There are many ways to earn money in college, I just don’t think students have tapped into the opportunities that allow them to. Being a “broke college student” can be stressful, especially when you think you need a new outfit for every event you go to (I’m guilty of that!). Luckily, I’ve listed 5 ways you can earn money while in college, and don’t forget that applying for scholarships can put some extra cash in your pocket too ;).
1. Become a college ambassador
Whether you decide to become an ambassador for your school or a company, it can result in you getting paid. Not to mention, being an ambassador isn’t hard at all. Some of the things you’d do include, making social media posts, handing out gear for the company, and verbally spreading awareness about what the company offers. Below are some ambassador programs students can apply to:
- Adobe Student Ambassador Program
- The Samsung Ambassador Program
- Coca-Cola Ambassador Program
- Spring 2023 Prime Student Digital Brand Ambassador
- 2023 Bull City Summit (BCS) College Ambassador Programs
- Pearson Campus Ambassador
- HBO Max Campus Ambassador
- Red Bull Student Program
- The Ambassador Program @Nordstorm (apply in the fall)
Being an ambassador comes with little responsibility, but you could earn extra cash. Below are some organizations that provide ambassador positions.
2. Start a small business
Many students have a side hustle while attending college, you can too! Having a side hustle is beneficial because you won’t have to keep calling home for money every weekend. Not to mention, it’ll look good on your resume when applying for those internships this summer ;). Some of the things students can do are:
- Sell clothes
- Sew clothes
- Do nails
- Do hair
- Sell plates
- Tutor local high school students or peers
3. Become a content creator
I know many people are taking up content creation, but no one can do it like you! Content creation is easy because you can record yourself doing whatever you like. Make sure you always remember to put your email in your bio so that companies can reach out to you. Companies will pay you to talk about their product or service and you create your price per video. Below are some content ideas:
- Day in the life of a college sophomore
- 5 ways to stay organized
- 3 ways to get involved on campus
- New foods you tried and ratings
- 3 great places to go in your community
4. Get an online internship
Attaining an online internship while in school is a great way to still receive a check every two weeks while attending class. You could dedicate 2-3 hours of your day to your internship every day after class and still receive decent pay for doing part-time work. Below are some online internships that you could apply to:
5. Create a digital product
Creating a digital product is one of the best ways to make money in your sleep. Why? Because you only utilize energy once to make the product. After that, it’ll continuously sell depending on what the digital product is about. For example, if you release an ebook all about how to grow your Instagram following and you know students at your school want to be big-time content creators, students will continuously buy that ebook. Below are some digital products you could create:
- An ebook
- A digital planner
- Templates (budgeting templates, wallpapers, class organizers, digital stickers, etc.)
- A webinar teaching people how to do something
- Online course
- Digital art
- Subscriptions and memberships
Please feel free to comment below and let me know if this blog post was helpful. Also, comment on something you’d like to see my post on the blog. For example, “10 Jobs for Animal Science Majors” or “12 HBCUs With Full-Ride Scholarships.” I’m open to hearing all of your feedback and engaging with readers :).
Marcus Steele
Hi. Do you have any tips on finding a business that fits you?
Jada
Hi! Yes, you should create a business that aligns with something you’re good at. Sometimes you’ll have to be creative, but it is possible. For example, if you’re good at creating designs you can create digital stickers and art to be sold on Etsy.