Top Online Jobs for College Students
Between going to class and late night study sessions in the library, it can be hard to find time for a job in college. That’s why we’ve gathered together this list of the best online jobs for college students! These jobs are a great way for students to earn money working from home, or somewhere on campus. Read on to find the perfect online job for you.
Tutoring and Teaching
You may be a student, but that doesn’t mean you can’t teach!
Chegg - Starting at $20 per hour
What: Chegg is a 24/7 online tutoring service. This means that you can log in and work whenever and wherever is most convenient for you, so it’s great for earning money in between classes. Chegg sends students to you and then handles rates and billing. As you build your tutor reputation, you’ll gain access to more tutoring opportunities. You can also secure repeat students for more consistent income.
Where: Anywhere with an internet connection.
Perks:
Bonuses for tutoring high-demand subjects
Choose subjects + student levels
Schedule and location flexibility
Get started: Sign up to tutor here.
What: Udemy is an online learning and teaching marketplace. As an instructor, you can share your expertise in a certain field by creating an online video course, and you’ll earn money each time someone purchases it. You get to design the course however you like, and Udemy provides tools for messaging, Q&As, course announcements, and quizzes. There is no fee to host on Udemy, but the service does take a cut of your course fee (the revenue share depends on how students find your course).
Where: You can set up a Udemy course from anywhere in the world.
Perks:
Access to 30 million students worldwide
Free courses and support for your business
Peer-to-peer community group
Get started: Become an instructor here.
What: TakeLessons is an online marketplace where people can find local and online teachers in a variety of subjects, from algebra to improv acting. The site handles booking and payments on your behalf, and you don’t have to buy or bid for leads. With options to teach locally in-person or internationally online, TakeLessons gives you flexibility in your scheduling, workload, and teaching methods. You’ll keep 90% of your lesson price, which is paid to you weekly via direct deposit.
Where: Available anywhere with an internet connection.
Perks:
Opportunities for cash bonuses
Flexible locations: on-site, at home, or online
Reach international student base
Get started: To become a teaching partner, you’ll fill out a short application, complete a background check. Start the process here.
Online Freelancer Jobs
What: Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelance services. If you have a unique skill, like voiceovers, sound editing, or translation, Fiverr is the place to market it. Fiverr is free to use and you set your pricing, but they take 20% of each transaction.
Where: Since most jobs are conducted remotely, Fiverr is available all over the U.S.
Perks:
Earn exclusive benefits as your business grows
Flexibility – work as much (or as little) as you want
Opportunity to market unique trades
Get started: Start selling on Fiverr here.
What: Upwork is a freelancer site that people can use to post project requests and hire freelancers in a variety of fields like design, sales, and software development. You can work on recurring projects, full-time contract work after your graduate, or short-term tasks. Upwork charges freelancers fees based on how often you’ve worked with a particular client, meaning the more you and a client work together, the more earnings you’ll keep.
Where: Upwork is available all over the world.
Perks:
Wide variety of work
Higher visibility for top-rated freelancers
Opportunities to find repeat customers
Get started: Learn more and apply as a freelancer here.
What: Freelancer is an online marketplace for freelancer, web developer, and designer jobs. Millions of businesses use the site to post job listings. You bid on these jobs and if you’re hired, share a percentage of your earnings with Freelancer. Freelancer is a crowded platform, so it may be difficult to find high-earning gigs, but you can secure smaller jobs that help you build your portfolio, find clients, and get valuable work experience while you’re still in school.
Where: All over the world (most jobs are completed remotely).
Perks:
Find new and repeat clientele
Set bid values
Time-tracking app
Get started: Sign up to find freelance jobs here.
What: Hubstaff Talent is a 100% free database that businesses can use to find freelancers. Unlike other job search sites, Hubstaff does not charge markups or fees, so you take home exactly what the client pays you.
Where: Since most jobs are conducted remotely, Hubstaff Talent is available all over the U.S.
Perks:
No fees or cuts
Access to Hubstaff time tracking tool
More refined network than other freelance sites
Get started: Build your profile and find jobs here.
What: Etsy is an online creative marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft goods. Etsy charges its Sellers a $0.20 listing fee, as well as transaction fees per purchase. If you have vintage or handmade goods to sell, Etsy can help you launch your business. Sellers can purchase custom web addresses that lead to their Etsy shop, earn credits for better listings, get discounts on shopping costs, and set up automated marketing communications with customers.
Where: Set up your shop from anywhere!
Perks:
Access to millions of shoppers
Business management tools
Discounted postage and shipping materials
Get started: Learn how to set up your shop here.
What: Moonlighting is a marketplace for services offered by freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. They work with a variety of industries, including tech, transportation, events, and more. After building a personal page for your business, you can communicate with clients, get matched with relevant jobs, and accept payments without processing fees. The cost of the service is $9.99 a month.
Where: Moonlighting is available all over the U.S.
Perks:
No processing fees
Send invoices and proposals
No bidding or commission fees
Get started: Set up your business page here.
What: Behance is an Adobe site that lets artists and designers showcase their creative work. It also has a job list that freelancers can search for new project opportunities. One bonus is that the Behance profile makes it easier to display your portfolio and communicate with clients. If your work is featured on any of Behance’s galleries, your work will be viewed by thousands (even millions!) of other artists and potential clients.
Where: Behance is available globally.
Perks:
Free to use
Featured galleries offer serious visibility
Page statistics help you better promote your work
Get started: Sign up for an account here.
What: TopCoder is an online network of designers, developers, and data scientists. TopCoder works a bit differently and runs crowdsourcing contests. This means that multiple people compete for projects by submitting relevant codes or designs. The client chooses the winning submissions, and those freelancers are paid for their work. If you join the TopCoder network, you will only receive payments for work that wins challenges.
Where: TopCoder is available anywhere.
Perks:
Community is free to join
Earn awards for winning challenges
Tech recruitment opportunities
Get started: Join the community and start competing here.
The Classics
These might not be online jobs, but they’re popular for a reason!
Uber - $13 per hour (average)
What: Uber is the original rideshare service. As a driver-partner, you use your own vehicle to provide rides in your city. You’ll get paid weekly based on the number and distance of trips you provide. Riders can also tip you for top-notch service. If you have a larger SUV, you may be eligible for UberSUV and earn more per trip.
Where: Uber is available in almost every major U.S. city. Search for your location here.
Perks:
$1,000 sign-up bonus in most major cities
Referral bonuses when your friends drive or ride with Uber
Discounts on car maintenance and phone plans
Get started: To be eligible to drive, you (and your vehicle) will need to meet some basic requirements. See the list and sign up here.
Lyft - $17.50 per hour (average)
What: Like Uber, Lyft drivers use their own vehicle to provide trips for riders in their city. Lyft drivers tend to make a bit more money than Uber drivers, with the help of features like Power Zones and Earnings Guarantees. That said, Uber tends to have a larger customer base and usually offers more trip opportunities. Check out more Lyft vs. Uber comparisons here.
Where: Lyft is located in several cities across the U.S. See all their locations here.
Perks:
$1,000 sign up bonus if you hit 125 rides in 30 days
Accelerate driver rewards program
Express Pay to cash out earnings whenever you want
Get started: To be eligible to drive, you (and your vehicle) will need to meet some basic requirements. See the list and sign up here.
Postmates - $24 per hour (average)
What: Postmates is a delivery service that lets customers order items from restaurants, retail shops, grocers, and more. When you deliver with Postmates, there are no fees involved and you keep 100% of tips you earn. The app helps you locate busy areas and times to secure more trips.
Where: Postmates is located in several U.S. cities. See the full list here.
Perks:
Free weekly earnings deposits
Keep 100% of tips
Weekly earning guarantees
Get started: Fill out the Postmates application here.
Grubhub - $10 per hour (average)
What: Grubhub offers food delivery from local restaurants. As a delivery driver, you keep 100% of tips and set your own schedule by selecting available blocks of time via the app. You are paid per order amount, but some markets offer a guaranteed hourly minimum.
Where: Grubhub operates in several US cities. Enter your address here to see if they’re serving markets near you.
Perks:
Keep 100% of tips
Schedule flexibility
Weekly earnings via direct deposits
Get started: Sign up to be a delivery driver here.
Instacart - $11 per hour (average)
What: Instacart is a grocery delivery service that lets you choose your delivery schedule. Instacart hires two types of shoppers: full-service shoppers (independent contractors who shop for and deliver orders) and in-store shoppers (part-time employees who fill orders within a store). You’ll earn a minimum of $10 per order, including tips.
Where: Instacart is located in most states. See their locations here.
Perks:
Schedule flexibility
Peak times for higher earnings
Different employment types
Get started: To be an Instacart shopper, you’ll need to be able to lift at least 40 pounds and pass a background check. Start the process here.
Doordash - $21 per hour (average)
What: As a Dasher you’ll deliver food on your own schedule. In some cities Dashers can even deliver on scooter, bike, or foot. Doordash guarantees its delivery personnel a minimum of $10 an hour, and will make up the difference if you make any less. The average pay per order is $5, not including tips.
Where: Doordash is available in several U.S. cities. See locations here.
Perks:
Weekly payments with “Fast Pay” option
Keep 100% of tips
Earning incentives (like “busy pay”)
Get started: Sign up to be a Dasher here.
UberEats - $8 to $12 per hour (average)
What: UberEats drivers use their own vehicles to pick up food from local restaurants and deliver to customers. This is a particularly convenient job if you’re already an Uber driver since you can drive for both simultaneously and your app will tell you when your trip is for a delivery or passenger.
Where: See where UberEats is available here.
Perks:
Surge pricing
Fewer vehicle restrictions than UberX
Keep 100% of tips
Get started: See vehicle and driver requirements and get started here
Hopefully one of these online jobs is a perfect fit, but don’t worry if you didn’t find one that works for you. This is the second article in our ongoing series where we share our top independent contractor jobs. Check back soon to read our next article, where we cover the top platforms for freelancers, and sites like Etsy!
