How to Earn Money Online for Students: 10 Ways to Increase Your Income

In today’s digital age, there are countless opportunities for students to make money online. Whether you’re a tech-savvy programmer, a creative wordsmith, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this guide will help you unlock your online earning potential.  

Benefits of Earning Money Online for Students 

The number one advantage of working online is flexible work hours. Structuring your own schedule and setting your own rates makes you better organised, time-effective, and financially independent.

Acquiring new skills will help you build self-assurance and improve your communication and social skills. Remote work will also give you an opportunity to engage in collaboration with clients from other countries and exposure to a range of professions.  

How to find online jobs for students 

Perhaps you were wondering, “how can I earn money online as a student?”. There are a lot of platforms where you can find online jobs relevant to your skills and qualifications.

Platforms like Internshala, Naukri, LinkedIn, Fiver, and Upwork, offer online jobs for students and are great sites where you can find this type of work. We’ve also included additional ideas below for each job category.

How to make money as a student

Almost every college student wants to know how to make money while in school. Tuition, room, and board at college can be expensive. Thus, making money while studying can be useful and sometimes necessary. 

Online Jobs for Students to Earn Money

1. Online Tutoring 

Online tutoring is a popular job option for students looking to earn money online. What exactly do tutors do? Tutors oversee gathering course materials, responding to students’ inquiries, assessing their work, and keeping track of their progress.  

Tutoring is a great way to take what you are good at and make some extra cash. Are you great at Spanish? Or do you love biology? Choose which subject area you’ll focus on, set up your own prices and a working schedule for working with students. Customize your invoice templates for an effective billing process. Then you are able to start promoting your tutoring services. 

You may want to check out Tutor.com, Wyzant, Udemy, SkillShare, Coursera, and Chegg.  

2. Freelance Writing 

Freelance writing is one of the most popular online writing jobs available to students. You don’t need a years of experience, but all you truly need is a flair for writing and good portfolio.

You can publish your writing for free in several journals, blogs, and newspapers on Medium. This is a great way to start building a portfolio for applying to paid online writing jobs or even online essay writing services, which often seek skilled writers.

Once you’ve developed your portfolio, you can then start looking for freelance assignments on websites like Problogger and Freelance Writing Jobs. You may also want to sign up for sites like UpWork and Fiverr to get started.

Enjoying writing? Other online writing and typing jobs for students include working as a resume writer, proofreader, or transcriptionist.

Tip: When your work is finished, you can generate an invoice using the freelance invoice template.

3. Online Data Entry 

If online part-time jobs for students sound more appealing than one-off gigs, then online data entry might be a great option to consider. With this type of job, you will be expected to update the data from various sources on the company’s server.

It will be your responsibility to keep the company’s data current and available to anyone. The following platforms are a good place to start: Freelancer, Data Plus, Clickworker, Guru, and PeoplePerHour. 

4. Virtual Assistant  

Virtual assistant positions are quickly growing in popularity. They work remotely and assist customers and companies with their administrative needs. These positions are appealing to students because they often don’t require any particular training.  

The duties of a virtual assistant include scheduling meetings, establishing schedules, and managing small tasks. Making calls, responding to emails, conducting research, entering data, and proofreading, are also your tasks as a virtual assistant.

If you have specialised skills, for example in marketing, you can apply for a position as a virtual marketing assistant. They are usually paid more. Here are some platforms to go to: Time etc., Upwork, RemoteCoWorker, Fiver, and Zirtual.

5. Online HR Recruiter 

Do you have great marketing and human skills? Then the role of an online HR recruiter may fits you. HR recruiters arrange, execute, and hire candidates who are best suited for a position and company.

Daily tasks often involve reviewing resumes, conducting phone interviews, informing staff members about the training procedure, and headhunting potential candidates. For available jobs, check out platforms Naukri.com, Upwork.com, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, JazzHR, and Zoho Recruit. 

6. Graphic Design 

Another excellent online job option for creative students is graphic design. Companies and brands seek aspiring graphic designers that can produce captivating images for their products and services. There are many prospects for employment in graphic design, including developing logos, menus, illustrations, layouts, book covers, and product packaging.

To search for graphic design gigs, try these platforms: Internshala, LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer. 

7. Apps and Websites Reviewer 

Being an app and website reviewer is another way to earn money online as a college student. Several product review sites are looking for people who get paid to write product reviews. All you need to do is test the app or website and provide an evaluation based on the criteria.

You’ll evaluate the item based on its usability, performance, and usefulness as well as how it performs online and how user-friendly the website design is. To find reviewing jobs, visit the following platforms: Product Hunt, MobileAppDaily, and GetApp 

8. Social Media Manager 

Do you spend time on social sites? Consider becoming a social media specialist or manager. To apply, you ideally have previous experience managing social media accounts and driving traffic to them, even if it’s just your own account. Most businesses have social accounts and seek somebody to manage them on their behalf.  

As a social media manager, planning, leading digital marketing activities, and boosting the brand’s visibility on social channels will be your daily routine. You’ll likely be expected to create engaging content for different platforms, post regularly, and respond to messages that come through the accounts.

To see job offers go to platforms Internshala, LinkedIn, Fiverr, and Upwork.

9. Photo / Video Editor 

Video and photo editors are now in high demand and it is a good option to make money online for students. Work for customers and assist them in creating films and photographs for their company.

You will need to edit raw video and still images into a finished product as a video and picture editor. If you like to play with the lighting or background of images, enhance photos or add special effects, the job of a photo/video editor is perfect for you. It’s an ideal option, especially for those starting a freelancing journey with a passion for video editing.

There are numerous free video editing options available, boasting highly functional features while requiring minimal budget expenditure.

To look for work in this area, check out websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.

10. Web developer  

You can start a business as a developer if you have the right skills. There are plenty of courses where you can teach yourself valuable coding skills. You won’t become a professional coder overnight, but you can build a solid foundation from online course platforms that will help you get started.

Start with smaller projects and work up from there. Check out Authenticjobs or Skillcrush for open positions. Coding pro bono for local non-profits is also a great place to start if you’re looking to get some practice in and build your portfolio.   

Showcase your skills and services online 

If you are a student and wondering how to make money and get a good online job, you need to promote your skills and services.   

• Identify your skills: Make a list of all the skills you have that could be valuable to others. Are you good at writing, graphic design, or video editing? Do you have experience in customer service, social media management, or event planning? It’s often better to focus on one thing first rather than trying to do too many things at once. Figure out what your main strength is and start there.

• Create an online portfolio: Create your professional portfolio website that showcases your skills, experience, and work. Make sure to include samples of your work, client testimonials, and a clear description of the services you offer. Even if you’re just starting out, a portfolio is important to have. You can create samples of your work to include that show potential clients what you can do. 

• Build your online presence: Be active on social sites (LinkedIn is very useful for job opportunities), engage with potential clients, and share your work regularly. Make sure your profiles and bios clearly state what services you offer and how to contact you.  

• Utilize freelance platforms: Sign up for free freelance platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer that allow you to create a profile and bid on jobs. These platforms can be a great way to connect with clients who are specifically looking for your skills and services.

• Network with others in your industry: Join online communities and forums related to your industry, attend virtual events and conferences, and reach out to other professionals in your field. Getting a mentor might help you get started if you’re new to the field.

• Offer competitive pricing: Do some research on what other freelancers in your industry are charging and set your prices accordingly. As you gain more experience and build your portfolio, you can increase your rates.

Remember to be persistent, patient, and always strive to provide high-quality work that exceeds your client’s expectations.

Pitfalls to avoid when applying for jobs online 

To find the perfect job for you, avoid the following common mistakes:  

• Falling for quick money schemes  

Don’t look at the rapid money-making programs. Most internet scamming websites pay well for subpar work. Use caution with such offerings.  

• Giving up too quickly  

Keep in mind that earning money online involves patience and commitment. It takes time to develop.  

• Having a limited job search  

Do not restrict your employment search to a single website or platform. Be proactive. Look for different websites, contact your network of friends and ask, if they know anyone looking for your services.

• Applying only to large corporations  

Don’t limit your applications to large corporations; include small businesses as well. Many smaller businesses prefer to work with freelancers and may be more open to hiring students. 

• Lack of Portfolio  

Your web portfolio should be prepared before you start applying for jobs. Without a portfolio of work demonstrating your skills, it might be difficult to communicate your abilities to potential employers. Include your best work and show them what you can do!

Get your work experience while studying 

Working online not only helps you earn extra money, it also helps you network, learn new skills and build a solid CV. Don’t let your student status hold you back from financial independence. Take charge of your future, embrace your online side hustle, and pave your way to success while still studying.

Start now, create your professional online portfolio, and let the world become your gateway to earning money.

Create your professional online portfolio