The 10 Best Part-Time Jobs for College Students

It’s no secret that college is expensive. The costs of tuition, books, and campus housing are likely to put a serious dent in your wallet. And that’s before you even think about “fun money” for travel, meals out with friends, new clothes, or electronics.

Because of the high cost of college, many students look for part-time jobs with flexible hours while they study. Learners often find positions in fields like childcare, food service, and more. Others work over the summer to build nest eggs for the school year. If you feel like you could use some extra money, a part-time job might be right for you.

If you aced your SAT or ACT, the rewards may not end with acceptance to your college — you can potentially earn good money as an SAT/ACT tutor for high school students. College prep services offer in-person and online tutoring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), tutors made a median wage of $17.50 an hour as of May 2021.

If you like the idea of tutoring, look up remote or local tutoring services around your college to see if they’re hiring for after-school or weekend tutoring sessions.

Editing college admissions essays can be a great job for college students. Let your clients know you wrote a strong essay to be accepted into your college, which may give them more confidence that you can help them do the same.

Editing essays can easily be done remotely, and editors can earn good money for their services. You can get started either by posting ads online or around local high schools or through a tutoring company.

Reliable babysitters are always in demand. If you like kids, this could be a great fit for you. Pay varies by location and the number of children you’ll be watching. However, babysitting is often easy to fit into a student’s schedule, as babysitters are most in-demand in the evenings.

If you live in an area with families, start asking around to learn if anyone needs a babysitter. Be sure to mention if you have prior experience.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Restaurant servers and cashiers are in high demand, according to the BLS. You can search for positions with competitive base pay and opportunities for generous tips. As a server, you can learn a lot on your feet and will likely get free food or discounts at the restaurant.

Serving can be tough, physically demanding work, but a good server can make great tips. Because serving jobs usually operate in shifts, you can often work around your classes or exams.

For a summer job full of fun, consider becoming a camp counselor. As a seasonal job, it won’t interfere with your studies. There are also all different kinds of summer camps, including day camps, sleepaway camps, and themed camps. You can teach your campers anything from theater to kayaking.

According to the BLS, recreation workers made a median of $14 an hour as of May 2021. Some sleepaway camps also include room and board for the duration of camp.

For blogs and magazines interested in reaching a student audience, college students are the perfect writers. If you like to write, check to see if your favorite “campus life” websites accept pitches.

You can write features on dorm life, navigating your major, jokes about your college — the list goes on. You’ll generally be paid per piece and have flexibility about when you write so long as you meet your deadlines.

For a college student who is interested in meaningful work as well as a paycheck, becoming a home health aide may be a good fit. Home health aides provide invaluable services to older individuals and people with disabilities, from daily tasks to administering medications.

According to the BLS, home health aides made a median of $14 an hour as of May 2021. Working as a home health aide can be a great way to learn about the medical field while providing a valuable service to people in your community.

Flexibility is the name of the game for administrative temps. Temporary staffing companies, or temp agencies, place candidates for short-term jobs in fields like reception or data entry when full-time employees are away.

According to the BLS, administrative assistants earned a median of about $19 an hour as of May 2021. However, temps may ear slightly more or less.

Because temp assignments are short-term, they can fit easily into spring or fall break. They can also allow you to gain experience working in an office as a student.

Brands are always looking for college students to show off their products on campuses and encourage their fellow students to try them out. As brand ambassadors, these students earn a commission. This is a great job for students who love talking to people — the more people who try the product you’re promoting, the more you earn.

Brand ambassadors’ wages vary considerably, but the work can fit easily into regular student life, making it a good casual side gig.

If you love your morning coffee, consider working as a barista. College campuses are often full of coffee shops, and since baristas typically only work daytime hours, you’re less likely to be worn out from your shifts in class the next day.

Because baristas are in high demand, it will likely not be difficult to find a shop that’s hiring near your college campus.

Whether or not to get a job during college is a decision only you can make. There are many factors to consider, including your financial situation and how much getting a job will impact your college expenses.

Not all jobs have the same time commitments. Students with busy schedules may prefer to work only over breaks or during the summer, rather than try and balance part-time work with classes.

Consider these factors when looking into a college job:

If you’re looking for a part-time job during college, your campus can be a great place to start. Many college campuses post job boards — either in-person, online, or both — in addition to hosting on-campus job fairs.

If you’re working for a smaller employer, be sure to take time during the interview process to ask about the terms of employment to ensure they’re legitimate. You can also look for part-time jobs online through individual companies’ websites or job search sites like LinkedIn.

Part-time jobs can be a great way for students to earn extra spending money and add real-world work experience to their resumes before graduation. However, whether or not a part-time job is good for a student depends on the individual.

Before deciding whether or not to take a part-time job as a college student, consider the hours of the job, the physical demands of the work, and your current course load and class schedule. Your studies should be your priority, so try and avoid taking a part-time job that might put you at risk academically.

College students can get any part-time or full-time job that doesn’t require a college degree. There are also job opportunities specifically designed for students.

Working in restaurants and food service, retail, administration, and childcare can be great jobs for college students. Learners can also find work writing about college life for various publications and serving as on-campus brand ambassadors, positions that are designed specifically for college students.

There are a variety of online part-time jobs for students. Students who work as SAT or ACT tutors and college admissions essay editors can do their jobs remotely.

Students who enjoy writing may also consider writing for the “student life” sections of online magazines, where they can contribute pieces about dorm life, student fashion trends, prepping for college, and more. Other part-time online writing and editing jobs may also be open to students.