR/AED certification
2. Next, you must choose a fitness specialty
3. Build your portfolio website
4. Post your services on freelance websites and social media
5. Applying and by following online jobs, you want

Helpful Resource: How to Become a Personal Trainer (Course)

This course is designed to help you become a certified personal trainer within 10 to 12 weeks. After you complete it, you will be able to enjoy working in an expanding industry when you get to do what you love and set your own hours.

25. Become a 3D Printer

3D printing technology is growing rapidly, and if you decide to make this your field of expertise, it’s a great way to earn money online. 

3D printing technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree. However, if you have relevant work experience in manufacturing or production, this will be beneficial to your work as a 3D printer. You can get projects and plans online and resell them to start earning money right away.

How Much Can You Make:

• According to Salary.com, the salary for 3D printing technicians is estimated at $35,000 to $61,000 per year.

Real-World Example: Tim P. – 3D Printer on Upwork

Tim is a product design and CAD engineer who has completed 28 jobs on Upwork and earned over $5,000. His projects involve 3D printing prototypes (for both business and personal projects), 3D modeling, CAD, and more.

How to Get Started:

1. Learn the basics of 3D printing
2. Obtain a 3D printer, 3D scanner app, modeling software, etc.
3. Learn the anatomy of a 3D printer
4. Understand how a 3D printer prints
5. Join freelance marketplaces to find clients

Helpful Resource: 3D Printing Class (Course)

This beginner 3D printing class from Instructables will help you gain insights into the basics of 3D printing, including how to design and print your creations, as well as all the ins and outs of desktop 3D printing. 

26. Amazon FBA 

FBA stands for Fulfillment by Amazon. The giant retailer has one of the most advanced fulfillment networks on the planet. Amazon FBA allows you to store your products at Amazon’s fulfillment centers, and they pick, pack, and ship these products to your customers. 

Also, they provide customer service, which means that you, as the seller, don’t have a lot of heavy lifting to do. You simply sell your product, and Amazon does the rest.

How Much Can You Make:

• The majority of the Amazon sellers generate at least $1000 to $25,000 per month in sales.
• Some supersellers make upwards of $250,000 each month, which amounts to over $3 million in annual sales.

Real-World Example: Jo Barnes – YourLifestyleBusiness.com

Jo and her partner started selling kitchen products on Amazon, and in 12 months, they had reached revenue of over $1 million. Their Amazon business brought in over $3 million in 2019, after which they sold the company in early 2020.

How to Get Started:

1. Choose a niche
2. Find products to sell on Amazon FBA
3. Find reliable ways to source products
4. Establish your brand
5. Create your seller account
6. Ship your Amazon products
7. Market your products

Helpful Resource: The Amazing Selling Machine (Course)

The Amazing Selling Machine is among the best FBA courses on the market. Created by Jason Ketzenback and Matt Clarke, this course is excellent for complete beginners who want an easy step-by-step blueprint that will take them to a six-figure income.

27. Shopify Business Owner

As a Shopify business owner, you can make money in a wide range of ways. For instance, you can build a drop shipping business, start your clothing line, sell art online, or become a freelance writer, developer, or designer. 

Shopify also allows you to teach courses online, flip your thrift store finds, and publish your books. The list of ways to use Shopify to make extra spending money online is endless.

How Much Can You Make:

• There are people making just a few hundred dollars a month on Shopify and others who earn $100-$500 every day. 
• It all depends on what you’re selling and the marketing strategies you use to bring visitors to your shop.

Real-World Example: Lauren Singer – Owner of PackageFreeShop.com

Lauren’s Shopify store is focused on selling beauty and household products that come package-free to make the world less trashy. Today, she earns a six-figure income from her shop and profitable blog.

How to Get Started:

1. Sign up for an account on Shopify
2. Create product listings
3. Optimize your store for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
4. Integrate a shopping cart (Check out my ThriveCart review or SamCart review to get started)
5. Manage fulfillment
6. Promote your store

Helpful Resource: How to Make Money on Shopify (Article)

This article from Nerd Wallet outlines the step-by-step process for getting started on Shopify. It also contains tips and tricks to help you maximize your earnings on the platform.

28. PPC Advertising Expert 

Running successful PPC campaigns isn’t easy (as most people who have tried will tell you). If you can become an expert with PPC ads on Facebook, Google, Instagram, Amazon, etc., then you can offer your services to manage ads for other people and get paid well in the process. 

You don’t need any degrees or formal qualifications to get started. However, you do need to have the knowledge and experience to create successful pay-per-click marketing campaigns.

How Much Can You Make:

• As a PPC specialist, you can make between $40 and $100 an hour. Some PPC experts make even more. It all depends on your level of expertise.

Real-World Example: Sam H. – PPC Specialist on Upwork

Sam is an example of a PPC professional who makes a great living as a freelancer. His rate is $49 an hour, and he has completed 18 jobs, which earned him over $10,000 on the platform. He is Google Ads-certified and works on optimizing ad campaigns and offering account audits and phone consultations.

How to Get Started:

1. Find a network to focus on, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Bing
2. Gain an understanding of the most important metrics, such as click-through rate, quality score, cost per click, cost per conversion, and return on ad spend.
3. Understand your audience
4. Watch and learn from your competitors
5. Practice and learn by doing
6. Once you grow big, consider purchasing PPC management software to help manage everything.

Helpful Resource: PPC University (Free Course)

This course from WordStream will provide you with the knowledge you need to become a PPC consultant. It explores everything from PPC 101 topics to help you understand the basic terms to advanced PPC topics, such as remarketing, dynamic keyword insertion, geotargeting, local PPC, and much more.

29. Link Building

Links are extremely important ranking factors for websites, and link building pays well for those with the skills to generate high-quality links from authority websites. There are certain tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs that you can use to make the entire link-building real-World process simpler and more effective. 

As a freelancer, you can join micro job sites like SEOClerk and freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork to find clients who will pay you to build links for them.

How Much Can You Make:

• Some link builders make six-figure incomes from the couch, others only a few hundred dollars. It all depends on your level of skill and expertise.

Real-World Example: Julian G – Linkbuilder on Upwork

Julian is an SEO link builder on Upwork who builds white hat, authoritative backlinks for businesses to help them grow their websites and get higher rankings on Google. He charges $50 an hour for his services and has completed over 224 jobs, earning over $200,000.

How to Get Started:

1. Join a Facebook link building group, like this one
2. Get in-depth training and paid funnel walk-through
3. Create a step-by-step cold email outreach system for your clients

Helpful Resource: White Hat Link-Building System (Project Templates)

This super helpful system provides you with everything you need to get started building links. It helps you organize everything and track the progress of your projects. The resource also contains a checklist for outreach to link targets. Generally speaking, this is one of the best jobs for college students for those that enjoy digital marketing.

30. Start an Art Business 

If you are into art, you can start an art business and turn your hobby into a source of income. FineArtAmerica.com is a popular website that can help you get started in this regard. You can upload and create your art, start selling, and be your boss – all from the comfort of your own home. 

The website has thousands of iconic brands and independent artists and millions of unique products from 60 global production facilities in five different countries. 

Products of the site include framed T-shirts, canvas prints, posters, throw pillows, T-shirts, phone cases, tote bags, and coffee mugs. Check it out to discover more about how you can start selling art today.

How Much Can You Make: 

• A lot of artists fail to make money from their art because of failure to execute an effective marketing plan. With the right digital marketing strategies, artists can make hundreds of dollars each week. Best-selling artists on Fine Art America make over $10,000 per month selling prints online. 

Real-World Example: Edward Fielding – Artist on FineArtAmerica

Edward is a fine art and travel photographer who posts some of his work on Fine Art America. He started his art business in 2019 and spent most of his time honing his craft and creating professional, ready-to-sell art pieces. He sells something nearly every day, and over the years, he has sold at least 3,000 prints on FAA.

How to Get Started:

1. Put together a portfolio of your work (about 25 pieces)
2. Create a free account on Fine Art America
3. Upload a few of your pieces to the site
4. Choose catchy titles infused with keywords
5. Fill in as much of the product information as possible
6. Fill out your artist’s bio
7. Create collections and add descriptions

Helpful Resource: How to Successfully Get Started Selling Your Art On Fine Art America (Article)

This article from Dogford Studios contains the steps you need to take to get started selling art on Fine Art America, including how to find out what sells best on the platform, how to prepare your work for sale, and ways to promote your art business.

Online Jobs for College Students Q&A

Of all the online jobs for college students, you’ve seen on this list, which one resonates the most with you and why? Let me know why in the comments below.