13 Best Freelance Jobs for College Students

1. Freelance writer

Freelance writers get paid to write:

• Web content (blog posts, product descriptions, web pages, etc.)
• Video and radio scripts (Youtube video scripts, podcast scripts)
• Emails (marketing emails, newsletters)
• Press releases (for small businesses and online companies)
• Magazine articles
• Newspaper articles

Requirements

• A good grasp of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• A portfolio that shows excellent writing and editing skills.

If you want to get an edge over your competition, feel free to read our guide: How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer.

2. Freelance social media manager

Social media managers make money by representing companies on social networks.

Many companies hire social media managers to:

• Attract new fans: publishing engaging content, promoting the brand with paid advertising, reaching out to local influencers, etc.
• Turn fans into customers: responding to questions about the product/service, retargeting advertisements, etc.
• Turn these customers into advocates: organizing giveaways (share this post to win our product), create communities on Reddit and other forums, etc.

Requirements

• Usually required: Social media marketing experience.
• Preferred: Degrees in English literature, psychology, sociology, and communication studies.

If you want to get an edge over your competition, feel free to read our guide: How to Become a Social Media Manager.

3. Freelance photographer

There are many opportunities to make money by taking pictures:

• Event photography (festivals, weddings, etc)
• Advertising for local businesses (bakeries, kennels, etc.)
• Professional pictures (music bands, influencers, lawyers, etc.)

Requirements

• A portfolio of beautiful pictures.
• Working knowledge of Photoshop.

4. Freelance web developer

Freelance web developers build websites for organizations and small businesses.

Building websites isn’t as hard as it seems, there are Content Management Systems like WordPress that do most of the jobs for you.

For tech-savvy college students, the difficult part of the job is:

1. Reaching out to potential clients: local businesses, lawyers, photographers, music bands, influencers, etc.
2. Understanding the client’s needs: talk with your client about the project and estimate the web development cost.
3. Sketching a basic concept website: build multiple draft versions, make revisions as requested by the client.

Once you feel that you know enough to get clients, go on freelancing platforms to search for local companies and associations who will pay for your services. Unlike most side jobs, freelance web developers have the opportunity to create their own schedule.

Requirements

• A portfolio of websites that highlights web development skills.
• Proof that you can develop websites with WordPress or other CMSs.
• Understanding of HTML, CSS, and other languages.

If you want to get an edge over your competition, feel free to read our guide: How to Become a Freelance Web Developer.

5. Doing homework for others

Some websites actually pay you to do homework for other people.

The deeper your knowledge is, the higher your chances are to make a decent wage. Moreover, if you are good at finances, math, and physics, you will have a better chance of earning a respectable income.

Doing homework for other people can be deemed unethical, especially when completing graded assignments. Make sure answers to homework questions can only be used as a tutoring aid or a reference.

Requirements

• Preferred: High school diploma or equivalent.

Find homework jobs

6. Freelance driver

Here are the most popular ways to make money driving cars:

• Driving for Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing companies.
• Delivering food for Uber Eats, DoorDash, PostMates, and other food delivering companies.
• Deliver packages for UPS, FedEx, and other package delivery companies.

Requirements

• Required: a driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience.
• Required: auto insurance that meets the liability requirements.
• Usually required: 21 years of age or older.

7. Freelance graphic designer

Graphic designers are hired to design logos, magazine covers, advertisements, and other communication materials.

There are many graphic design jobs on websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and other freelance websites.

Requirements

• A strong portfolio of logos, illustrations, or other graphics
• Familiarity with design software (such as InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop)

8. Babysitter

Babysitters are responsible for the safety and well-being of children when their parents are away.

Sitters can also take on additional responsibilities (helping with homework, cooking, recreational activities, etc.).

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Ability to pass a background check
• Preferred: Child care training and/or experience
• Preferred: Driver’s license (some parents want you to pick their kids up from school)
• Preferred: CPR and First Aid certification

9. Online data entry jobs

Data entry jobs are exactly what they sound like! They’re jobs that involve entering data, such as:

• Describing or identifying images
• Entering up-to-date prices
• Transcription of audio notes
• Subtitling
• Tagging and annotating data
• You name it!

You are typically asked to perform on-demand tasks that computers are unable to do.

Requirements

• Preferred: High school diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: Completing a qualifier to validate transcription/subtitling/tagging skills.

Find data entry jobs

10. Freelance video editor

More and more businesses need videos to promote their services on Youtube and Instagram. It is a golden opportunity to make money as a freelance video editor.

Requirements

• A stunning video editing portfolio.
• Extensive experience with editing software (e.g. Lightworks, Premiere, After Effects or Final Cut).

If you want to get an edge over your competition, feel free to read our guide: How to Make Money Editing Videos.

11. Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants are administrative assistants from home.

Their job involves:

• Scheduling appointments
• Making phone calls
• Responding to emails
• And more: bookkeeping, writing, marketing services, etc.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Preferred: prior experience as an administrative assistant.

12. Freelance tutor

Tutoring is all about sharing the beauty of a subject with students who have a hard time understanding it.

As a tutor, you get the opportunity to help others in need. Maybe this is why teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs!

Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent (usually required).
• A bachelor’s degree in the subject-matter field is preferred.
• Recent teaching experience is a plus.

Find tutoring jobs

13. Pet sitter

Pet sitters take care of pets while their owner is on vacation or traveling for business. They usually work at the pet owner’s home, but pets may also be at the provider’s home or at a pet sitting business. Even though most pet sitting jobs involve dogs and cats, some pet sitters also take care of birds, fishes, and reptiles.

Requirements

• An extensive amount of hands-on experience with the animal in question.
• Preferred: pet first aid and CPR training.