8 Ways to Make Some Extra Cash in College Without Hurting Your Grades

Getting through college without having to work is a luxury that will give you more time to study and improve your grades.

Coming up short of cash during the school year, such as going out for pizza with your friends or not being able to afford a textbook, can make college difficult.

A side job helps, but you don’t want one that takes up so much time that affects your grades. Or gets in the way of your social life.

Here are eight ways to make money that shouldn’t cut into your study time too much, and pay enough to make your valuable time during college worth giving up:

1.Your GPA Could Pay Off

A high grade point average can not only help you get into college, but maintaining one while in college can pay off too.

Check with your college’s financial aid office to see if scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid are available if you have a high GPA.

2. Tutor

For flexibility and working from home, look into becoming a tutor.

Online tutoring jobs are available on websites such as Brainfuse, Chegg Tutors, Skooli and Yup. Your college or department that you’re majoring in or another subject you get high grades in may have a listing of tutors needed so you can work with other students from your school.

3. Virtual Assistant

If you’re extremely well organized (it’s a skill that can make college easier), then you could use it to earn money as a virtual assistant to help a busy person keep up with their work.

Website owners, for one, sometimes hire other people to run certain parts of their business so they can focus on the overall product. A virtual assistant could answer emails, set appointments, manage social media, do website maintenance, and deal with customers.

4. Sell Crafts on Etsy

Knitting, quilting, drawing and other hobbies can turn into part-time entrepreneurial work selling crafts you make on Etsy.

If sewing face masks, quilting rugs or making home-made thank you cards or some other craft isn’t up your alley, you could also find discounted arts supplies and craft kits at art supply stores, thrift stores and garage sales, then resell them on Etsy.

5. Help With Odd Jobs

The TaskRabbit app connects people in your area with gig workers who can help them with odd jobs.

If you can follow directions well and put together furniture from Ikea, this could be a good way to make money on hours you set away from your schoolwork. Plumbing, electrical, cleaning and yard work skills are among the many needed on the site.

6. On-Demand Grandkid

College students can apply for these part-time jobs through Papa, an on-demand service for seniors to hire “Papa Pals” to provide companionship, drive them to medical appointments or to the grocery store, help set up new technology, or need help with other daily activities.

Job applicants don’t have to be college students, though they’re preferred for their flexible schedules.

No specific experience is required. Students must have a reliable four-door car and car insurance, and must pass a background check.

Virtual visit services can also be made by Papa Pals where they can have conversations with seniors.

Papa is available in 17 states and aims to be in all 50 states by 2021.

7. Deliver Food, Products, People

Lyft, Uber, Postmates, DoorDash, and Amazon Flex are some of the many delivery services where you can use your car to deliver people, food and all kinds of products to their destinations.

You’ll need auto insurance, of course, and may need extra liability insurance for using your car for a business.

You can usually set your own schedule with delivery apps, so having a few hours on a Saturday night could be just enough time to earn a few dollars to pay your grocery bill next week.

8. Nanny Time

If you were a babysitter in high school, you can continue doing it in college. And so much more.

The website care.com helps caregivers find work in child care, senior care, housekeeping, pet care, special needs, and tutoring and home schooling.

Not all parents need child care help on Saturday nights. They may need a few hours of help after school, or after dinner or in the morning so they can go to the gym for an hour or so.

Before going to an app for job leads, it may be easier to ask friends if they know of anyone needing nanny help at home. The work could be as simple as watering the plants and taking care of a pet while a family goes on vacation.

There are just some of the many ways to earn extra money during a little down-time at college. The point is to earn some cash but to not let it interfere with your grades. If your grades start falling, then it’s time to look into student loans and other ways to pay for college that don’t take up much of your time.