Late nights filled with pizza and occasional online shopping sprees make it hard for collegiettes to keep a full wallet. But with a full course load and a long list of activities, finding time to make a little extra money on campus can be difficult. Between keeping our grades up and hanging out with friends, searching for opportunities to make money can be a hassle. However, there are tons of opportunities to make money on and around campus. Here are 14 moneymaking ideas that will get you closer to a fuller wallet and a bigger budget on campus in no time.
1. Babysit
There are bound to be tons of families with kids in your college town. Whether you’re going to a city school, a small liberal arts college, or a big state university, there are always babysitting opportunities available. “Babysitting is a great way to make money and get experience with kids,” says Madeline, a senior at Indiana University. “Plus, it gives you a new environment for a little while.” You may have to give up going out some weekends, but it will be worth it when you have the extra cash in your pocket. Ask your in-state friends who live near campus if they know of any families who are in need of a qualified babysitter. Or, you could post fliers with your number on them in a professors’ lounge or ask professors, administrators, and other adults you’re close to if they need a babysitter or if they know anyone that could use a little extra help with their kids.
You could also use a babysitting website like Sittercity or Care.com to find local families who need babysitters in your area.
2. Tutor other students
Tutoring students is a great way to help people out and make a little extra cash at the same time. It can be difficult because your hours revolve around the students’ schedules, but it is definitely a rewarding job and an awesome way to make money. To tutor a specific course, ask your professor how you can get involved or speak to an administrator in the specific department.
3. Work as a professional note-taker
With websites such as Notesolution or Flashnotes, you can get paid to take notes for other students. If you are known as an awesome note-taker, this is a great job. You earn a base salary of $50 with Notesolution, and depending on how many notes you take and how often you take them, you could earn up to $500 per week. However, check with your school’s honor code and academic policies before you sign up to do this just to make sure you are not violating any rules or regulations.
4. Sell basketball and football tickets
If you go to a school where sports are huge but you aren’t a sports fan, selling your sporting event tickets is an awesome way to make money. At Big Ten conference schools such as Indiana University, some basketball tickets go for as much as $300 a piece when there is a big game! Look into your school’s policies about buying and selling sporting event tickets to make sure that selling the tickets is allowed. If your school allows students to sell their tickets, check out ticket exchange websites like StubHub and try to see if there is a Facebook page for student ticket exchanges. In terms of price, research how much tickets usually sell for at your school and start selling them!
5. Craft for other people
An excellent crafter is always in need on a college campus. Offer to help people craft for money. For example, you could help your friend make gifts for her little in her sorority. You can charge people by the size, materials needed, and time consumption of the specific crafts. You can also choose to charge a materials fee on top of the price you charge for making the actual craft or art piece.
6. Waitress or Hostess
Waitressing is an awesome way to make money during the school year. Most college towns have a lot of restaurants, which means there are endless options. With that being said, waitressing is a huge commitment and you need to make sure that you have time in your schedule to fit it in with classes and all of your extracurricular activities. Most restaurants require at least two or three shifts per week of about three or four hours each.
If waitressing doesn’t seem like it would be your thing, ask if restaurants are hiring hostesses. You could also look into job opportunities with on-campus dining facilities and restaurants, or check into sorority house dining programs, too. A lot of times, chefs at sorority houses need a few extra hands in the kitchen to help out with dishes and setting out food.
7. Be a designated driver
If you have a car at school, being a designated driver is a great way to make money. Many college students are so desperate for a designated driver that they will be willing to drop a pretty decent amount of cash on one. Some people may even let you drive their car if they need a designated driver to take them somewhere. If your friends are going to an event that you aren’t really interested in or just don’t feel like drinking at and they’re planning on drinking there or need a ride, offer to drive for some extra cash!
Also, if some of your 21+ friends are looking for a ride to and from the bars at night, offer to be their “taxi” for a little extra cash for the night. You could also offer to give friends rides to the airport or to airport shuttles before breaks. This is an awesome way to be a good friend and make money at the same time.
8. Hit up a consignment store or site
Several college towns have consignment stores such as Plato’s Closet where you can buy and sell gently used clothing. You can even sell some of your gently used clothing online on websites such as Tradesy. Selling pieces from your old wardrobe is a great way to get rid of the clothes you don’t wear anymore and make a little extra money.
You could also see if your school has its own virtual “consignment store.” NYU junior Hannah Orenstein says, “NYU has a Facebook group for girls to connect and buy and sell their clothes and other items.” Hannah says she just sold a dress she rarely wears to another student for $30. Selling your old clothes is an awesome way to quickly and easily earn a little extra cash.
9. Sell your textbooks
Don’t let your old textbooks sit around your room if you aren’t using them! Sometimes we keep our old textbooks thinking that we are going to use them for future reference. But think about it: How often to you actually use your old textbooks?
At the end of every semester, either take your textbooks to your campus bookstore or see how much you can sell them online for using websites such as Textbooks.com, Chegg or AbeBooks.
10. Rent out or sell your supplies
Don’t let your TI-84 gather dust and go to waste! Rent out or sell some of your more expensive school supplies to students who may need them. Do you know someone taking an advanced Calculus class? Rent or sell your calculator out to them for less than the retail price of a normal calculator. Not only are you helping other students out, but you’re also getting rid of some of the clutter in your room.
11. Write for school publications
Several college newspapers and magazines will pay people to write articles for them. This doesn’t apply to every school, but if you love to write, look into whether or not your school publications pay writers and columnists. Sometimes, publications will pay around $10 per article.
12. Have a garage sale with friends
Having a clothing sale or garage sale with some friends is a fun option to make some extra cash as a group effort. You can even make it a fun girls’ night in and invite all of your friends over to choose what you want to get rid of at your garage sale. If you live in a dorm, ask your floormates if they’d be interested in participating, too! Put up flyers around campus advertising your “dorm sale.” Plus, maybe you’ll make some new friends when people stop by your house, apartment, or dorm room. Make sure to check in with the housing department beforehand to make sure this is allowed in your dorm.
13. Work a part-time internship
Not only is a part-time internship a great thing to put on your résumé, but it’s a great way to make money, too. Search for paid internship opportunities in your school’s area on websites such as Internships.com and Intern Queen.
14. Participate in Psychology studies or a survey
Participating in studies and surveys at research labs on campus will definitely help put a little extra money in your pocket. The pay is different at every school, but at Indiana University, when you participate in a study or survey, you can get paid up to $20 either in cash or in gift cards. At Harvard University, 30-minute studies pay $5 and hour-long studies pay $10. Also, the studies are usually pretty interesting and fun! Inquire with an administrator in the Psychology department or on the Psychology department website at your school for more information.
If you’re looking to make a little extra cash—or a lot of extra cash—college is a great environment full of tons of endless moneymaking opportunities. Get ready to start saving (or spending!)
