Working through college or high school is a great way to offset the high costs of college fees. But finding a steady source of income while studying can be difficult, but don’t worry. There are lots of online jobs for college students with no experience.
But it can be pretty tricky to find a legit sufficient paying job you can balance with your regular classes and other day-to-day activities.
Instead, you can look into legitimate options to make money online for a more flexible source of income.
So what are some best ways college students can earn income without damaging their grades? If you think of freelancing, then 10 points for you!
Freelancing is one of the best ways to earn money at college, as you can adjust the volume of projects and workload according to your schedule and get decent pay.
By the end of this article, you’ll have some of the best options to start earning money online as soon as next week! Here is a list of Easy Freelance Jobs For Students you can start without investment.
Table of Contents
Legit Online Jobs For Beginners That Pay Well
1. Online Tutor
Use your academic strengths and knowledge to start your own tutoring business from home. Online tutoring is a legitimate online job option for college students, even if you don’t have experience.
If you’re good at a subject, chances are others need help in that subject and will pay you to teach them online. You can offer tutoring to college peers or k-12 students on online platforms, and you can choose when to teach according to your schedule.
The best part? You can teach from your apartment or dorm, so you don’t have to go anywhere. You can also offer tutoring in extracurricular activities like art, cooking, or music.
If this sounds interesting, here are some tutoring companies to check out:
- Achieve Test Prep
- Amplify
- Outschool
Also, take a look at our latest blog post about the top online tutoring sites, where we provide more detailed information about starting a career in remote tutoring.
2. Social Media Manager
If you like using social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or LinkedIn, you can work from home as a social media manager.
Depending on what you’re good at you can do tasks like moderating, posting, interacting with customers, or making online content.
Managing social media accounts across different platforms can be an enjoyable and easy work from home job. Mostly new startups and businesses heavily rely on social media to connect with customers and boost their brand awareness.
To maximize your earnings, focus on platforms you know well. For example, if you enjoy using Pinterest, you can make money from your skills there.
You could even become a Pinterest virtual assistant. There are numerous ways to earn money from your social media skills.
Learn More: The Best Type of Social Media Jobs (freelance, part-time, and full-time).
3. Freelance Writer or Copywriter
During college, I started freelancing as a writer with no experience. It didn’t interfere with my studies; I’d take fewer projects when exams were near. It was a flexible way to earn extra money while focusing on my education.
It offers flexibility—you can manage your schedule, choose writing projects that suit you, and set your rates. The best part? You get paid to write about almost anything.
Freelance writing is quite a lucrative online job, especially for students without experience. Because all you need to do is explore different types of writing and find your favorite niche.
You can find long-term and one-time writing job opportunities on platforms like Upwork, FlexJobs, and Pro Bloggers.
Additionally, you can try freelance proofreading. It’s a great way to begin your freelance writing career if you’re short on time for writing.
4. Virtual Assistant
Get paid for using the organization and communication skills you’ve learned in school to stay on top of your classes and extracurricular activities.
Business owners and even bloggers often need help but hesitate to hire personal assistants due to costs. That’s where freelance virtual assistants come in.
Services can include social media management, data entry, website updates, email management, and more!
As more people start their own businesses or work for themselves, there’s more demand for virtual assistants. So, it’s a good chance for students to make money while helping businesses stay organized.
You can find freelance VA jobs on the following sites:
5. Freelance Graphic designer
Graphic design is a great part-time job for college students if you know how to use software like Adobe Illustrator, Canva, or Photoshop.
It is one of the most-demand jobs in 2024. Small businesses and business owners often need freelancers to design their websites, logos, and other graphics.
Graphic designing is a skill that lets you take on many different projects, like making visuals for websites, social media posts, and more. Also working on project-based work lets you have a flexible schedule that fits with your school.
You can find freelance graphic design job opportunities on various job platforms like
- 99designs
- Taptol
- Adecco
- Aeolidia
- AIGA
6. Transcriptionist
Transcribing audio or video files is one of the easy work-from-home online jobs that anyone can start.
Many companies and individuals need help converting spoken words into written text. They often outsource the transcription work because it requires careful attention to detail and can be a bit tricky.
While there are numerous online data entry jobs on sites like Microworkers and Sigtrack, they usually offer micro or short tasks that aren’t suitable for a long-term career.
To make a living from this online job, it’s crucial to aim for higher-paying projects, and specializing in a particular sector is key.
Transcription jobs in healthcare can be lucrative, especially for nurses with medical knowledge.
Check out our list of legitimate transcription jobs to discover the best options.
If you just want to earn extra money in your free time without making it a career, there are websites where you can find part-time transcription work.
Finding legitimate online jobs that offer flexibility is easy with these popular websites that are open to anyone.
- Transcribe Me
- Rev
- Go Transcript
- Speechpad
Check out: Our list of 9 Best Online Transcription Jobs for Beginners ( Update 2024).
7. Proofreading
If you have a keen eye for detail and a strong command of grammar, consider a career as a proofreader.
Proofreading is a great example of a legitimate online job that does not require any special certificates.
All you need to use is your grammar knowledge and your keen eyes to earn good money.
Online proofreading is one of the most flexible side hustles that has the potential to turn into a full-time career.
This role involves meticulously reviewing content for grammar, spelling, and style, ensuring accuracy and coherence.
The flexibility of remote side jobs allows individuals to seamlessly integrate proofreading into their schedules, making it an ideal choice for those seeking work-life balance.
As you get better at proofreading, work on different projects, and become known for doing a great job, it becomes possible to switch from doing proofreading part-time to doing it as a full-time job.
Learn more: How to Become a Proofreader and Earn Money Working From Home.
8. Blogging
Blogging has transformed from a hobby to a lucrative online job opportunity, showcasing diverse ways to monetize content.
Now, many people, including companies and stay-at-home moms sharing their experiences, are earning real money from their websites.
Some blogs effortlessly bring in income; content created today continues to make money years later through ads, product sales, and affiliate marketing.
While you won’t make a lot of money right away, typically six months of regular writing is needed. Achieving a six-figure salary isn’t guaranteed, and gaining popularity may also take years.
You can start by choosing a profitable niche you’re passionate about, like travel or hobbies. WordPress or Blogger makes setting up your blog easy, and you can make it look cool to match your style.
Once your blog is ready, write interesting articles about your chosen topic. Engage with readers on social media and be patient—growing a blog takes time.
There are various ways to make money from a blog. You can start by discussing products you enjoy or selling your items. Once you have a consistent monthly viewership, you can also apply to specific advertising agencies.
9. Voiceover Artist
Being a voiceover artist means using your voice to make stories, ads, or characters sound alive. It’s like having a magical voice behind the scenes that makes things exciting or emotional.
As a voice actor, you might talk in commercials, make videos, or read audiobooks. You can start this flexible online job from home with just a few hundred dollars worth of equipment.
You can make a sample of your voice and share it online. Some websites are where people search for special voices for different projects.
So, if you like talking and want to turn your voice into a skill, being a voiceover artist might be perfect for you!
To start, listen to the pros, record a few voice samples, and share them online. Audition for opportunities on platforms where people look for unique voices.
These steps will help you have a better chance of starting a successful voice-acting career.
10. Etsy Store Owner
You know you’re good at making things, and now you want to start selling them on Etsy!
Being an Etsy store owner is like having your own little online shop—it’s about turning your passions into money!
If you love designing, crafting, creating art, or collecting cool things, Etsy is the ideal place for you. It’s a way for creative individuals to earn money from their hobbies online.
It can also be a side hustle for stay-at-home moms, turning those spare moments between diaper changes and playdates into an extra source of income.
Additionally, we have compiled a comprehensive guide on how you can start your Etsy shop as a beginner, along with tips for success.
If you’re unsure about what to sell on Etsy, we also have a list of 101+ best things to sell on Etsy and make crazy money in 2024!
