How to Make Money as a College Student
By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22
As we all know, college is expensive. Extremely and unnecessarily so (but that’s a topic for another blog post). If you’re anything like me, the enormous cost of college, basic necessities, and also extra fun expenditures are always on your mind. Stressing out over money, budgeting, and if you can afford certain things is not only detrimental mentally, but it’s also distracting from studies and extracurricular activities. I wanted to provide a conclusive list of ways to make money that are feasible and accessible for college students, regardless of their year or experience. Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of ways to make money as a college student. You just have to look for them! Hopefully, this post can help ease some worries and give you a look into how simple it can be to get that bread and secure the bag($).
1. Scholarships
Before you cringe, scholarships are some of the easiest ways to make money. Aside from the scholarships provided to you by USC, there are many scholarships available through your particular school — whether that’s Annenberg or Viterbi. I know it can be annoying and tedious to apply to tons of scholarships which all require different essays and forms, but scholarship money is usually abundant. I suggest looking through your school’s website or even emailing your advisor for any scholarship opportunities. I also recommend applying to smaller scholarships more frequently than larger ones. $1,000 here and $500 there scholarships are among some of the easiest to apply to, generally, are less sought after, and really add up if you rack up a couple. Furthermore, there are honestly scholarships for anything and everything — even for being tall. Here is a link to some of the best websites for scholarships for college students.
2. Your passion
Regardless of what anyone says, your passions and interests can make money. With over 1,000 registered student clubs and organizations, USC has a place for your interest. If not, you can start a new club catered to your hobbies and preferences here. Many organizations have executive board positions or social media coordinators which offer compensation. If you like writing, drawing, spearheading a team, doing math, etc., there is a place for you to showcase your talent and make money while doing so. The jobs offered by organizations are usually part-time with flexible hours and pay at or above minimum wage. They also allow you to build up your experience and skills. Regardless of what kind of club it is — more professional or more recreational — every paid position of authority will teach you important life skills like teamwork, creativity, programming, and more. Here is a list of all campus organizations.
3. Work study (if qualified)
This one’s kind of obvious, but if you qualify for work-study — take advantage of it! I know these jobs can be overwhelming, tedious, or even boring, but they still have the potential to teach you important work skills, such as patience and organization. Some work-study jobs include working at the front desk of various offices, which allows you to catch up on homework during slow hours! Here’s a link to get you started on the process of applying!
4. Local stores or fast food chains
If you’re like one of my friends, Chic-Fil-A is your entire life and your extreme love for chicken sandwiches has single-handedly supported their company and contributed hundreds of dollars to their profits. If you like a fast food chain, a local coffee shop, or a grocery store — consider working there! Working as a cashier or barista usually pays minimum wage, has flexible hours to accommodate your class schedule, and offers perks such as free lunches or discounts. You can either go in person to inquire about a potential job opening or check out the companies’ respective websites for more information!
5. Do tasks for others!
If you’re good with children or particularly good at math, consider offering your skills to others for pay! Being a tutor, babysitter, house-sitter, or dog walker, etc. allows you to choose your hours and work at something that requires little technical knowledge. It also offers great experience working with others and coordinating schedules. I recommend advertising your services via old-fashioned bulletin postings in Taper Hall, your own residence hall or apartment, or other large campus buildings.
6. Sell your stuff!
Whether it’s old clothes, textbooks, or dorm room decorations, consider selling the items you no longer use! With websites like Poshmark, Depop, or Cash4Books you can sell anything you want and make money easily without having to put too much effort into it.
7. Positions at USC
USC is a large institution with opportunities for work at every corner. If you like leadership-oriented roles, consider being an RA, orientation advisor, campus tour guide, or even a notetaker. The application process and timeline for each position vary, but advertisements are usually posted around campus and online whenever they open up. These positions are usually more intensive, so make sure you’re up for the commitment and can accommodate your schedule to fit it in. However, they usually come with cool benefits, such as getting to interact with new people or even compensation in the form of free housing and a meal plan.
8. Check your emails
This might seem a bit elusive, but trust me when I say that cool opportunities often present themselves in your inbox without you knowing it most of the time. Instead of marking all the emails from your school as read, take a minute or two to look through the job offers and internships available. There might be on campus opportunities you didn’t know existed or stipends offered for research. You may be surprised by what you find. Get to clicking!
9. Participate in studies (with your comfort of course)
If you go to your MyUSC portal, under the bulletin board there are usually student announcements of various studies that need volunteers or subjects. With your comfort and making sure that you look at the legal terms of the agreement, participate in a study which offers compensation! The Department of Linguistics often does 30-45 minute studies which offer $10 for your participation. This may not seem like much, but they do studies often and engaging with various research initiatives can add up. There are also studies concerning birth control, running, swimming, and other areas of scientific research. Make sure to check your emails as well since some of the studies are sent out to the student body.
10. Recycle!
I know what you’re thinking: “Recycle? Really?” But, before you lose hope in the amount of return for recycling, know that I got around $17 dollars for about two boxes of plastic bottles. Not only are you helping the environment, but you’re getting paid for it! You can also recycle old electronics, paper, glass, and more. The G & P Recycling Center is less than a mile away from USC!
11. Lyft, Uber, and UberEats
If you’re 21 years or older and have a car on campus, consider driving for Lyft or Uber. If you don’t fit either qualification, think about biking for UberEats. While more of a time commitment, both options offer you to personalize your schedule and work within the responsibilities you already have. If you’re driving or biking around anyway, might as well make some coins while you do it!
12. Bonus tip — budgeting
Even though this is not a way of making money, I still wanted to include it. It is so important —especially as college students who will eventually take on the world by storm — to be financially literate. Unfortunately, financial literacy courses are not often taught in high school or college, but there are resources out there to help you learn how to budget properly. Financial responsibility is vital for a variety of reasons, such as peace of mind and general stability of life. Here is a link to a website that delves deeper into the importance of financial literacy and budgeting.
Now go out there and make $$$$$
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