12 Best Online Jobs for College Students in [2024]

When I was in college, we were all “broke college students.” Most of us didn’t have time to work at the local restaurants or retail stores, so we had to live on ramen noodles and water, but today college students have many more opportunities. You don’t need a “job” anymore, today you can find side hustles that bring in even more income to cover those college expenses.

I’ve located the best jobs for college students for various situations including those that may help in your future employment plans and those that are brainless and bring in a little extra money. No matter what you choose, just make sure it doesn’t add to your stress level as college is stressful enough.

How we evaluate products

When choosing the best online jobs for college students, we considered many factors including:

• Time commitment: We know how busy college students are, so anything that is too intense wouldn’t be a good fit. The jobs in our list are flexible with the time commitment based on your school schedule.
• Skills: We looked for jobs that spanned all types of skills from basic typing and listening skills to jobs that require specific majors, such as graphic design or English.
• Pay: Most of the jobs listed have flexibility with pay and some even allow you to set your own rates.
• Equipment required: We tried to find jobs that didn’t require equipment the standard college student wouldn’t already have to keep costs down and to maximize the ability to land online jobs.

12 best online jobs for college students

• Online tutor
• Bookkeeper
• Social media manager
• Freelance writer
• Transcriptionist
• Graphic designer
• Virtual assistant
• Proofreader
• Video editor
• Data entry
• Influencer
• Affiliate marketer

Online jobs for students comparison

Online Job	Best for	Average pay
Online tutor	Students who like to teach one-on-one	$19/hr
Bookkeeper	Accounting and business students	$24/hr
Social media manager	Students who enjoy creating online content	$31/hr
Freelance writer	Students who enjoy and are good at writing	$23/hr
Transcriptionist	Attentive students	$20/hr
Graphic designer	Creative students and graphic designer majors	$27/hr
Virtual assistant	Problem solvers	$24/hr
Proofreader	English majors	$28/hr
Video editor	Students good with video editing tools	$32/hr
Data entry	Fast typers looking for brainless work	$19/hr
Influencer	Students with 1,000+ social media followers	$31/hr
Affiliate marketer	Business majors	$39/hr

Online tutor

• Skills required: Extensive knowledge of the course subject

Online tutoring can be a lucrative side gig for college students, especially if it’s in a subject you excelled at in college or even high school. I did this in college and felt it was a great fit because it didn’t feel like a job, moreso an extension of what I was already doing.

You have options on who you tutor including fellow college students or if you prefer, you can advertise your services to kids in elementary school or high school to give yourself some variety. Most tutoring sessions are only one hour long, so they are great to fit in between classes or to do during your free time.

You don’t need to do a lot of preparation if you already know the subject you’re tutoring, and can take on as few or as many students as you can handle. If you aren’t comfortable finding clients yourself, you can even work for a platform like Care.com, Tutor.com, Outschool, and Wyzant, that connect tutors with clients.

Bookkeeper

• Skills required: Knowledge of basic bookkeeping principles, good attention to detail, and organizational skills

If you’re getting a degree in accounting or business, bookkeeping could provide you with valuable, hands-on experience that looks great on a resume and provides you with income. The hours are generally flexible, although you may need to be available during business hours to connect with clients.

Keep in mind that the work can be a bit repetitive, and you’ll need to master commonly used software like QuickBooks. You can teach yourself the software, though, and there are lots of resources online, including Bookkeepers. Plus if you’re majoring in accounting, you already know the repetitiveness of this type of job.

Social media manager

• Skills required: Research, writing, SEO knowledge, creativity, and some graphic design

You have many options when it comes to social media management. For example, if you’re an expert writer, you can offer to write social media posts for clients, but if you have extensive SEO knowledge and social media experience, you can create advertising campaigns and make even more money.

If you’re a digital marketing major, you may find opportunities as an intern in-person, but online, you may find small businesses looking for someone with less experience who may charge lower fees. You can also advertise on sites like Fiverr to find more clients. Keep in mind that you will have to schedule weekly and monthly meetings around your college and client schedules so this is best for students with flexible schedules.

Freelance writer

• Skills required: Writing, editing, SEO, communication, and organizational skills

If you love to write, there are many great side hustles to consider. You can write articles, sales landing pages, email newsletters, and even stories. Small business owners are constantly looking for writers who excel at SEO who can help them rank higher on search engines and build trust with their audiences.

Upwork and Fiverr are good places to start, but freelancers who pitch to prospects independently of these platforms often have higher earning potential. Before accepting clients, figure out how you want to charge, whether per word or a flat fee per written piece.

Keep in mind that this type of work comes with strict deadlines. If you’re already bogged down with class deadlines, it may not be the best option for you.

Transcriptionist

• Skills required: Attention to detail, typing, organization, time management, and knowledge of the industry

If you’re not tired of listening to professors during your lectures, you can make money as a transcriptionist. It’s a great opportunity for night owls or early risers as you can work this gig at any time as long as you meet your deadlines.

The downside is that you’re listening to people talk and transcribing the spoken words into text. However, there’s a low barrier to entry as long as you can type fast and listen well, but the pay can be low. I don’t think it’s necessarily a break from the college grind as you must listen so intently and be accurate, but it’s a good way to make money from your dorm room.

If you work with an agency, like Rev, your income can become steady if customers are happy with your work. However, pay is low in this industry, and many people in international markets are willing to work below the U.S. minimum wage.

Graphic designer

• Skills required: UX and UI design, creativity, problem solving, communication, strategy, and time management

If you’re a graphic design major, getting some experience while in college may make it easier to find a full-time job when you graduate. Before offering your services, make sure you are familiar with common graphic design tools. Canva is a good starting point, but most graphic designers eventually use Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe software for their designs. You may also have to pay for software to create better designs.

You can find leads advertising on social media or you can use Fiverr to leverage clients. Just be sure you keep your school projects in mind as graphic design projects can have strict deadlines and you don’t want to overwhelm yourself.

Virtual assistant

• Skills required: Organization, time management, communication, social media management, and customer service

A virtual assistant performs various tasks for clients. You may be responsible for answering emails, scheduling appointments, managing calendars, and performing other roles. Some platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr, make it easier to land work. However, pitching is a normal part of the process until you have enough clients to achieve your income goal.

Keep in mind that some clients may request that you be available during certain hours of the day or may expect answers from you immediately. You may also have meetings you must be available to attend online. When looking for potential clients, be sure to communicate your availability and class schedule to ensure they align with the client’s needs.

Proofreader

• Skills required: Communication, writing, grammar, and time management

Proofreaders look over articles, books, and other written content. They make changes to grammar and structure to improve content. Some proofreaders only look for typos and other basic mistakes, while others get paid extra to edit and rewrite work.

College students can advertise their services on social media or use online platforms like ProofreadingPal and Scribbr that post proofreading jobs or let you list your services.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a “light" job. It requires major attention to detail, an understanding of the client’s needs, and strict deadlines. Only choose this type of gig if you have room in your schedule for a demanding job.

Video editor

• Skills required: Video editing software knowledge, problem solving skills, creativity, and attention to detail

If you’re going to school for video editing or production, you can start building your portfolio today by taking on side projects. Just make sure the jobs you accept are within the limits of what you’ve already learned and are comfortable doing.

To find work, video editors can reach out to businesses, agencies, YouTubers, course creators, and other groups that regularly produce videos. You may have to send many outreach emails and use platforms like Upwork when you are getting started. It’s also possible to attract clients if you build an audience on social media platforms.

Data entry

• Skills required: Attention to detail, fast typing, organizational skills

If you’re looking for brainless work that can help you bring in a little extra money, consider data entry. Almost anyone can do it as long as you have access to a computer with high-speed internet.

The downside is the pay is lower than other jobs that require more skills, but sometimes the brain break is worth it. Just be sure you are able to pay close attention to detail and type fast. The faster you type, the more you can get done and the more money you can earn per hour.

Influencer

• Skills required: Communication, social media knowledge, content creation, analytics, and sales

If you have a large social media following, you can become an influencer and make money on your following. Advertisements, sponsorships, and product promotions are just some of the revenue opportunities for influencers.

There isn’t a limit to how much you can make as an influencer. Some leaders in this industry make millions of dollars each year. However, I wouldn’t get my hopes up that I’d make that much. But if you have a good following and are great at making engaging videos and written posts, you can put some extra cash in your pocket.

Affiliate marketer

• Skills required: Data analysis, content creation, and communication skills

If you have a large social media following but aren’t big on posting videos of yourself, affiliate marketing is a great opportunity. It’s a similar idea to influencer marketing, but you post links to items you think your audience would like and if they click on the link and buy something, you earn a commission.

It requires the same level of consistency as influencer marketing with less face time. Amazon’s affiliate program is the most well-known, but there are many others. The earnings from this online job are unlimited but depend on your ability to attract potential customers and demonstrate how the product you are promoting can help with their needs.

How to choose the best online jobs for college students

Before choosing an online job as a college student, consider these factors:

• Review your schedule and determine how much flexibility you have before committing to an online job.
• Check the income potential of the job.
• See how a job’s requirements align with your expertise and if you are willing to learn new skills to cover any gaps.
• Assess if you are okay with sending many pitches to prospects daily or prefer to get clients from a platform or an agency.

Alternative side hustles for college students

If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key, taking surveys online is an easy way to bring in a little extra cash. There’s no set commitment, so you can spend as much or as little time as you like.

Here are some of our favorite sites for online surveys:

FAQs

Bottom line

Finding the best online jobs for college students is easier than ever today. Whether you’re looking for a little pocket change and break from the classwork grind or you want to build a portfolio for your future career, there are many opportunities.

Just be sure you understand the time commitment required, the potential pay, and determine how the job will fit with your class schedule. Remember, you also need time to unwind so you don’t burn out.